Trump Declares Jan. 22 ‘National Sanctity of Human Life Day’ to Coincide With 45th Year Since Roe v. Wade

WASHINGTON — President Trump has declared Jan. 22 “National Sanctity of Human Life Day” to coincide with the 45th year since Roe v. Wade was issued, a decision from the U.S. Supreme Court that has resulted in the deaths of 60 million unborn children and counting.

Trump issued the proclamation on Friday while thousands marched for life in Washington, D.C. He noted that being pro-life and respecting the worth of every human being encompasses a variety of societal issues, from the unborn to the elderly, to those who are disabled and those who struggle with drug addictions and mental illness.

“Reverence for every human life, one of the values for which our Founding Fathers fought, defines the character of our nation,” it reads. “Today, it moves us to promote the health of pregnant mothers and their unborn children. It animates our concern for single moms; the elderly, the infirm, and the disabled; and orphan and foster children.”

“It compels us to address the opioid epidemic and to bring aid to those who struggle with mental illness. It gives us the courage to stand up for the weak and the powerless. And it dispels the notion that our worth depends on the extent to which we are planned for or wanted,” the declaration continues.

The proclamation notes that modern science has made advances that further demonstrate the humanity of the child in the womb.

“Science continues to support and build the case for life. Medical technologies allow us to see images of the unborn children moving their newly formed fingers and toes, yawning, and even smiling,” it outlines. “Those images present us with irrefutable evidence that babies are growing within their mothers’ wombs—precious, unique lives, each deserving a future filled with promise and hope.”

“We can also now operate on babies in utero to stave off life-threatening diseases,” the declaration notes. “These important medical advances give us an even greater appreciation for the humanity of the unborn.”

The White House also recognized those who work out of love to defend life—providing help and hope to women who are abortion-minded and facilitating adoptions.

“Now, therefore, I, Donald J. Trump, president of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 22, 2018, as National Sanctity of Human Life Day,” the proclamation reads. “I call on all Americans to reflect on the value of our lives; to respond to others in keeping with their inherent dignity; to act compassionately to those with disabilities, infirmities, or frailties; to look beyond external factors that might separate us; and to embrace the common humanity that unites us.”

Read the proclamation in full here.

As previously reported, the 1973 case of Roe v. Wade centered on a Texas woman named Norma McCorvey who sought an abortion over an alleged rape. McCorvey later admitted that she had lied, writing in her book “I Am Roe” that she made up the rape story at the advice of her feminist attorneys to make her case more convincing.

She also never obtained an abortion, but placed her child up for adoption and went on to become a vocal pro-life advocate, even going to court in an effort to overturn the ruling.

“My decisions were wrong and I am fighting with every breath to change what has occurred,” McCorvey, a Roman Catholic, said in 2008.

She died last year at the age of 69.