President Bush Speaks to Pro-Life Advocates at National Right to Life Convention

Nashville, TN (LifeNews.com) -- President Bush spoke to attendees at the 34th annual National Right to Life convention on Friday and urged them to continue fighting to build a culture that respects human life. "You are united in this common belief - that human life is a gift from the Creator and deserves protection in all stages," the president said in his videotaped message. "Thanks to your efforts, our nation is making progress in meeting this noble goal." The president touted the pro-life legislation he's signed during his administration, including bills to protect babies born alive after botched abortions, a ban on partial-birth abortions, and a bill to protect pregnant women and their unborn children from violence. "These are important steps forward but there is still more work to do," she said. Bush also spoke about bioethics issues and told the audience, "I oppose the destruction of human embryos for stem cell research and have refused to spend money on programs that pay for or promote abortions overseas." The president renewed his call on Congress to approve a comprehensive ban on human cloning. "Human life is sacred and should never be used as research material" Bush added. "I believe America must pursue science in a way that fosters a respect for human life. With the right policies and techniques, we can pursue science that saves human lives while building a culture that respects human life." The president also called on Congress to approve a measure the House has approved that would prohibit taking teenagers to other states for secret abortions. He also discussed new three-dimensional ultrasound images and said they are helping to change public opinion. "With these technological advances, the humanity of the unborn child is becoming more evident." Bush concluded, "I stand with you as you continue to fight for the protection of human life. History tells us that such a cause cannot fail."