Contact: Troy Newman, President, 316-841-1700; Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Policy Advisor, 316-516-3034, info.operationrescue@gmail.com; both with Operation Rescue  

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ -- For several months now, prominent pro-life leaders have been meeting to discuss what action must be taken when, on October 1, 2013, the Exchanges open and a large majority of health insurance policies are found to contain direct or indirect funding for abortion.

Through long meetings and meticulous discussion, a coalition of pro-life leaders has developed a unified response to the Affordable Care Act's relentless endeavors to guarantee funding for abortion through everything from individual citizens to private businesses and non-profit organizations -- with absolutely no regard to any religious liberty or conscientious objections.

One pro-life leader notes, "This healthcare reform strikes at the very heart of the pro-life movement. Our religious liberty, our constitutional freedoms -- those are things that allow us to be a voice for the preborn. The ACA intentionally strips that away from us, then goes even a step further, saying, 'Either you play ball and fund abortion, or we hit you with heavy fines until you wish you did pay.' We, as leaders, are not going to stand down and let that happen in silence. We will not, and cannot, participate in any program that tramples our freedoms and directly earmarks money for abortion -- and that is exactly what the ACA is doing."

Beginning immediately, pro-life citizens are invited to join national leaders like Troy Newman, Joe Scheidler, Fr. Frank Pavone, and many others in signing "A Pledge for the Preservation of Life and Liberty."

This Pledge has been carefully crafted to stand as a "line in the sand" regarding any scenario in which the ACA forces individuals to participate -- whether directly or indirectly -- in the destruction of human life. In short, pro-life leaders have chosen one answer: We will not comply.

In its final paragraph, the Pledge states very clearly:

"We declare that we will not comply with any regulation of the ACA wherein we are forced to pay for abortion or forced to willfully participate in the killing of innocent children.

"In practicality, this means we will not choose an insurance policy that contains abortion funding, whether directly or indirectly, even to the point of choosing no insurance, at all. Furthermore, we support any citizen who chooses to act in peaceful protest, including non-violent civil disobedience, as the government has no authority to force us, as free citizens, to violate our conscience or forfeit our religious freedoms."

The following pro-life leaders have already signed the Pledge:

    * Joe Scheidler, Pro-Life Action League
    * Troy Newman, Operation Rescue
    * Rev. Terry Gensemer
    * Fr. Frank Pavone
    * Monica Migliorino Miller, Ph. D.
    * Bryan Kemper
    * Rev. Patrick Mahoney
    * Georgette Forney
    * Dana Cody
    * Judy Brown
    * Jim Sedlak, American Life League
    * Day Gardner, National Black Pro-Life Union
    * Denise Cocciolone
    * Walter B. Hoye, Issues4Life Foundation
    * Brian Gibson, Pro-Life Action Ministries
    * Brian Fisher
    * Bethany and Ryan Bomberger, The Radiance Foundation
    * Steven Ertelt
    * Kristina Garza, Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust
    * Rev. Joe Young, Heroic Media
    * Mark Harrington
    * Catherine Davis, The Restoration Project
    * Steve Koob, One More Soul
    * Jill Stanek
    * Jennifer Bowen, Iowa Right to Life
    * Jeanneane Maxon
    * Mary Maschmeier, Defenders of the Unborn
    * Terri Herring, Pro-Life America Network
    * Edmund B. Miller, Guadalupe Partners
    * Sam Casey, The Jubilee Campaign's Law of Life Project
    * Bud and Tara Shaver
    * Scott Klusendorf. Life Training Institute
    * Abby Johnson
    * Brandi Swindell
    * Rebecca Kiessling
    * Greg Cunningham, Center for Bioethical Reform
    * Cheryl Sullenger, Operation Rescue

For more information on signing the Pledge and a list of spokespersons, please visit www.prolifenation.org/pledge.