Following are some "thought starters" for you to compose letters to the editor. We have divided the suggestions into categories of Catholic and secular publications.

Overall recommendation: At the present time, the federal ban on partial-birth abortions is being defended in three courts across the nation. The abortionists in these trials are testifying about various kinds of abortion procedures, and their sworn testimony is an excellent source of proof about how violent and repulsive abortion actually is. To quote from these testimonies, and to use the abortionists' descriptions about crushing heads and dismemberment, is a powerful way to cut through the pro-abortion rhetoric of politicians and others. Click here to read or download the court transcripts.

• Active participation in our community is a fundamental element of the Catholic faith.
• Catholics must make registering to vote a priority rather than considering it a secondary concern.
• The Catholic Conference of Bishops states that active citizenship is a moral imperative. "We encourage all citizens, particularly Catholics, to embrace their citizenship not merely as a duty and privilege, but as an opportunity meaningfully to participate in building the culture of life. Every voice matters in the public forum. Every vote counts. Every act of responsible citizenship is an exercise of significant individual power. We must exercise that power in ways that defend human life, especially those of God's children who are unborn, disabled or otherwise vulnerable" (US Bishops, Living the Gospel of Life, 1998, n. 34).
• While there is never an ideal candidate, one can try to determine which candidate who will best advance respect for life.
• If neither candidate respects life, a vote to prevent the candidate who will promote the greater evil is morally permissible as a means of limiting evil.
• Life is the foundation upon which all other rights exist. Therefore, support for other rights is irrelevant if support for life does not serve as its foundation.

• "Respect for the dignity of the human person demands a commitment to human rights across a broad spectrum…. Yet abortion and euthanasia have become preeminent threats to human dignity because they directly attack life itself, the most fundamental human good and the condition for all others" (US Bishops, Living the Gospel of Life, 1998, n. 5).
• "Abortion's direct attack on innocent human life is precisely the kind of violent act that can never be justified. Because victims of abortion are the most vulnerable and defenseless members of the human family, it is imperative that we, as Christians called to serve the least among us, give urgent attention and priority to this issue of justice." 1985 Reaffirmation of the US Bishops' Pastoral Plan for Pro-life Activities.
• "In a society where abortion is claimed as "a woman's right," the most fundamental right—the right to life—is denied, and the basis for defending the rights of all women and men is, thereby, eroded." 1985 Reaffirmation of the US Bishops' Pastoral Plan for Pro-life Activities.

Supreme Court (President)

• Many observers think that the Supreme Court is within a single vote of overturning Roe v. Wade.
• The winner of the next election will likely appoint from two to four Supreme Court Justices.
• If a pro-Roe Justice replaces an anti-Roe Justice, Roe v. Wade will likely remain in place for at least another generation.
• The Supreme Court must have Justices who are willing to stand up for life and the family rather than "discovering" unwritten rights such as abortion and gay marriage.

Supreme Court (Senate)

• If the Senate treats Catholic Supreme Court appointees as it treats Catholic lower court appointees, practicing Catholics may never again serve on the Supreme Court.
• If a pro-life judge is nominated to the Supreme Court, pro-abortion Senators may filibuster, and even stop, his nomination solely because of his religious beliefs.
• If the Senate has a pro-abortion majority, it may be nearly impossible to have a pro-lifer seated on the Supreme Court.

• Those who believe in the teachings of the Catholic Church have been prevented from serving on federal courts expressly because of their religious beliefs.
• Pro-abortion Senators have imposed an unconstitutional religious test on court nominees. "… but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States." (Article VI of the US Constitution)
• Radical judges continue to write new anti-family rights, such as the right to gay marriage, into the Constitution.

• Every year, at least a few parents receive a call from a hospital stating that their minor daughter had died as a result of an abortion about which they had no prior knowledge..
• Those who oppose parental notification are almost always those who receive campaign donations from radical special interests.
• Minors who become pregnant must be able to speak with their parents rather than fear them.
• Often, minors who become pregnant do so in a relationship that constitutes statutory rape. These cases usually go unreported in the event that a child does not notify her parents about her pregnancy.

• Abortion is the only non-emergency medical treatment that a child can receive without a parent's permission.
• Politicians who oppose parental consent do so because they know that parents will frequently prevent their daughters from having such risky medical surgery.
• Opposition to parental consent is a complete rejection of any parental rights.
• An abortion is an invasive surgery with short and long term physical and emotional consequences, something adults usually consider more fully than children.
• Minors who become pregnant, as shown by their actions, are incapable of exercising rational judgement in important situations.
• When a minor procures an abortion, she is often unfamiliar with her medical history and can omit vital information prior to the procedure, leading to a greater likelihood of severe complications.

• Women, especially minors, experience fear and anxiety when they unexpectedly become pregnant. These women need time to become fully informed and consider their options before acting rashly.
• Women frequently change their minds about procuring abortions when taking time to rethink their situations.

• Politicians who oppose the transportation of minors to procure abortions do so because Planned Parenthood, which funds their campaigns, does not want to lose business.
• Statutory rapists frequently transport minors across state lines to deter the girl from notifying authorities about his crime.
• Parental rights supercede the rights of any other adults in the lives of children and are frequently trampled by those transporting minors for abortions.

Senate Races and Legislation (May also be used for House and state races)

• Many Senators (use the name of your Senator if he or she is among them) have assumed extreme positions, such as opposition to the ban on partial-birth abortion, to satisfy radical special interest groups, such as Planned Parenthood.
• Senators (your Senator, if one of your's is among this group and running for reelection) who oppose even moderate legislation banning partial-birth abortion, which many pro-choicers consider infanticide, are out of step with (your state) values.
• (Your Senator) was elected by the people of (your state) to represent (residents of your state), not extreme special interests.
• Opponents of the ban on partial-birth abortion either deny the reality before them or were too afraid of offending extremist special interest groups to do the right thing.
• Any person who thinks it should be legal to kill a child is unfit to serve in the Senate.