Senate committee advances legislation to protect parental rights

“The sanctity of life is fundamental and universal, and I am fully committed to protecting it while serving in the U.S. Senate.”

Ohio Senate votes to protect life

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                            CONTACT: Rachel Schlater

DATE: Monday, April 18, 2011                         PHONE:(614) 547-0099 ext. 309

(COLUMBUS, OH) - Travis Goettemoeller, a member of Mercer County Right to Life, won the 2011 Ohio Right to Life Oratory Contest held on Saturday at Ohio Dominican University. The contest was hosted by the Ohio Dominican Respect Life student group. Travis, a student at Coldwater High School, will compete at the National Pro-Life Oratory Contest to be held in Jacksonville, Florida this June.

"We are proud of all of the participants in this year's oratory contest," stated Erin Cain, Director of External Affairs at Ohio Right to Life. "These students excelled in their presentations and were knowledgeable on current pro-life issues. We are excited to have Travis represent the state of Ohio at the national competition."

Second place went to Rachel del Guidice of Wayne-Holmes Right to Life and third place to Julie Crookston of Right to Life of Portage County.

The eight eligible high school juniors and seniors, each of whom won their local pro-life oratory contest, wrote an original speech on abortion, embryonic stem cell research, infanticide or euthanasia.

"The dignity and sanctity of human life is at the forefront of public debate," said Mike Gonidakis, Executive Director of Ohio Right to Life. "Today's teens are tomorrow's public officials and pro-life leaders. We need to do everything we can to encourage them to establish the skills needed to speak out in a positive way."

As the winner of the state competition, Travis and a guest will receive a paid trip to the national contest in Florida from Ohio Right to Life. The winner of the national contest will receive a $1000 scholarship. To see pictures from the event and to read the top three speeches, click here.

"On behalf of the Ohio Right to Life Society Board of Trustees, we thank Dr. Charmaine Yoest and the senior staff at Americans United for Life for investing in Ohio's pro-life future," said Mike Gonidakis, Executive Director at Ohio Right to Life. "We look forward to utilizing this strategic relationship to continue to save lives - born and unborn."

This new pro-life legislative alliance marks a historic opportunity for Ohio Right to Life to unite with a national public interest law and policy organization in order to magnify the voice for life.  Today's announcement sends a firm message to Planned Parenthood of ORTL and AUL's determination to make Ohio a pro-life state.

Beginning today, Americans United for Life will advocate with Ohio Right to Life for current pro-life legislation. We strongly encourage all of our members to contact our office and aid in our efforts to support and advance the pro-life legislative agenda.

S.B. 72 progresses to the House

S.B. 72 moves onward to passage

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         CONTACT: Rachel Schlater

DATE: Friday, March 18, 2011                                       PHONE:(614) 547-0099 ext. 309

(COLUMBUS, OH) -On March 29^th, the Planned Parenthood of Galion, Ohio will be out of business!  After decades of offering so-called "women's health services", the Galion Health Center has reported that the ever-decreasing clientele led them to financial drought and, consequently, forced them into failure.

Because the Galion clinic did not do abortions and just made referrals, it was unable to maintain corporate Planned Parenthood Federation of America's over-zealous attempts to grow by demanding that their constituents broaden and expand their scope of services.  The mandate that compels every Planned Parenthood affiliate to run at least one abortion center, confirmed last winter by a Planned Parenthood executive, has proved to be unwanted and unneeded in this Ohio community. The Galion clinic simply could not expand when there were no women seeking their services and no funds fueling their business.

Planned Parenthood's 2009 national report stated that they had performed more abortions that year than any other.  Ohio is taking a different route: the number of abortions performed in 2009 was the lowest in our state's history. Ohio abortion continues to decrease as Ohio Right to Life continues to defend the voiceless. Pro-life pregnancy centers continue to provide true health services to women, and as the pro-life culture continues to germinate across the state, more women continue to choose life.

In Ohio, the facts are these: Pro-life legislation is moving through the Statehouse; last November, Ohioans elected a full slate of pro-life officeholders; and, there has been overwhelming attendance at pro-life rallies across the state.  The closing of this Galion Planned Parenthood clinic magnifies the message that Ohio has boldly proclaimed to all abortion providers for months: Ohio is a state committed to defending women and saving the unborn. Ohio is a pro-life state.

Overwhelming majority of the Ohio House of Representatives votes in favor of ORTL bill