About

Our Mission

Maryland Right to Life believes every human life possesses inherent dignity and value, and deserves to be protected from conception until natural death.

Since 1973, Maryland Right to Life has advocated on behalf of vulnerable human beings threatened by abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide, and euthanasia. We champion life-affirming alternatives to abortion, such as adoption, and we strongly support the work of pregnancy help organizations. Our organization is officially non-partisan, non-sectarian, and non-denominational. Maryland Right to Life is the state affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee. In addition to our statewide leadership, we operate a grassroots network of county-based chapters which promote respect for life on the local level.

Get to Know Us Better: “Who We Are” Brochure

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Methods

Maryland Right to Life‘s mission is carried out through a multi-pronged strategy involving education (C3), legislative advocacy (C4), and political action (PAC). Through these entities, we hope to bring about the day when abortion is not only illegal but unthinkable. Maryland Right to Life seeks to impact public policy exclusively through peaceful, legal means.

Structure

Maryland Right to Life, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization governed according to bylaws adopted by its Board of Directors. Maryland Right to Life directors represent the county chapters that make up the organization. According to the bylaws, as many as eight at-large directors may also be appointed, chosen for their expertise in various fields. The Board of Directors elects officers (president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer) to oversee the work of the organization and employs staff such as an executive director to manage the day-to-day operations. Maryland Right to Life, Inc. is dedicated to impacting public policy in the state. Since this arm of the organization deals in part with lobbying and legislation, donations to Maryland Right to Life, Inc. are not tax-deductible.

Maryland Right to Life Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that produces educational programs to inform the public about pro-life topics ranging from abortion, pregnancy help centers, and the humanity of the unborn child to end-of-life issues like assisted suicide, healthcare rationing, and euthanasia. The Foundation is governed according to bylaws adopted by its Board of Directors. Donations to the Maryland Right to Life Foundation are fully tax-deductible.

Maryland Right to Life Position Statements

The Right to Life:

Maryland Right to Life believes that human life—from conception to natural death—possesses inherent dignity and value, and deserves protection under the law. Therefore, Maryland Right to Life opposes infanticide, assisted suicide and euthanasia, human cloning, embryonic stem cell research, and abortion (with exceptions for rare medical emergencies that endanger the life of the mother.) Maryland’s current policy allowing abortions for virtually any reason throughout pregnancy, even right until birth, is too extreme.

A Single-Issue Focus:

Maryland Right to Life draws strength from the broad coalition of people who find common cause with our organization. Our movement is bolstered by supporters from various backgrounds and from across the political spectrum. We may each hold divergent views on topics such as religion, economics, foreign affairs, and other social issues, but we unite under the banner of Maryland Right to Life to protect innocent human life.

Maryland Right to Life is a single-issue right-to-life organization. We do not take positions issues such as contraception, capital punishment, climate change, animal rights, marriage, immigration, the Second Amendment, or war. Our single-issue focus allows us to prioritize the right to life. We can concentrate all of our efforts on saving lives. It also enables us to appeal to more potential supporters and bring together the diverse coalition we need to achieve our ultimate goals.

Religious Affiliation:

Maryland Right to Life is not affiliated with any religious institution. We are a non-sectarian and non-denominational organization. Members of all faiths (or none) are welcome to join our movement.

The Rule of Law:

Official Maryland Right to Life policy mandates that its “directors, officers, employees, agents, or any person or entity acting in its name or in concert with it, shall not encourage, promote, or engage in any unlawful activities related to the purposes of Maryland Right to Life.” We are firmly committed to promoting respect for life exclusively through legal and non-violent means.