Lorain County Right to Life, by IRS rules, does not participate or intervene in political campaigns on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. However, we can provide information to our members on where candidates stand on issues of importance to us, and also what is in the candidate’s party platforms. We’ll be adding comparison pieces on where candidates stand, news on endorsements from Pro-Life and Pro-Family organizations. and other items of interest as they become available. Check back often for updates.
Information on how to register to vote, voting by absentee ballot, lists of candidates and issues that will be on the ballot, and more can be found on the Lorain County Board of Elections Website.
Presidential Candidate Pro-Life Position Comparison
Presidential candidate comparison from Ohio Right to Life can be found here.
Vice Presidential candidate comparison from Ohio Right to Life can be found here.
Presidential and Vice Presidential stands from Life on the Ballot can be found here.
Other Candidate comparisons:
Citizens for Community Values: link here
Ohio Value Voters: link here
Church Militant: link here
FRC Action: link here
Pro-Life Congressional Scorecards from Susan B Anthony List for Jim Jordan here, Bob Gibbs here, Marcy Kaptur here
Candidate Endorsements
Candidate endorsements from Pro-Life and Pro-Family organizations for the November 3, 2020 general election can be found at the following links.
Candidate Endorsements from Right to Life Action Coalition of Ohio: Click here.
Candidate Endorsements from Ohio Right to Life: Click here.
General Election Update
If you haven’t already voted early and are unwilling or unable to vote in person on November 3, you need to VOTE BY MAIL and request an absentee ballot.
To request an absentee ballot, click here. You need to fill out the form and mail it to your county board of elections who will return the ballot to you by mail. Unless you are a member of the U.S. military currently deployed overseas or an American living abroad, ballots should be mailed by October 27, 2020 and received by the board of elections by November 3, 2020 to be counted in the general election if the proper information was provided on the identification envelope.
DON’T LET CoVID-19 KEEP YOU FROM VOTING IN NOVEMBER!!!! When the primary voting date in Ohio was changed due to the virus, voting continued in three other states on schedule. The voter turnout was extremely low, and may have contributed to the defeat of some good pro-life candidates, such as Dan Lipinsky of Illinois. Pro-abortion advocates are getting people to the polls nationwide, so don’t let voting changes in Ohio keep you from voting!
PLEASE, request your absentee ballot and vote Pro-Life!!!!
News About the Candidates:
“President Trump’s Pro-Life Wins”: for story click here
“The Presidential Record on Life” for story click here
“The 2020 Democratic Nominees: Incompatible with Life” for story click here
“Planned Parenthood officially endorses Joe Biden for president” for story click here
“Kamala Harris Takes Extreme Stance on Abortion” for story click here
“US bishops’ conference: ‘Trump Administration deserves our praise’ for pro-life policies” for story click here
“Trump’s Decision to Defund International Planned Parenthood Cost Abortion Biz Over $100 Million” for story click here
2020 Party Platforms
The party platforms are comprehensive position papers on where the parties stand on a variety of issues of our day.
Remember, when you vote for a candidate, you are not only putting him in office, you are putting the party in office. You need to consider what the parties stand for, and how the outcome of the election affects the balance of power, especially when it affects the right to life.
A comparison of the platforms of the two major parties prepared by Priests for Life is shown here. Please print copies and share with family, friends, and fellow church-goers.
Republican Platform of 2020
Republican Party will maintain 2016 platform unchanged for 2020.
Excerpts of Planks on the Life Issues
Human Life/Abortion
We assert the sanctity of human life and affirm that the unborn
child has a fundamental right to life which cannot be infringed.
We support a human life amendment to the Constitution and
legislation to make clear that the 14th Amendment’s
protection apply to children before birth.
Appointing Judges
We support the appointment of judges who respect traditional
family values and the sanctity of innocent human life.
Planned Parenthood
We oppose the use of public funds to perform or promote
abortion or to fund organizations, like Planned Parenthood, so
long as they provide or refer for elective abortions or sell fetal
body parts rather than provide healthcare.
Legislation
We salute the many states that now protect women and girls
through passing laws requiring informed consent, parental
consent, waiting periods and clinic regulation. We applaud the
US House of Representatives for leading the effort to add
enforcement to the Born Alive Infant Protection Act by passing
the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.
Sex Education
We renew our call for replacing “family planning” programs for
teens with sexual risk avoidance education that sets abstinence
until marriage as the responsible and respected standard of
behavior.
End of Life
We oppose the non‐consensual withholding or withdrawal of
care or treatment, including food and water, from individuals
with disabilities, newborns, the elderly or the inform, just as we
oppose euthanasia and assisted suicide.
International
The integrity of our country’s foreign assistance program has
been compromised by the…[Obama] Administration’s exempt
to impose on foreign recipients, especially the peoples of
Africa, its own radical social agenda while excluding faith‐based
groups—the sector with the best track record in promoting
development—because they will not conform to that agenda.
We pledge to reverse this course.
(To view the full party platform, click here)
Democrat Platform of 2020
Excerpts of Planks on the Life Issues
Human Life/Abortion
We believe every woman should be able to access high quality
reproductive health care services, including safe and legal
abortion. We oppose and will fight to overturn federal and
state laws that created barriers to women’s reproductive health
and rights, including by repealing the Hyde Amendment and
protecting and codifying the right to reproductive freedom.
Appointing Judges
We will appoint U.S. Supreme Court justices and federal judges
who look like America….and will respect and enforce
foundational precedents, including…Roe v Wade.
Planned Parenthood
We will repeal the Title X domestic gag rule and restore federal
funding for Planned Parenthood
Legislation
We oppose restrictions on medication abortion care that are
inconsistent with the most recent medical and scientific
evidence and that do not protect public health.
Sex Education
We recognize that quality, affordable comprehensive health
care; medically accurate, LGBTQ+ inclusive, age appropriate sex
education, and the full range of family planning services are all
essential to ensuring that people can decide if, when and how
to start a family.
End of Life
Personal moral, religious, and medical decisions should be left
up to the competent individual.
International
We will support the repeal of the global gag rule (also known as
the Mexico City Policy) and measures like the Helms
Amendment, which limit safe access to abortion. We will also
restore and expand American contributions to the United
Nations Population Fund.
(To view the full party platform, click here)
Libertarian Platform of 2018 (has not been updated for 2020)
Excerpts of Planks on the Life Issues
Human Life/Abortion
Recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people
can hold good faith views on all sides, we believe that government should be kept out of the matter, leaving the question to
each person for their conscientious consideration. (NOTE: In
the party’s statement of principles, it states that government
“must not violate the rights of any individual: namely (1)the
right to life—accordingly we support the prohibition of the initiation of physical force against others.” Apparently this does
not translate to the rights of an unborn human being.)
Appointing Judges
This is not addressed in the platform.
Planned Parenthood
This is not addressed in the platform.
Legislation
Refer to the position on abortion above.
Sex Education
This is not specifically addressed in the platform. However, in a
policy statement about personal liberty, the platform states
that “individuals are inherently free to make choices for them‐
selves and must accept responsibility for the consequences of
the choices that they make.”
End of Life
In a section relating to health care, the platform states that “we
recognize the freedom of individuals to determine the level of
health insurance they want (if any) the level of health care they
want, the care providers they want, the medicines and treat‐
ments they will use and all other aspects of their medical care,
including end‐of‐life decisions.”
International
We would end the current U.S. Government policy of foreign
intervention, including military and economic aid.
(To view the full party platform, click here)
Green Platform of 2020
Excerpts of Planks on the Life Issues
Human Life/Abortion
The Green Party unequivocally supports a woman’s right to
reproductive choice, no matter her marital status or age, and
that contraception and safe, legal abortion procedures be avail‐
able on demand and be included in all health insurance cover‐
age in the U.S., as well as free of charge in any state where a
woman’s income falls below the poverty level.
Appointing Judges
This is not addressed in the platform.
Planned Parenthood
This is not addressed in the platform.
Legislation
It is essential that the option of a safe, legal abortion remains
available. The “morning‐after” pill must be affordable and easily accessible without a prescription, together with a govern‐
ment‐sponsored public relations campaign to educate women
about this form of contraception. Clinics must be accessible
and must offer advice on contraception and the means for contraception; consultation about abortion and the performance
of abortions, and; abortion regardless of age or marital status.
Sex Education
This is not specifically addressed in the platform.
End of Life
We believe in more comprehensive services for those who
have special needs, including the mentally ill, the differently
abled and those who are terminally ill.
International
Public health agencies operating abroad should be allowed to
offer family planning, contraception, and abortion in all countries that ask for those services. We oppose our government’s
habit of cutting family planning funds when those funds go to
agencies in foreign countries that give out contraceptive devices, offer advice on abortion, and perform abortions.
(To view the full party platform, click here)
Your vote is critical in the presidential election, but don’t forget or underestimate the importance of local races. Remember that Barack Obama went from Illinois State Senator to President of the United States. Most politicians climb their own political ladder of success. Make sure they match your stand beginning on the bottom rung!