From Power to Purpose, by Sam Brownback: on Abortion


Scriptures are very clear: God sanctifies us in the womb

When I first ran for Congress in 1994, I was pro-life, but I wasn't vocal about it. While campaigning one day somebody said, "I just want to give you the Scriptures on this. You can read it for yourself. Would you do that for me?" I said, "Sure." I had not done that before, so I went home and read the Scriptures about the sanctity of life. Afterward, I thought, Wow, this is very clear.

God says, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you" (Jeremiah 1:5 NKJV); and the psalmist wrote, "For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:13-14 NKJV). In Luke's Gospel we see the angel's prophecy that John the Baptist would be filled with the Holy Spirit even before his birth. I thought, How do you argue with that?

I was convinced of the sacredness of every human life but not yet ready to make it a big political issue. That came after my cancer.

Source: From Power to Purpose, by Sam Brownback, p. 39 Jul 3, 2007

Embryonic stem cell research uses humans as guinea pigs

Adult stem cells do have plasticity. Then the scientists found stem cells in cord blood, which is the blood contained in the placenta and umbilical cord of newborns. These proved to be malleable and easy to collect and work with. They were in many ways more useful than stem cells previously collected from bone marrow. We suddenly had 3 competing areas for stem cells: embryonic, adult, and cord blood. Now we have even found them in the amniotic fluid surrounding a baby in the womb

Some researchers are admitting that embryonic stem cells are not the magic bullet they had been hoping for. Now they say the object is not curing people but learning how the cells work. Certainly that has more scientific plausibility. But it doesn't sell as well with the public if all we're doing is learning. There's also the fear that they're simply using humans as guinea pigs.

Source: From Power to Purpose, by Sam Brownback, p. 58-9 Jul 3, 2007

No cloning; no fetal farming

I think science is going to bypass cloning. Why do we need cloning if we have adaptable stem cells in our own bodies and they're a perfect genetic match? The only reason to clone is to produce cells that will match. So that step is no longer necessary. Plus, we've banned fetal farming, a bill passed and signed into law by the president. So now it's illegal to grow a young human for replacement body parts. That's a bigger issue than many people realize. We stopped a hideous practice before it started.
Source: From Power to Purpose, by Sam Brownback, p. 59 Jul 3, 2007

  • The above quotations are from From Power to Purpose:
    A Remarkable Journey of Faith and Compassion,     by Sam Brownback.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Abortion.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Sam Brownback on Abortion.
2016 Presidential contenders on Abortion:
  Republicans:
Gov.Jeb Bush(FL)
Dr.Ben Carson(MD)
Gov.Chris Christie(NJ)
Sen.Ted Cruz(TX)
Carly Fiorina(CA)
Gov.Jim Gilmore(VA)
Sen.Lindsey Graham(SC)
Gov.Mike Huckabee(AR)
Gov.Bobby Jindal(LA)
Gov.John Kasich(OH)
Gov.Sarah Palin(AK)
Gov.George Pataki(NY)
Sen.Rand Paul(KY)
Gov.Rick Perry(TX)
Sen.Rob Portman(OH)
Sen.Marco Rubio(FL)
Sen.Rick Santorum(PA)
Donald Trump(NY)
Gov.Scott Walker(WI) 		Democrats:
Gov.Lincoln Chafee(RI)
Secy.Hillary Clinton(NY)
V.P.Joe Biden(DE)
Gov.Martin O`Malley(MD)
Sen.Bernie Sanders(VT)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren(MA)
Sen.Jim Webb(VA)

2016 Third Party Candidates:
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Roseanne Barr(PF-HI)
Robert Steele(L-NY)
Dr.Jill Stein(G,MA)
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Page last updated: Feb 21, 2019