Abortion Policy, Law & PoliticsNEWS OR ANALYSIS
Virginia’s Ballot Puts Caesar Over God
"Father, I don’t think you should bring politics into religion.” That’s a line I’ve heard a lot lately. Of course, nobody really believes it.
Read →Search & Filter
47 articles
Abortion Policy, Law & PoliticsNEWS OR ANALYSIS
Henry Hyde, A Pro-Life Hero
In 1976, Congressman Henry Hyde introduced the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits the use of federal funds for abortions except when the mother's life is at risk, and it has since saved an estimated 2,646,474 lives according to the Charlotte Lozier Institute. Despite ongoing challenges and attempts to remove it, efforts continue to make the Hyde Amendment permanent through legislation like H.R.
Read →Movement Leadership & StrategyNEWS OR ANALYSIS
How Trump Betrayed the Pro-Life Movement
Several weeks after the 2016 election, Marjorie Dannenfelser received a voicemail from President-Elect Donald J. Trump. Her organization, the Susan B. Anthony List, had knocked on over a million... The post How Trump Betrayed the Pro-Life Movement appeared first on First Things .
Read →Human Dignity, Disability & BioethicsNEWS OR ANALYSIS
When Eugenics Goes Viral
On June 3, a debate about the silent genocide of unborn children with Down syndrome exploded on social media. The unlikely catalyst was an X post by YouTube influencer... The post When Eugenics Goes Viral appeared first on First Things .
Read →Abortion Drugs & PracticesNEWS OR ANALYSIS
Abortion Pills Head to the Supreme Court
Two judicial rulings over mifepristone this month have set the stage for the most important legal battle over abortion since the overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022—and the... The post Abortion Pills Head to the Supreme Court appeared first on First Things .
Read →Human Dignity, Disability & BioethicsNEWS OR ANALYSIS
Surrogacy Is Already Illegal
In 1984, a Virginia physician named H. Barry Jacobs announced a plan to broker human kidneys on the open market. Congress responded within months. The National Organ Transplant Act... The post Surrogacy Is Already Illegal appeared first on First Things .
Read →Abortion Policy, Law & PoliticsNEWS OR ANALYSIS
The Alarming Truth About the U.K.’s Abortion Numbers
Last month, after a mysterious eighteen-month delay, the U.K. government finally published the 2023 abortion figures for England and Wales. When adding in the numbers for the rest of... The post The Alarming Truth About the U.K.’s Abortion Numbers appeared first on First Things .
Read →Dialogue, Education & OutreachNEWS OR ANALYSIS
Frequenting the Frontlines of Life
It was a brisk early morning when I set off from the John Jay Institute last Friday to attend the March for Life in Washington, D.C. Having just spent... The post Frequenting the Frontlines of Life appeared first on First Things .
Read →Abortion Policy, Law & PoliticsNEWS OR ANALYSIS
The Theology of Roe
A controversial abortion case reaches the Supreme Court, and men in black robes impose their religious views on the country. Counter to the justices’ expectation, a diverse movement rises up in protest... The post The Theology of Roe appeared first on First Things .
Read →Abortion Drugs & PracticesNEWS OR ANALYSIS
Is Trump Playing the Long Game on Abortion?
When news broke last week that the Trump administration had quietly restored federal Planned Parenthood funding, which he had previously cut, pro-life conservatives were understandably upset. Yet, as Elizabeth... The post Is Trump Playing the Long Game on Abortion? appeared first on First Things .
Read →NEWS OR ANALYSIS
Two Pro-Life Goals for 2026
The second Trump administration has been marked by wins on what we might dub “cultural” conservatism—ending DEI in the federal government, cracking down on immigration, protecting women’s sports, rolling... The post Two Pro-Life Goals for 2026 appeared first on First Things .
Read →Human Dignity, Disability & BioethicsNEWS OR ANALYSIS
When No-Fault Divorce Turns Children into Commodities
I anticipate that the most controversial part of my forthcoming book, The Desecration of Man, will be my discussion of how modern fertility treatments such as IVF and surrogacy... The post When No-Fault Divorce Turns Children into Commodities appeared first on First Things .
Read →Abortion Policy, Law & PoliticsNEWS OR ANALYSIS
The Inkling Who Fought Abortion
Earlier this autumn, I had the opportunity to visit Oxford the day before I delivered two lectures at the national conference for the Society for the Protection of Unborn... The post The Inkling Who Fought Abortion appeared first on First Things .
Read →Human Dignity, Disability & BioethicsNEWS OR ANALYSIS
The Surrogacy Exploitation Crisis
“It’s horrific, it’s disturbing, it’s damaging emotionally,” said Kayla Elliot, a young woman now fighting for custody of the baby she carried as a surrogate. What she believed was an act of generosity... The post The Surrogacy Exploitation Crisis appeared first on First Things .
Read →Abortion Drugs & PracticesNEWS OR ANALYSIS
Expanded Abortion Pill Access Puts Death in Women’s Hands
Can Trump be trusted on abortion?” I wrote in these pages last fall. One year later, the Trump Food and Drug Administration approved another generic version of mifepristone, the... The post Expanded Abortion Pill Access Puts Death in Women’s Hands appeared first on First Things .
Read →Dialogue, Education & OutreachNEWS OR ANALYSIS
How Sen. Durbin Shifted on Abortion
On January 17, 1982, a young and not-yet-elected Richard J. Durbin served as the master of ceremonies for the Springfield Right to Life committee’s annual March for Life event... The post How Sen. Durbin Shifted on Abortion appeared first on First Things .
Read →NEWS OR ANALYSIS
A Pro-Life Victory in Colorado
Sixteen precious babies are alive today because their mothers received the right care at the right moment. These little ones are laughing, growing, and deeply loved. But their lives... The post A Pro-Life Victory in Colorado appeared first on First Things .
Read →Abortion Policy, Law & PoliticsNEWS OR ANALYSIS
A Turning Point in Germany’s Abortion Debate
The abortion debate in Germany has reached a critical juncture. On July 11, the last day before the parliamentary summer recess, the Bundestag intended to appoint three new judges... The post A Turning Point in Germany’s Abortion Debate appeared first on First Things .
Read →Abortion Policy, Law & PoliticsNEWS OR ANALYSIS
Make Abortion Great Again?
On July Fourth weekend, a photograph made the rounds on social media. Cynthia Nixon, the actress and activist, lounges in a boat, smirking at the camera. Perched jauntily on... The post Make Abortion Great Again? appeared first on First Things .
Read →Abortion Drugs & PracticesNEWS OR ANALYSIS
Planned Parenthood Defunded—For Now
In the three years that followed Dobbs, the pro-life movement may have sometimes felt like it was absorbing one body blow after another. The “One Big Beautiful Bill”—despite the... The post Planned Parenthood Defunded—For Now appeared first on First Things .
Read →Abortion Policy, Law & PoliticsNEWS OR ANALYSIS
The U.K.’s Abortion Reckoning
The U.K. has pushed too far on abortion. On June 17, an amendment to decriminalize abortion for women in England and Wales was thrown last minute into a government... The post The U.K.’s Abortion Reckoning appeared first on First Things .
Read →Abortion Policy, Law & PoliticsNEWS OR ANALYSIS
The Problem with N. T. Wright’s Abortion Remarks
Anglican theologian and former bishop of Durham N. T. Wright has landed himself in hot water following remarks that abortion is acceptable in “some circumstances,” such as rape, incest,... The post The Problem with N. T. Wright’s Abortion Remarks appeared first on First Things .
Read →Abortion Policy, Law & PoliticsNEWS OR ANALYSIS
How Abortion Lost Its Cool
Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential election victory shocked many. The deplorables won the day, the elites were disgraced, and history was shown to have at least one more chapter. As... The post How Abortion Lost Its Cool appeared first on First Things .
Read →NEWS OR ANALYSIS
The Problem of Embryo Ownership
In this episode, Ericka Andersen joins Rusty Reno on The Editor’s Desk to talk about her recent essay, “Who Owns the Embryos?” from the April 2025 issue of the magazine.... The post The Problem of Embryo Ownership appeared first on First Things .
Read →Abortion Policy, Law & PoliticsNEWS OR ANALYSIS
Three Takeaways from Our Post-Dobbs Moment
On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court overturned one of the most odious legal regimes ever foisted on the U.S. American people: that of Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey.... The post Three Takeaways from Our Post- Dobbs Moment appeared first on First Things .
Read →Abortion Drugs & PracticesNEWS OR ANALYSIS
It’s Time to Defund Planned Parenthood
What do you call a billion-dollar corporation that annually swallows millions in government funding but fails to deliver comprehensive medical care to women? Planned Parenthood... The post It’s Time to Defund Planned Parenthood appeared first on First Things .
Read →Abortion Policy, Law & PoliticsNEWS OR ANALYSIS
A Pro-Life and Pro-Family U.S. Foreign Aid Strategy
Over the last few weeks, Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has publicized several examples of wasted taxpayer money, including funds devoted to foreign aid. In many cases, this... The post A Pro-Life and Pro-Family U.S. Foreign Aid Strategy appeared first on First Things .
Read →Abortion Policy, Law & PoliticsNEWS OR ANALYSIS
America’s Cross-Border Abortion War
The United States has been deeply divided on abortion for decades, but since the overturn of Roe v. Wade, those divides have deepened as differing legal regimes emerge across... The post America’s Cross-Border Abortion War appeared first on First Things .
Read →Movement Leadership & StrategyNEWS OR ANALYSIS
Pro-Lifers and the Trump Administration: Wins, Concerns, and the MAHA Opportunity
Anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear knows that the pro-life movements have received some very important victories courtesy of the Trump administration. The horror show that... The post Pro-Lifers and the Trump Administration: Wins, Concerns, and the MAHA Opportunity appeared first on First Things .
Read →Abortion Drugs & PracticesNEWS OR ANALYSIS
Pharmacists Should Not Be Allowed to Prescribe Abortion Pills
At the end of 2024, Washington State implemented a month-long pilot program that allowed some pharmacists to prescribe mifepristone to patients via telehealth screening. Mifepristone is one component of the two-part... The post Pharmacists Should Not Be Allowed to Prescribe Abortion Pills appeared first on First Things .
Read →