Press Room

Contact: Peggy Hamill, State Director (414) 416-0489
Matt Sande, Director of Legislative Affairs (262) 352-0890
(262) 796-1111 or info@prolifewisconsin.org

PLW Marks 40th Anniversary of Griswold v. Connecticut
Court decision on contraception paved way for legalized abortion

Pro-Life Wisconsinites will mark the 40th anniversary of the June 7, 1965 Griswold v. Connecticut Supreme Court decision today, gathering for prayer vigils followed by celebrations of the family. Pro-lifers across the state will remember the seminal Griswold ruling that paved the way for abortion on demand in America by defining the “right to privacy” upon which the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision was based.

“There has been a tradition in the pro-life movement of commemorating January 22nd in remembrance of Roe v. Wade and Roe’s millions of casualties,” said Peggy Hamill, State Director of Pro-Life Wisconsin. “Why not commemorate the day that truly set the stage for Roe? The deadly connection between contraception and abortion is all too real. Hormonal birth control has an abortion-causing effect, and we know that the contraceptive mentality perpetuates abortion as back-up contraception.”

By judicial fiat, the Court in Griswold established a constitutional “right to privacy” in striking down a Connecticut ban on the sale and use of contraceptives. The right to marital privacy as set forth in Griswold was one of the main foundations of the court's Roe decision overturning state abortion statutes.

“The right of privacy is not a constitutional right, it is a court ordered right,” said Matt Sande, Pro-Life Wisconsin Director of Legislative Affairs. “It is pure invention and has less to do with protecting privacy than with imposing the radical social policy of a politicized court. Those who are appalled by abortion and judicial tyranny will have both a moral and civic interest in exposing the fraud of Griswold.”

“Griswold set the stage for the destruction of millions of innocent human beings through chemical and surgical abortion,” said Jim Schmidt, President of Pro-Life Wisconsin Juneau County. “Our affiliate is taking this opportunity to educate people about the link between abortion and contraception at a prayer vigil and scripture reading at Family Planning Health Services in Mauston. I pray that pro-lifers will continue to mark this anniversary year after year in growing numbers until victory is achieved and life is respected and protected from fertilization until natural death.”

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