---
title: "Joint Open Letter to State Lawmakers: Criminalizing Women Who Have Abortions Is Not Pro-Life"
description: "Coalition letter from National Right to Life Committee, May 12, 2022, to State legislators nationwide. Composite 9/12 — explicit opposition to a tenet. “we do not support any measure seeking to criminalize or punish women and we stand firmly opposed to include such penalties in legislation”"
type: "letter"
letter_id: "PL-2022-001"
date: "2022-05-12"
letter_type: "Coalition letter"
lead_org: "National Right to Life Committee"
recipient: "State legislators nationwide"
topic: "Criminal liability for women who obtain abortions"
shortfall_type: "explicit_opposition_to_tenet"
composite: 9
verification: "primary"
signature_rows: 84
primary_url: "https://nrlc.org/communications/releases/2022/051222openletter/"
source_url: "https://www.abhortion.org/letters/pl-2022-001.html"
---

# Joint Open Letter to State Lawmakers: Criminalizing Women Who Have Abortions Is Not Pro-Life

**Coalition letter** · May 12, 2022 · Explicit opposition to a tenet · composite 9 / 12 · Primary source

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Letter ID | PL-2022-001 (formerly L01) |
| Date | May 12, 2022 |
| Lead organization | [National Right to Life Committee](../letters/orgs/o074.md) |
| Recipient | State legislators nationwide |
| Topic | Criminal liability for women who obtain abortions |
| Type | Coalition letter |
| Verification | Primary source |
| Signature rows | 84 (70+ orgs / 82 reps reported) |
| Completeness | Complete from letter text |

## Key language

> “we do not support any measure seeking to criminalize or punish women and we stand firmly opposed to include such penalties in legislation” — National Right to Life Committee, May 12, 2022

## Scorecard

Composite **9 of 12** — explicit opposition to a tenet. Each dimension is scored 0 (none), 1 (implied) or 2 (explicit); the rationale is the editor's one-line reason for every non-zero score. D2 and D4 are the fault line the abolitionist critique cares most about.

| Dimension | Score | Meaning at this score | Rationale |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| D1 Exceptions | 0 | None | — |
| D2 Immunity for the mother (fault line) | 2 | Explicitly opposes prosecuting or criminalizing women | Explicit blanket immunity for the mother, contra equal protection. |
| D3 Incrementalism | 1 | By implication — a funding, drug, research, Hyde or Title X letter that takes no abolition position | Endorses incremental measures. |
| D4 Opposition to abolition or equal-protection bills (fault line) | 2 | Explicitly opposes or lobbies against one | Deployed to defeat Louisiana HB 813 and later cited against ND and SC equal-protection measures. |
| D5 Framing | 2 | Explicit leave-it-to-the-states, court-viability or electoral-pragmatism framing | Frames Dobbs as returning policy to legislators; "durable" policy. |
| D6 Secular framing | 2 | Wholly secular, legal, fiscal, medical or political argument | Secular, coalition-of-organizations framing. |

## Signatories

84 signature rows · 70+ orgs / 82 reps reported by the letter · **Complete from letter text.** Full signature block transcribed from the letter itself. Rows are transcribed as printed, in printed order.

| # | Name as printed | Title as printed | Organization as printed |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [Carol Tobias](../letters/people/i0079.md) | President | [National Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o074.md) |
| 2 | [Marjorie Dannenfelser](../letters/people/i0001.md) | President | [Susan B. Anthony List](../letters/orgs/o001.md) |
| 3 | [Archbishop William E. Lori](../letters/people/i0474.md) | Chairman, Committee on Pro-Life Activities | [U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops](../letters/orgs/o075.md) |
| 4 | [Eric J. Scheidler](../letters/people/i0025.md) | Executive Director | [Pro-Life Action League](../letters/orgs/o024.md) |
| 5 | [Dr. Gregory P. Seltz](../letters/people/i0313.md) | Executive Director | [Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty](../letters/orgs/o311.md) |
| 6 | [Ralph Reed](../letters/people/i0007.md) | Founder and Chairman | [Faith & Freedom Coalition](../letters/orgs/o007.md) |
| 7 | [Timothy R. Head](../letters/people/i0228.md) | Executive Director | [Faith & Freedom Coalition](../letters/orgs/o007.md) |
| 8 | [Aaron Lara](../letters/people/i0475.md) | Presidente | [Congreso Iberoamericano por la Vida y la Familia](../letters/orgs/o452.md) |
| 9 | [José L. González](../letters/people/i0476.md) | Founder and President | [Semilla](../letters/orgs/o453.md) |
| 10 | [Marie Ashby](../letters/people/i0477.md) | Executive Director | [National Association of Pro-Life Nurses](../letters/orgs/o454.md) |
| 11 | [Destiny Herndon-De La Rosa](../letters/people/i0414.md) | Founder and President | [New Wave Feminists](../letters/orgs/o396.md) |
| 12 | [Catherine Glenn Foster](../letters/people/i0109.md) | President and CEO | [Americans United for Life](../letters/orgs/o005.md) |
| 13 | [Jeanne F. Mancini](../letters/people/i0002.md) | President | [March for Life Action](../letters/orgs/o002.md) |
| 14 | [Brent Leatherwood](../letters/people/i0113.md) | Acting President | [Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Southern Baptist Convention](../letters/orgs/o076.md) |
| 15 | [Bradley Mattes](../letters/people/i0033.md) | President | [Life Issues Institute](../letters/orgs/o030.md) |
| 16 | [Kelsey Hazzard](../letters/people/i0028.md) | President | [Secular Pro-Life](../letters/orgs/o027.md) |
| 17 | [Kristen Day](../letters/people/i0145.md) | Executive Director | [Democrats for Life of America](../letters/orgs/o127.md) |
| 18 | [O. Carter Snead, J.D.](../letters/people/i0250.md) | Director | [de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture, University of Notre Dame](../letters/orgs/o455.md) |
| 19 | [Terrisa Bukovinac](../letters/people/i0171.md) | Founder and Executive Director | [Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising](../letters/orgs/o144.md) |
| 20 | [Herb Geraghty](../letters/people/i0418.md) | Executive Director | [Rehumanize International](../letters/orgs/o183.md) |
| 21 | [Joe Kral](../letters/people/i0478.md) | President and Editor-in-Chief | [Society of St. Sebastian](../letters/orgs/o456.md) |
| 22 | [Cheryl Lewis](../letters/people/i0479.md) | Director | [Alabama Citizens for Life](../letters/orgs/o457.md) |
| 23 | [Karen Lewis](../letters/people/i0480.md) | Director | [Pro-Life Alaska](../letters/orgs/o458.md) |
| 24 | [Luis Howard](../letters/people/i0481.md) | Director | [Arizona State Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o459.md) |
| 25 | [Rose Mimms](../letters/people/i0482.md) | Executive Director | [Arkansas Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o166.md) |
| 26 | [Brian Johnston](../letters/people/i0483.md) | Director | [California Pro-Life Council](../letters/orgs/o460.md) |
| 27 | [Chad Schnitger](../letters/people/i0484.md) | President | [Faith & Freedom Coalition of California](../letters/orgs/o461.md) |
| 28 | [Steven Ertelt](../letters/people/i0022.md) | Director | [Colorado Citizens for Life](../letters/orgs/o462.md) |
| 29 | [Steven Ertelt](../letters/people/i0022.md) | Editor | [LifeNews.com](../letters/orgs/o021.md) |
| 30 | [Suzy Smith](../letters/people/i0408.md) | President | [Pro-Life Council of Connecticut](../letters/orgs/o250.md) |
| 31 | [Rita Rinaldi](../letters/people/i0485.md) | Director | [Delaware Citizens for Life](../letters/orgs/o463.md) |
| 32 | [Ross T. Gillfillan](../letters/people/i0486.md) | National Director | [DC Metro Life Alliance](../letters/orgs/o464.md) |
| 33 | [Derrick Jones](../letters/people/i0487.md) | President | [DC Metro Life Alliance](../letters/orgs/o464.md) |
| 34 | [Hon. Lynda Bell](../letters/people/i0440.md) | President | [Florida Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o236.md) |
| 35 | [Martha Zoller](../letters/people/i0488.md) | Executive Director | [Georgia Life Alliance](../letters/orgs/o046.md) |
| 36 | [Janet Hochberg](../letters/people/i0489.md) | Director | [Hawaii Life Alliance](../letters/orgs/o465.md) |
| 37 | [Kerry Uhlenkott](../letters/people/i0490.md) | Legislative Coordinator | [Right to Life of Idaho](../letters/orgs/o254.md) |
| 38 | [Dawn Behnke, Esq.](../letters/people/i0491.md) | President | [Illinois Federation for Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o466.md) |
| 39 | [Mike Fichter](../letters/people/i0158.md) | President and CEO | [Indiana Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o135.md) |
| 40 | [Kristi Judkins](../letters/people/i0442.md) | Executive Director | [Iowa Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o049.md) |
| 41 | [Steve Scheffler](../letters/people/i0492.md) | President | [Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition](../letters/orgs/o467.md) |
| 42 | [Maggie DeWitte](../letters/people/i0177.md) | Executive Director | [Pulse Life Advocates](../letters/orgs/o150.md) |
| 43 | [Mary Wilkinson](../letters/people/i0493.md) | President | [Kansans for Life](../letters/orgs/o167.md) |
| 44 | [Carol Dengel](../letters/people/i0494.md) | National Director | [Kansans for Life](../letters/orgs/o167.md) |
| 45 | [Hon. Addia K. Wuchner, R.N.](../letters/people/i0495.md) | Executive Director and CEO | [Kentucky Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o138.md) |
| 46 | [Benjamin Clapper](../letters/people/i0155.md) | Executive Director | [Louisiana Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o133.md) |
| 47 | [Hon. Karen Vachon](../letters/people/i0496.md) | President and Executive Director | [Maine Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o134.md) |
| 48 | [Darla St. Martin](../letters/people/i0497.md) | President | [Maryland Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o271.md) |
| 49 | [Myrna Maloney Flynn](../letters/people/i0208.md) | President and CEO | [Massachusetts Citizens for Life](../letters/orgs/o171.md) |
| 50 | [Barb Listing](../letters/people/i0498.md) | President | [Right to Life of Michigan](../letters/orgs/o185.md) |
| 51 | [Scott Fischbach](../letters/people/i0499.md) | Executive Director | [Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life](../letters/orgs/o238.md) |
| 52 | [Barbara Whitehead](../letters/people/i0500.md) | Director | [Mississippi Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o468.md) |
| 53 | [Susan Klein](../letters/people/i0163.md) | Executive Director | [Missouri Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o139.md) |
| 54 | [Medora Nagle](../letters/people/i0501.md) | Director | [Right to Life of Montana](../letters/orgs/o469.md) |
| 55 | [Sandy Danek](../letters/people/i0502.md) | Executive Director | [Nebraska Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o240.md) |
| 56 | [Melissa Clement](../letters/people/i0445.md) | Executive Director | [Nevada Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o241.md) |
| 57 | [Lance Lemmonds](../letters/people/i0503.md) | President | [Nevada Faith & Freedom Coalition](../letters/orgs/o470.md) |
| 58 | [Roger Stenson](../letters/people/i0504.md) | President | [New Hampshire Citizens for Life](../letters/orgs/o471.md) |
| 59 | [Anne M. Perone, Esq.](../letters/people/i0505.md) | President | [New Jersey Committee for Life](../letters/orgs/o472.md) |
| 60 | [Angie Smith](../letters/people/i0506.md) | President | [Right to Life Committee of New Mexico](../letters/orgs/o473.md) |
| 61 | [Ethel Maharg](../letters/people/i0507.md) | Executive Director | [Right to Life Committee of New Mexico](../letters/orgs/o473.md) |
| 62 | [Anne LeBlanc](../letters/people/i0508.md) | Chairman | [New York State Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o474.md) |
| 63 | [Bill Pincus, M.D.](../letters/people/i0446.md) | President | [North Carolina Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o423.md) |
| 64 | [Barbara Holt](../letters/people/i0509.md) | National Director | [North Carolina Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o423.md) |
| 65 | [Jason Williams](../letters/people/i0213.md) | Executive Director | [North Carolina Faith & Freedom Coalition](../letters/orgs/o475.md) |
| 66 | [McKenzie McCoy](../letters/people/i0510.md) | Executive Director | [North Dakota Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o172.md) |
| 67 | [Michael V. Ciccocioppo](../letters/people/i0511.md) | Executive Director | [Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation](../letters/orgs/o173.md) |
| 68 | [Christopher Merola](../letters/people/i0512.md) | Executive Director | [Pennsylvania Faith & Freedom Coalition](../letters/orgs/o476.md) |
| 69 | [Mike Gonidakis](../letters/people/i0098.md) | President | [Ohio Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o092.md) |
| 70 | [Tony Lauinger](../letters/people/i0513.md) | State Chairman | [Oklahomans for Life](../letters/orgs/o243.md) |
| 71 | [Lois Anderson](../letters/people/i0127.md) | Executive Director | [Oregon Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o111.md) |
| 72 | [Barth Bracy](../letters/people/i0514.md) | Executive Director | [Rhode Island State Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o477.md) |
| 73 | [Lisa Van Riper](../letters/people/i0515.md) | President | [South Carolina Citizens for Life](../letters/orgs/o257.md) |
| 74 | [Holly Gatling](../letters/people/i0516.md) | Executive Director | [South Carolina Citizens for Life](../letters/orgs/o257.md) |
| 75 | [Dale Bartscher](../letters/people/i0517.md) | Executive Director | [South Dakota Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o258.md) |
| 76 | [Valerie Johnson](../letters/people/i0518.md) | National Director | [South Dakota Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o258.md) |
| 77 | [Stacy Dunn](../letters/people/i0447.md) | President | [Tennessee Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o182.md) |
| 78 | [Mark Hoffman, Ph.D.](../letters/people/i0519.md) | Director | [Right to Life of Utah](../letters/orgs/o478.md) |
| 79 | [Mary Hahn Beerworth](../letters/people/i0520.md) | Executive Director | [Vermont Right to Life Committee](../letters/orgs/o253.md) |
| 80 | [Olivia Turner](../letters/people/i0521.md) | President | [Virginia Society for Human Life](../letters/orgs/o479.md) |
| 81 | [Esther Ripplinger](../letters/people/i0130.md) | President & CEO | [Human Life of Washington](../letters/orgs/o114.md) |
| 82 | [Wanda Franz, Ph.D.](../letters/people/i0522.md) | President | [West Virginians for Life](../letters/orgs/o255.md) |
| 83 | [Heather Weininger](../letters/people/i0449.md) | Executive Director | [Wisconsin Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o424.md) |
| 84 | [Larry Hell](../letters/people/i0523.md) | President | [Wyoming Citizens for Life](../letters/orgs/o480.md) |

## Organizations on this letter

77 distinct organizations and 83 named individuals, after normalizing renamed and affiliated entities.

- [National Right to Life Committee](../letters/orgs/o074.md) — Right-to-life group
- [Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America](../letters/orgs/o001.md) — Advocacy or other
- [U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops](../letters/orgs/o075.md) — Religious body
- [Pro-Life Action League](../letters/orgs/o024.md) — Advocacy or other
- [Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty](../letters/orgs/o311.md) — Religious body
- [Faith & Freedom Coalition](../letters/orgs/o007.md) — Advocacy or other
- [Congreso Iberoamericano por la Vida y la Familia](../letters/orgs/o452.md) — Advocacy or other
- [Semilla](../letters/orgs/o453.md) — Advocacy or other
- [National Association of Pro-Life Nurses](../letters/orgs/o454.md) — Advocacy or other
- [New Wave Feminists](../letters/orgs/o396.md) — Advocacy or other
- [Americans United for Life](../letters/orgs/o005.md) — Right-to-life group
- [March for Life](../letters/orgs/o002.md) — Right-to-life group
- [Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission](../letters/orgs/o076.md) — Religious body
- [Life Issues Institute](../letters/orgs/o030.md) — Advocacy or other
- [Secular Pro-Life](../letters/orgs/o027.md) — Advocacy or other
- [Democrats for Life of America](../letters/orgs/o127.md) — Right-to-life group
- [de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture, University of Notre Dame](../letters/orgs/o455.md) — Academic
- [Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising](../letters/orgs/o144.md) — Advocacy or other
- [Rehumanize International](../letters/orgs/o183.md) — Advocacy or other
- [Society of St. Sebastian](../letters/orgs/o456.md) — Legal
- [Alabama Citizens for Life](../letters/orgs/o457.md) — Right-to-life group, AL
- [Pro-Life Alaska](../letters/orgs/o458.md) — Advocacy or other, AK
- [Arizona State Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o459.md) — Right-to-life group, AZ
- [Arkansas Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o166.md) — Right-to-life group, AR
- [California Pro-Life Council](../letters/orgs/o460.md) — Advocacy or other, CA
- [Faith & Freedom Coalition of California](../letters/orgs/o461.md) — Advocacy or other, CA
- [Colorado Citizens for Life](../letters/orgs/o462.md) — Right-to-life group, CO
- [LifeNews.com](../letters/orgs/o021.md) — Media
- [Prolife Council of Connecticut](../letters/orgs/o250.md) — Advocacy or other, CT
- [Delaware Citizens for Life](../letters/orgs/o463.md) — Right-to-life group, DE
- [DC Metro Life Alliance](../letters/orgs/o464.md) — Advocacy or other
- [Florida Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o236.md) — Right-to-life group, FL
- [Georgia Life Alliance](../letters/orgs/o046.md) — Advocacy or other, GA
- [Hawaii Life Alliance](../letters/orgs/o465.md) — Advocacy or other, HI
- [Right to Life of Idaho](../letters/orgs/o254.md) — Right-to-life group, ID
- [Illinois Federation for Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o466.md) — Right-to-life group, IL
- [Indiana Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o135.md) — Right-to-life group, IN
- [Iowa Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o049.md) — Right-to-life group, IA
- [Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition](../letters/orgs/o467.md) — Advocacy or other, IA
- [Pulse Life Advocates](../letters/orgs/o150.md) — Advocacy or other
- [Kansans for Life](../letters/orgs/o167.md) — Right-to-life group, KS
- [Kentucky Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o138.md) — Right-to-life group, KY
- [Louisiana Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o133.md) — Right-to-life group, LA
- [Maine Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o134.md) — Right-to-life group, ME
- [Maryland Right to Life, Inc.](../letters/orgs/o271.md) — Right-to-life group, MD
- [Massachusetts Citizens for Life](../letters/orgs/o171.md) — Right-to-life group, MA
- [Right to Life of Michigan](../letters/orgs/o185.md) — Right-to-life group, MI
- [Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life](../letters/orgs/o238.md) — Right-to-life group, MN
- [Mississippi Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o468.md) — Right-to-life group, MS
- [Missouri Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o139.md) — Right-to-life group, MO
- [Right to Life of Montana](../letters/orgs/o469.md) — Right-to-life group, MT
- [Nebraska Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o240.md) — Right-to-life group, NE
- [Nevada Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o241.md) — Right-to-life group, NV
- [Nevada Faith & Freedom Coalition](../letters/orgs/o470.md) — Advocacy or other, NV
- [New Hampshire Citizens for Life](../letters/orgs/o471.md) — Right-to-life group, NH
- [New Jersey Committee for Life](../letters/orgs/o472.md) — Right-to-life group, NJ
- [Right to Life Committee of New Mexico](../letters/orgs/o473.md) — Right-to-life group, NM
- [New York State Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o474.md) — Right-to-life group, NY
- [North Carolina Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o423.md) — Right-to-life group, NC
- [North Carolina Faith & Freedom Coalition](../letters/orgs/o475.md) — Advocacy or other, NC
- [North Dakota Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o172.md) — Right-to-life group, ND
- [Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation](../letters/orgs/o173.md) — Advocacy or other, PA
- [Pennsylvania Faith & Freedom Coalition](../letters/orgs/o476.md) — Advocacy or other, PA
- [Ohio Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o092.md) — Right-to-life group, OH
- [Oklahomans For Life, Inc.](../letters/orgs/o243.md) — Right-to-life group, OK
- [Oregon Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o111.md) — Right-to-life group, OR
- [Rhode Island State Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o477.md) — Right-to-life group, RI
- [South Carolina Citizens for Life](../letters/orgs/o257.md) — Right-to-life group, SC
- [South Dakota Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o258.md) — Right-to-life group, SD
- [Tennessee Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o182.md) — Right-to-life group, TN
- [Right to Life of Utah](../letters/orgs/o478.md) — Right-to-life group, UT
- [Vermont Right to Life Committee](../letters/orgs/o253.md) — Right-to-life group, VT
- [Virginia Society for Human Life](../letters/orgs/o479.md) — Legal, VA
- [Human Life of Washington](../letters/orgs/o114.md) — Advocacy or other, WA
- [West Virginians for Life](../letters/orgs/o255.md) — Right-to-life group, VA
- [Wisconsin Right to Life](../letters/orgs/o424.md) — Right-to-life group, WI
- [Wyoming Citizens for Life](../letters/orgs/o480.md) — Right-to-life group, WY

## Sources

- [nrlc.org/communications/rele…](https://nrlc.org/communications/releases/2022/051222openletter/) — Primary source (https://nrlc.org/communications/releases/2022/051222openletter/)
- [nrlc.org/uploads/communicati…](https://www.nrlc.org/uploads/communications/051222coalitionlettertostates.pdf) — secondary (https://www.nrlc.org/uploads/communications/051222coalitionlettertostates.pdf)
- [catholicnewsagency.com/news/251217](https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251217) — secondary (https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251217)

## Notes

Signatures as printed in the letter (user transcription verified against NRLC release).

## Editorial note

The rubric records distance from the standard published by Abolitionists Rising, not a moral verdict; every organization scored here regards itself as pro-life. Scores are judgment calls applied consistently by the published rubric.