Ileana Ros-Lehtinen: “in a country that espouses the importance of protecting the inherent rights of every person, abortion denies the rights…”

“in a country that espouses the importance of protecting the inherent rights of every person, abortion denies the rights of our most innocent and vulnerable members, our children. As legislators, we have the great responsibility to strive to uphold the truths upon which our great country was founded, especially that every individual is entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Abortion is not a sign that women are ``free to choose.'' It is a sign that women have been abandoned. {time} 1730 They have not had the support and care that they so desperately need. Rather, abortion is the only option offered. Abortion is one of the greatest scourges of our time. It is a sign that we have not met the needs of women. Women deserve better than abortion. It is a crime against humanity which not only takes the innocent life of a child but also profoundly alters the life of the mother. Women possess dignity and intrinsic beauty, and abortion tears them apart at the very core of their being. I am proud to have had the opportunity to join with such dynamic pro- life women as Patricia Heaton, the costar of the TV show Everybody Loves Raymond. She is an outspoken advocate for women and for the protection of the rights of the unborn.…”