Every January, on the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s 1973 decision to legalize abortion, WORLD reviews pro-life progress and regress over the previous year.
Hope for the unchosen
Issue: "Roe v. Wade 1973-2018," Jan. 20, 2018
Chances for life seem slim for thousands of tiny embryos frozen in storage or subjected to questionable tests meant to weed out ‘misfits.’ But some advocates and families are on a mission to rescue these unborn babies from an uncertain fate.
Bitter pills
Issue: "Roe v. Wade 1973-2017," Jan. 21, 2017
Increasingly popular but as risky as ever, chemical abortion raises new challenges for the pro-life movement.
A time for plain speaking
Issue: "Roe v. Wade 1973-2016," Jan. 23, 2016
Planned Parenthood benefits from a culture that disguises what the organization truly is and does.
Survival of the despised
Issue: "2014 Roe v. Wade," Jan. 24, 2015
America at its best follows the philosophy of Emma Lazarus over that of Margaret Sanger.
Roe at 41
Issue: "The wonder of life," Jan. 25, 2014
Perfect ears, perfect God, fallen man.
40 years and millions of lives
Issue: "Roe v. Wade turns 40," Jan. 26, 2013
Roe v. Wade continues its grim business, but pro-life activity is saving lives, too.
Full of Life
Issue: "2012 Roe v. Wade Issue: Young and restless," Jan. 28, 2012
Revitalized by young activists and growing support, the pro-life movement faces new tensions.
Red zone defense
Issue: "Babies are back," Jan. 29, 2011
With our most-observed secular holiday, Super Bowl day, coming this year on Feb. 6, we're hearing a lot about what happens in "the red zone," the part of the football field that extends from the 20-yard line to the end zone. Meanwhile, abortion proponents are defending their own bloody red zone against a reinvigorated pro-life movement.
A pro-baby wave
Issue: "Pro-baby," Jan. 30, 2010
Optimistic signs point to a changing abortion debate.
Back to the present
Issue: "Millions cut down," Jan. 17, 2009
Understanding abortion in the past will help us fight it today.
The plots thicken
Issue: "The plots thicken," Jan. 12, 2008
As Roe v. Wade turns 35, some in Hollywood are changing their minds about "choice," and it's showing up on the silver screen.
Just how pro are these pro-lifers?
Issue: "Hope or hype?," Jan. 20, 2007
The Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion turns 34 years old this month, just as seven pro-life Democrats join the new majority on Capitol Hill. Here's what the power shift could mean for the pre-born.
What women want
Issue: "What women want," Jan. 21, 2006
For 33 years many American women have believed that what's legal must be OK, only to have their consciences, moments or decades later, tell them differently.
Delta force
Issue: "Abortion: Delta force," Jan. 22, 2005
Mississippi pro-life activists' success in fighting abortion shows not only can some battles be won at the state level, but it can be done with broad bipartisan support.
Lawmakers, lawbreakers
Issue: "Roe v. Wade @ 31," Jan. 17, 2004
Even though churches have lost significant influence over society, they do at least retain authority over their own members. A look at churches that are considering the exercise of discipline over pro-abortion politicians.
30 years' war
Issue: "30 years of destruction," Jan. 18, 2003
As Roe turns 30, are medical facts and a determined pro-life movement causing legalized abortion to show its age, or is it just becoming more entrenched? While others debate the question, abortion opponents quietly legislate, litigate, and demonstrate compassion.
Holding the line
Issue: "Roe vs. Wade at 29," Jan. 19, 2002
Senate shifts, terrorist attacks, and biological warfare against the sanctity of human life leave the question: Whatever happened to the abortion issue?
Leaving limbo
Issue: "Ashcroft: Under fire," Jan. 13, 2001
More kids exit foster care for permanent adoptive families, but pro-lifers hope for more.
Roe2000
Issue: "Roe vs. Wade 2000," Jan. 22, 2000
Last week was one that pushed Christian and conservative journalists and pro-life leaders to remember biblical injunctions against envy.
Abortion: A right that's wrong
Issue: "38,000,000 Children Killed," Jan. 16, 1999
Even as the abortion culture sinks itself deeper into the fabric of American life, pro-lifers are preparing to mourn the 26th anniversary of the Supreme Court's Roe vs. Wade decision, several factors continue to chip away at its acceptability. Political challenges, cultural argument, and compassionate alternatives are slowly but surely helping to form the consensus that abortion is wrong. A look back at abortion in America since the last dark Roe anniversary.
One step forward
Issue: "Roe vs. Wade 25," Jan. 17, 1998
... and one step back: Pro-lifers still face challenges as new as was Roe vs. Wade in 1973.
Life worth living
Issue: "Down Syndrome = Death Sentence?," Jan. 18, 1997
The January 22, 1973, Roe vs. Wade ruling has been a death sentence for 30 million-plus preborn infants in the United States. For 24 years babies have died for any reason and no reason. But in the 1990s, with the development of new genetic tests that can more safely and less expensively diagnose genetic disorders in utero, many young humans are at risk for one very specific reason: They have Down Syndrome.