Recently the Michigan Senate narrowly passed an “abortion reform bill” to make it legal for women residents to have an abortion for any reason during the first three months of pregnancy. However much we deplore the Senate’s adoption of this evil piece of legislation, we are grateful to note that the three Grand Rapids area Senators—Gary Dyker of Hudsonville, Robert Vander Laan of Kentwood, and Milton Zaagman of Grand Rapids (all members of the Christian Reformed Church)—did vote against the bill.
In replying to my letter of commendation for the stand he had taken on this matter, Senator Vander Laan, formerly a Christian high school teacher and now the Majority Leader in the Michigan Senate, stated that he “did receive many letters from people who were very unhappy with this particular vote.” He added that, although this was to be expected, he did find the silence on the part of ministers and other leaders in the church “rather difficult to understand.”
Considering the constant pressure put on our legislators by the wrong kind of people with selfish interests, we do well to be reminded of the urgency of having the right kind of people voice their encouragement and commendation when the occasion calls for it. The Michigan “abortion reform bill” must still go to the House and be adopted there if it is to be enacted into law. In commending the above-mentioned Senators for their courage in voting as they did, we also express the hope that members of the House will do likewise. And may the same be true of Christian legislators elsewhere if and when they arc confronted with this same decision.
In replying to my letter of commendation for the stand he had taken on this matter, Senator Vander Laan, formerly a Christian high school teacher and now the Majority Leader in the Michigan Senate, stated that he “did receive many letters from people who were very unhappy with this particular vote.” He added that, although this was to be expected, he did find the silence on the part of ministers and other leaders in the church “rather difficult to understand.”
Considering the constant pressure put on our legislators by the wrong kind of people with selfish interests, we do well to be reminded of the urgency of having the right kind of people voice their encouragement and commendation when the occasion calls for it. The Michigan “abortion reform bill” must still go to the House and be adopted there if it is to be enacted into law. In commending the above-mentioned Senators for their courage in voting as they did, we also express the hope that members of the House will do likewise. And may the same be true of Christian legislators elsewhere if and when they arc confronted with this same decision.