Bush urges protections for unborn life

By Tom Strode - Feb 15, 2006 -

President Bush promoted measures to protect the sanctity of human life in a brief but significant portion of his State of the Union address Jan. 31.

The President spent much of his 51-minute speech reasserting the need to spread democracy and fight terrorism in order to provide security for Americans. In the latter part of his speech, Bush urged Congress to protect human life in its earliest stages.

“A hopeful society has institutions of science and medicine that do not cut ethical corners and that recognize the matchless value of every life,” he said to a joint session of Congress. “Tonight, I ask you to pass legislation to prohibit the most egregious abuses of medical research: Human cloning in all its forms; creating or implanting embryos for experiments; creating human-animal hybrids, and buying, selling or patenting human embryos. Human life is a gift from our Creator—and that gift should never be discarded, devalued or put up for sale.”

In addressing domestic issues earlier in the speech, the President described America as a “more hopeful nation” in recent years and cited the reduction of abortions, drug use, violent crimes and welfare cases to support his claim. He also said support for adoption and sexual abstinence has helped bring positive change.

Bush recognized the two newest members of the Supreme Court, Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Samuel Alito, who were in the House of Representatives for the speech. He said Americans are “discouraged by activist courts that try to redefine marriage” but said he would continue to choose nominees, like Roberts and Alito, “who understand that judges must be servants of the law and not legislate from the bench.”

Alito was confirmed earlier in the day to the high court in a 58-42 vote by the Senate. Roberts and he joined Associate Justices Clarence Thomas and Stephen Breyer in attending the speech.

Some social conservatives commended much of Bush’s speech but expressed disappointment he did not address some issues more fully. The President did not call for a constitutional amendment to protect marriage as he has in the past.

Further Learning

Learn more about: Life, Abortion, Citizenship, Human Rights