WASHINGTON (BP)–Pennsylvania is the most pro-life state in the country, while California is the least, according to the 2009 rankings by Americans United for Life (AUL).
Released Jan. 22, AUL’s sixth annual ratings show the following top 10 of most pro-life states: (1) Pennsylvania; (2) Louisiana; (3) South Dakota; (4) Oklahoma; (5) Mississippi; (6) Texas; (7) North Dakota; (8) Nebraska; (9) Arkansas; and (10) Indiana.
The 10 least pro-life states, beginning with the worst, are: (1) California; (2) Hawaii; (3) Vermont; (4) New Jersey; (5) Connecticut; (6) Nevada; (7) Oregon; (8) New York; (9) Washington; and (10) Illinois.
AUL, with offices in Chicago, based its rankings on such criteria as state laws regarding informed consent for women seeking abortions, parental involvement for minors considering abortions, restrictions on abortion funding, regulations for abortion clinics, funding of embryonic stem cell research, physician-assisted suicide and conscience protections for pro-life health-care providers.
–30—
Compiled by Baptist Press Washington Bureau chief Tom Strode.