Capitol View – by Joe Mack

Doing the right thing is not always easy. In today’s culture and climate, doing the right thing often brings criticism or dismissal from the public, or, at the very least, from the secular media. When you stand on biblical principles, sometimes you have to develop a thick skin. The issues that are important to Christians are not always popular with the world.

Joe Mack

One bill in particular captures more negative attention because the opposition is so misguided but so vocal. House Bill 3245, summary titled abortion, does not promote any extraordinary measures that would complicate abortion. It simply provides the national standard in ultrasound protocol before making a decision about terminating a life. It merely increases the reflection time from one hour (the shortest in the country) to one day – the national standard.

Pro-life opponents say that poor women are burdened by the extra wait. They claim it is a hardship for them to take more than one day off from work to end a pregnancy. They claim continuing the pregnancy is too expensive and these women cannot afford a child – or another one, as the case may be. To all these abortion proponents, I say, “Look at the alternatives!”

South Carolina is blessed with more than 35 pregnancy care centers. The volunteers at these centers do whatever they can to work with women and girls to ensure the best care for mother and child for the duration of the pregnancy and after the birth of the child. Unlike the rush to sell the horrendous procedure at abortion clinics, South Carolina’s pregnancy care centers offer free spiritual counseling, physical well-being (ultrasounds and exams), and education in making good life choices.

We’ve been working on passing the best pre-abortion education bill since abortion clinics had to pass the same health standards as hospitals. It’s been a long haul and the end is not yet in sight.

Gambling – hate crimes – education – payday lending – domestic violence – all issues that carry pending legislation at the State House this session. All are huge issues that impact families every day in South Carolina. All these issues, and the leaders who govern, are deserving of your consideration and prayer. I encourage you to keep the house of government inside your house of prayer.