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FIRST-PERSON: Taking a stand for the unborn Thursday, Jun 26, 2003 By Tim Ellsworth |
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MULKEYTOWN, Ill. (BP)--Former Milwaukee Brewers catcher Sal Bando has a firm belief in the value of every human life that extends even to the unborn. “It comes from my Christian belief that life is precious and shouldn’t be taken away from the desire of a woman that it’s inconvenient,” Bando said. This conviction is why Bando is one of the leaders of Battin’ 1000, a pro-life initiative started by the American Life League that has enlisted the support of dozens of current and former professional baseball players. The Battin’ 1000 project has the backing of such players as Cincinnati Reds first baseman Sean Casey and manager Bob Boone, St. Louis Cardinals pitchers Woody Williams and Cal Eldred and catcher Mike Matheny, and Hall of Famers Gary Carter and Robin Yount, among others. In addition to promoting a culture of life through such player endorsements, Battin’ 1000 is also a fundraising campaign for pro-life causes. Each Major League city has a “team” consisting of donors to the cause. It’s a friendly competition to see which team can raise the most money by the end of the baseball season. “The response has been good,” Bando said. “The slowest part has been trying to identify a major owner, a guy to head it up in each city.” Cities such as New York, Seattle and Tampa are still without a team leader. Abortion is a polarizing political debate that isn’t going away anytime soon. A recent edition of Newsweek had a cover story about the legal issues surrounding abortion that have surfaced, largely because of the brutal murder of Laci Peterson and her unborn son. According to the article’s author, Debra Rosenberg, “With the recent murders of Laci Peterson and her unborn son, Connor, nearly 9 months old, abortion-rights supporters are finding it increasingly difficult to claim credibly that a fetus just a few weeks, or even days, from delivery is not entitled to at least some protections under the law -- but they vigorously argue against such laws anyway, fearing that giving a fetus rights will lead to the collapse of abortion protections.” There’s a word for such abortion rights activists -- they’re called “hypocrites.” Many abortion advocates support stiffer penalties against those who batter or assault a pregnant woman and harm the fetus, but yet it’s OK for the mother herself to kill the child if she doesn’t want it. That’s quite a reach, and anyone with an ounce of common sense knows as much. Meanwhile, the hypocrisy also extends to Senate Democrats. They’re doing everything they can to support a culture of death in this country by continuing to block qualified judicial appointments by President Bush, just because the appointees are pro-life. Many of these Democrats would balk at the idea of abortion serving as a “litmus test” for potential appointees, yet it’s OK for them to use the same type of litmus test to reject those who have been nominated. Bando and his fellow pro-life players are doing a good work by opposing a practice that is an ever-increasing stain on the human race. They know what they’re up against. Abortion proponents, for example, will claim that pro-lifers are heartless and uncaring about the plight of women faced with an unwanted pregnancy. “I understand the need and the dilemma women are in,” Bando said. “We have to be sensitive and help them. But I don’t believe it means you just wipe out a life.” Bando also knows the continued battle over abortion will be a difficult one, especially with the media largely biased in favor of abortion. But he’s confident that right will triumph in the end. “I don’t think we’re losing the battle,” Bando said. “I think it will always be an uphill battle because of the media and the attention given to the pro-choice side. I think the majority of people believe that abortion should not be legal for convenience sake.” --30-- Tim Ellsworth writes this column from his home in Mulkeytown, Ill. Write to him at bpsports@sbc.net.
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