January 22nd
On Jan. 22, 1973, the Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Roe
v. Wade allowed abortions in the first six months of pregnancy.
Twenty-three years later, Norma McCorvey, who was the “Jane Roe” in
the Roe v. Wade suit, was interviewed by USA Today. She stated that
once, while employed at a clinic when no one was in: “I went into
the procedure room and laid down on the table…trying to imagine
what it would be like having an abortion… I broke down and cried.”
On ABC’s World News Tonight, Norma McCorvey said: “I think
abortion’s wrong. I think what I did with Roe v. Wade was wrong.”
January 23rd
On this day, Jan. 23, 1789, John Carroll founded Georgetown
University. But who was John Carroll? He was the first Catholic
bishop in the United States, and cousin of the wealthiest citizen in
America, Charles Carroll, the last surviving signer of the
Declaration. In 1776, the Continental Congress asked John Carroll to
be part of a commission, which included Benjamin Franklin, to enlist
the aid of Canada in the cause of the American Revolution Bishop
John Carroll wrote: “Freedom and independence, acquired by…and
cemented with the mingled blood of Protestant and Catholic
fellow-citizens, should be equally enjoyed by all.”
January 24th
James Madison’s strong position of defending religious freedom began
when, as a youth, he stood with his father outside a jail in the
village of Orange and listened to several Baptists preach from their
cell windows, having been imprisoned for their religious opinions.
Madison wrote of his disapproval of this practice to a friend named
William Bradford, on this day, Jan. 24, 1774, stating: “There are at this [time] in the adjacent [Culpepper] County not less than 5 or 6 well meaning men in [jail] for publishing their religious sentiments which in the main are very orthodox.”
January 25th
President Ronald Reagan delivered his State of the Union Address to
Congress on this day, Jan. 25, 1984, making reference to the fact
that they open each session of Congress with prayer. President
Reagan stated: “Each day your members observe a 200-year-old
tradition meant to signify America is one nation under God. I must
ask: If you can begin your day with a member of the clergy standing
right here leading you in prayer, then why can’t freedom to
acknowledge God be enjoyed again by children in every school room
across this land?”
January 26th
After commanding in World War I, he became superintendent of West
Point, and in 1930 became a four star general and the youngest Chief
of Staff of the U.S. Army. During World War II, he became Allied
Supreme Commander in the Southwest Pacific and received the
surrender of the Japanese. He was promoted to a five star general
and served as Supreme United Nations Commander during the Korean
War, until President Harry Truman made the very unpopular decision
to removed him. His name was Douglas MacArthur, and he was born on
this day, Jan. 26, 1880. To the cadets at West Point, Douglas
MacArthur stated: “The soldier, above all other men, is required to
practice the greatest act of religious training – sacrifice.”
”’William J. Federer is a nationally known speaker, best-selling author, and president of Amerisearch, Inc., a publishing company dedicated to research America’s noble heritage. For more information, go to:”’ https://www.amerisearch.net ”’or send him an email at:”’ mailto:mail@amerisearch.net