Minnesota now has as extreme an abortion policy as anywhere in the world. Abortion extremism in Minnesota Update: Some advocates and lawmakers are trying to enshrine abortion up to birth in the Minnesota Constitution . Please contact your state senator and urge him or her to oppose the pro-abortion ERA bill (SF 473 ). Did you know? Minnesota’s abortion policy is as extreme as any in the world. In 2023, Minnesota lawmakers and Gov. Tim Walz enacted legislation making abortion legal for any reason and at any time throughout pregnancy . They also repealed a previous bipartisan requirement that infants who are born alive receive medically appropriate care that could save their lives. The result of these and other legal changes? Abortions are increasing significantly : A total of 14,124 abortions took place in 2023, a 39 percent rise over just two years, according to the Minnesota Department of Health . Some legislators and advocates now want to permanently enshrine Minnesota’s extreme abortion policy in the state Constitution. If they succeed, future lawmakers would be unable to protect unborn children—even viable babies late in pregnancy who can feel pain. A proposed constitutional amendment (a pro-abortion version of the so-called “Equal Rights Amendment”) was introduced in 2024, but it failed to pass the legislature after Minnesotans all across the state urged their lawmakers to reject it. A poll found that 64 percent of Minnesotans didn’t want abortion included in the amendment (KSTP/SurveyUSA, May 2024). Now, in 2026, advocates are again trying to pass the abortion-up-to-birth amendment (SF 473 ). Contact your state House and Senate members and urge them to oppose the pro-abortion ERA bill Find out how your lawmakers voted on abortion up to birth and leaving babies to die Sign up for email updates from MCCL , and follow us on social media Sign MCCL's petition to restore protection for born-alive infants An explanation of the laws: See the details of Minnesota's abortion-up-to-birth policy and the repeal of protection for born-alive infants . Did lawmakers and Walz really repeal protection for born-alive infants? Here's point-by-point documentation of what actually happened . Who are they leaving out, and why? Learn how Minnesota lawmakers are excluding vulnerable members of the human family . Minnesota isn't so "nice" anymore: Watch and share the video about Minnesota's extreme policy . How we got here A 1995 Minnesota Supreme Court decision, Doe v. Gomez , asserted a right to abortion in the state Constitution and required taxpayer funding of abortion through Minnesota’s Medicaid program. Even though the U.S. Supreme Court no longer requires abortion-on-demand nationwide (as it did under Roe v. Wade ), state courts still impose it here in Minnesota. In 2023, DFL legislative majorities and Gov. Tim Walz went even further. They enacted legislation to enshrine in Minnesota statute a “fundamental right” to abortion up to birth, rejecting any and all gestational limits (HF 1). They also repealed most of Minnesota’s longstanding abortion laws (SF 2995), including laws ensuring full inform ed consent for women and preventing non-physicians from performing abortions. They even repealed Minnesota’s Positive Alternatives Act that provided support and alternatives to abortion for pregnant women who want to carry their babies to term. Newborns denied protection Minnesota law used to guarantee lifesaving care for infants who survive abortion. In 2023, though, the legislature and Gov. Walz repealed the requirement that “reasonable measures consistent with good medical practice” be taken “to preserve the life and health of the born alive infant.” They replaced the requirement for lifesaving measures with a requirement for only “care” (which the bill's author described as mere “comfort" care). Moreover, the new law no longer applies just to babies who survive abortion, but rather to all babies who are born alive. Under the new language, then, any viable infant, whether born as a result of abortion or not, could be denied lifesaving treatment and allowed to die. Babies born with disabilities, whose lives are often devalued, could be especially at risk. In addition, lawmakers and Walz repealed the requirement to report cases in which babies survive abortion (several had been reported in most years) . The public will no longer know how many babies survive abortion—or what care they do or do not receive. Read more: Here's a point-by-point explanation, with documentation, of how the legislature and Walz repealed protection for born-alive infants . Frequently asked questions: Minnesota's extreme abortion policy Does Minnesota law really allow abortion for any reason—all the way up to birth? Yes. In 2023, lawmakers enacted a “fundamental right” to abortion (HF 1) with no limitations at any stage in pregnancy (legislators rejected dozens of amendments that would have made the law more moderate, including amendments to prevent elective abortions in the third trimester). Lawmakers in 2023 also repealed a 1974 law that had limited abortion after viability, leaving no gestational limit remaining in Minnesota statute (SF 2995). Aren’t late abortions extremely rare or non-existent? Although most abortions occur earlier in pregnancy, 300 Minnesota abortions took place at 20 weeks or later in 2023 alone , according to the Department of Health. And the numbers are likely to increase following the 2023 legal changes, which included repeal of the law limiting abortion after viability. (Prior to its repeal, the legal status of the viability law had been unclear, but abortion practitioners still “adhered to it in practice,” according to an analysis in Minnesota Reformer .) Now, no legal obstacle remains to prevent practitioners who focus on abortions late in pregnancy (like Warren Hern ) from setting up shop in Minnesota—or to prevent existing abortion facilities from expanding the window during which they perform abortions. Passage of the proposed constitutional amendment would be a further invitation to anyone who wants to practice late abortion in Minnesota. In fact, a former practitioner of third-trimester abortions in Kansas and New Mexico told the Sahan Journal that she “would not feel comfortable opening a third-trimester practice in Minnesota” when the viability law remained on the books, but that she would be open to it after the law’s repeal. “If I could find a hospital that would provide backup without regard to gestational age, then I would consider setting up a clinic in Minnesota,” she said. “Being surrounded by anti-abortion states, Minnesota would be a good location for a clinic.” Don't late abortions only happen for health reasons? Evidence actually shows that late abortions are usually elective. “Data suggest that most women seeking later terminations are not doing so for reasons of fetal anomaly or life endangerment,” explains a study by leading pro-choice researchers published in Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health . Arizona has collected data on health reasons for abortion at different stages of pregnancy, and the data indicate that about 80 percent of abortions at 21 weeks or later are not related to health at all (whether fetal health or maternal health). In any case, Minnesota’s policy allows late abortions for any reason and is not limited to reasons of fetal or maternal health. Does the public support Minnesota’s policy? Not a single poll shows that Minnesotans want a no-limits abortion policy. Instead, polls show the opposite. Two polls in late 2022—a Star Tribune/MPR News/KARE 11 poll and a KSTP/SurveyUSA poll—both found that just 30 percent of Minnesotans think abortion should always be legally permitted (Minnesota's policy). A nationwide NPR/PBS/Marist poll in April 2023, meanwhile, found that just 22 percent of Americans support unlimited abortion. DFL lawmakers are decisively out of step with most Minnesotans—and with most of the country and most of the world. Wasn't the previous law protecting born-alive infants unnecessary and burdensome? Data from the Minnesota Department of Health shows that, in most years, three to five babies survive abortion procedures and are born alive. Those babies deserve a right to appropriate medical treatment. Lawmakers who voted to repeal that right in 2023 claimed that the repealed language required futile attempts to save pre-viable infants’ lives. That’s false. In truth, the repealed law simply required “reasonable measures consistent with good medical practice.” After the recent actions of the legislature, newborns are no longer guaranteed care that could save their lives. (Read more about the repeal of born-alive protections .) More: Download this information as a flier Copyright © 2026 Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life. All rights reserved.

Minnesota's trusted source for pro-life news and information about abortion, euthanasia, and infanticide. MCCL NEWS MCCL NEWS is a bi-monthly newspaper that keeps MCCL members informed of pro-life news, MCCL events and programs, current pro-life legislation, and much more. On this page recent issues are posted. The latest: MCCL NEWS (December 2025) Other recent issues: July-September 2025 April-June 2025 January-March 2025

MCCL press releases keep citizens informed of the latest legislation and other pro-life Minnesota news. NEWS RELEASES Media inquiries: mccl@mccl.org or 612.825.6831 Deceptive abortion-up-to-birth ERA revived in MN Senate committee Today a Minnesota Senate committee passed, along party lines, a bill for an amendment to enshrine unlimited abortion in the state Constitution. The bill, SF 473, would put a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot for voters in the fall ... Feb 23 MCCL statement on Klobuchar's record on vulnerable life as she enters race for governor Amy Klobuchar is about as far from moderation on the abortion issue as a politician can possibly be. She voted against advancing a measure to ensure ordinary care for newborns who survive abortion rather than letting them die of neglect. She also voted against stopping taxpayer funding of elective abortion and against protecting babies late in pregnancy when they can feel pain. ... Jan 29 Minnesotans brave cold to speak up for voiceless at 2026 MCCL March for Life Hundreds of Minnesotans from across the state came to the Capitol in St. Paul today to urge protection and support for women and children and to spotlight the dangers of coerced abortions under Minnesota's extreme abortion policy. The annual MCCL March for Life marks the anniversary of abortion’s legalization; it has been held each year since 1974. ... Jan 22 Reported abortions decline slightly but remain high in wake of sweeping policy changes Abortions declined slightly in 2024 but have risen 35 percent since 2021, according to a corrected-but-still-incomplete report from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). MDH has revised its original Dec. 31 report after mistakenly double-counting more than 2,500 abortions. ... Dec 31, 2025 MCCL statement on the attacks against Minnesota legislators June 14, 2025 | Press Release ST. PAUL — In response to the attacks against Minnesota legislators earlier today, Minnesota Citizens... Jun 14, 2025 Minnesota House fails to pass protection for born-alive infants, support for pregnant women March 13, 2025 | Press Release ST. PAUL — Today the Minnesota House of Representatives failed, on a party-line 67-66 vote, to pass a bill to require medically appropriate lifesaving care for infants who survive abortion (68 votes were needed for passage). The House also voted down, 67-65, a measure to provide grants to organizations that assist new mothers, babies, and families. "Infants born after abortion should not be left to die without the care that other babies receive. Mar 13, 2025 ERA advocates use dishonest poll to push for dishonest unlimited-abortion amendment February 18, 2025 | Press Release ST. PAUL — Over the last two days, the Minnesota Legislature's Reproductive Freedom Caucus and other... Feb 18, 2025 Thousands remember 14,000 lost and call for restored protections at MCCL March for Life January 22, 2025 | Press Release ST. PAUL — Thousands of Minnesotans joined the 52nd annual MCCL March for Life today at the state Capitol to call for restored protections for vulnerable human life. Abortions have risen 39 percent in two years as lawmakers and Gov. Walz have enacted sweeping polices enshrining unlimited abortion, expanding taxpayer funding of abortion, and repealing protection for born-alive infants as well as a program supporting pregnant women and new mothe Jan 22, 2025 Abortions increase again as extreme policies in Minnesota have grave effect December 31, 2024 | Press Release MINNEAPOLIS — Abortions in Minnesota increased 16 percent to a 20-year high of 14,124 in 2023,... Dec 31, 2024 Proponents of radical amendment try for special session even after voters reject extreme agenda November 12, 2024 | Press Release MINNEAPOLIS — ERA Minnesota is calling for a special session before new lawmakers take office in... Nov 12, 2024 Minnesota House elections show impact of extreme abortion votes, rejection of pro-abortion message November 6, 2024 | Press Release MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota House DFL majority that voted to enshrine unlimited abortion and to repeal... Nov 6, 2024 New ad campaign spotlights reality of abortion survivors, extremism of Minnesota lawmakers October 11, 2024 | Press Release MINNEAPOLIS — The MCCL State Victory Fund has launched a digital ad campaign spotlighting the reality of... Oct 11, 2024 MCCL statement on Walz's debate comments about abortion and born-alive infants October 2, 2024 | Press Release MINNEAPOLIS — In response to Gov. Tim Walz's debate comments about his actions regarding abortion and... Oct 2, 2024 MCCL statement on Trump's debate comments about Minnesota's extreme abortion policy September 11, 2024 | Press Release MINNEAPOLIS — In response to Donald Trump's comments about Minnesota policy and Gov. Tim Walz in last... Sep 11, 2024 MCCL launches new ad focused on loving mother and child August 8, 2024 | Press Release MINNEAPOLIS — Today Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL), the state's oldest and largest pro-life... Aug 8, 2024 Walz’s record on life: Elderly, newborns, and others pay the price for absolutism and neglect August 6, 2024 | Press Release MINNEAPOLIS — Tim Walz, Kamala Harris’ choice as running mate, brings to the presidential race a long track record of abortion-up-to-birth extremism, opposition to protection for vulnerable newborns, and policies that harm elderly and disabled patients. “Tim Walz isn’t like your favorite grandpa,” said Cathy Blaeser, co-executive director of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL), Minnesota’s largest pro-life organization. “He’s a th Aug 6, 2024 MCCL statement on Supreme Court chemical abortion ruling June 13, 2024 | Press Release MINNEAPOLIS — Today the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the plaintiffs in FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic... Jun 13, 2024 Legislature fails to approve deceptive amendment enshrining unlimited abortion May 20, 2024 | Press Release ST. PAUL — The Minnesota legislature last night failed to approve a deceptive measure to put the so-called... May 20, 2024 Minnesotans rally at the Capitol against abortion deception in ERA bill May 8, 2024 | Press Release ST. PAUL — A large crowd of Minnesotans rallied today at the Minnesota Capitol in opposition to the House... May 8, 2024 MCCL calls out Democratic legislators' deception on ERA May 6, 2024 | Press Release ST. PAUL — Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) today called on state legislators to vote down the... May 6, 2024 Minnesotans speak out against proposed abortion ERA April 25, 2024 | Press Release ST. PAUL — Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) and others spoke Thursday against a proposed... Apr 25, 2024 MCCL launches statewide TV and media campaign against abortion amendment April 23, 2024 | Press Release MINNEAPOLIS — Today Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL), the state’s oldest and largest pro-life... Apr 23, 2024 MCCL statement on SCOTUS oral arguments in chemical abortion case March 26, 2024 | Press Release MINNEAPOLIS — Today the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic... Mar 26, 2024 Harris visits local abortion center as Minnesota lawmakers push more unlimited abortion measures March 14, 2024 | Press Release MINNEAPOLIS — Today Vice President Kamala Harris is scheduled to visit a Planned Parenthood abortion... Mar 14, 2024 Thousands gather to remember 12,000 lives lost and oppose unlimited abortion amendment at MCCL March for Life January 22, 2024 | Press Release ST. PAUL — Thousands of Minnesotans filled the state Capitol grounds Monday to urge protection and love... Jan 22, 2024 Newborns who survive abortion now hidden from view in Minnesota, denied right to lifesaving care August 1, 2023 | Press Release ST. PAUL — Today a law goes into effect hiding from the public the fate of infants who survive abortion.... Aug 1, 2023 Abortions increase in Minnesota as lawmakers enact extreme policies, obscure future information June 30, 2023 | Press Release ST. PAUL — Abortions in Minnesota rose 20 percent in 2022, according to a report released today by the... Jun 30, 2023 One year after Dobbs, human rights advance nationwide despite extremism of Minnesota lawmakers June 23, 2023 | Press Release MINNEAPOLIS — On the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson decision, protection for... Jun 23, 2023 Minnesota legislature repeals protection for born-alive infants, support for pregnant women May 22, 2023 | Press Release ST. PAUL — Today the Minnesota legislature approved an Omnibus health bill that repeals a bipartisan measure protecting newborns and a bipartisan program supporting pregnant women who want to carry their babies to term. It also rescinds a number of longstanding laws surrounding abortion. Gov. Tim Walz is expected to sign the wide-ranging bill, which the House and Senate passed along narrow party lines, into law. “First Gov. Walz and DFL majoriti May 22, 2023 Corruption, destruction on display in passage of House Health Omnibus bill April 27, 2023 | Press Release ST. PAUL — Yesterday the Minnesota House approved a budget bill that would repeal a bipartisan measure... Apr 27, 2023 MCCL and others spotlight rationing concerns in Omnibus Health bill, danger to the most vulnerable April 25, 2023 | Press Release ST. PAUL — Today Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) and Center of the American Experiment drew... Apr 25, 2023 MCCL statement on Supreme Court ruling on dangerous abortion drug April 21, 2023 | Press Release MINNEAPOLIS — In response to today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision blocking lower court rulings on the... Apr 21, 2023 MCCL responds to court rulings on dangerous abortion drug April 10, 2023 | Press Release MINNEAPOLIS — A federal judge has issued a national injunction suspending use of the drug mifepristone... Apr 10, 2023 Protection for newborns would be repealed by Minnesota House omnibus bill March 27, 2023 | Press Release ST. PAUL — The newly introduced health omnibus bill in the Minnesota House (HF 2930) would repeal a... Mar 27, 2023 Minnesota House passes bill to shield abortion crimes, undermine rule of law March 20, 2023 | Press Release ST. PAUL — Today the Minnesota House passed a bill to shield those who commit crimes related to... Mar 20, 2023 New assisted suicide bill would pose dangers to Minnesotans February 16, 2023 | Press Release ST. PAUL — Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) strongly opposes legislation just introduced... Feb 16, 2023 Walz signs abortion-up-to-birth bill, entrenching Minnesota as global outlier on abortion policy January 31, 2023 | Press Release ST. PAUL — Today Gov. Tim Walz signed into law the Protect Reproductive Options (PRO) Act to enshrine... Jan 31, 2023 Senate votes for abortion-up-to-birth in Minnesota January 28, 2023 | Press Release ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Senate today passed a bill to enshrine in Minnesota law a right to abortion without limits at any time during pregnancy. Senators approved the bill, H.F. 1, by just a one-vote margin, 34-33. Gov. Tim Walz is expected to sign the sweeping measure into law. “Minnesotans don’t support elective third-trimester abortion. They just don’t. But that’s what this extreme bill entrenches in our state law: the right to abort any Jan 28, 2023 Thousands rally against abortion-until-birth on anniversary of abortion legalization January 22, 2023 | Press Release ST. PAUL — Today, on the 50th anniversary of the legalization of abortion, thousands of Minnesotans... Jan 22, 2023 Abortion-until-birth bill passes Minnesota House January 19, 2023 | Press Release ST. PAUL — Today the Minnesota House narrowly approved the Protect Reproductive Options (PRO) Act, a... Jan 19, 2023 Bill to strip protection from newborns who survive abortion passes Minnesota House committee January 12, 2023 | Press Release ST. PAUL — A bill to repeal numerous longstanding abortion-related laws in Minnesota, including a law... Jan 12, 2023 Extreme abortion bill passes Minnesota House committee January 5, 2023 | Press Release ST. PAUL — Today the Minnesota House Finance and Policy Committee approved the Protect Reproductive... Jan 5, 2023 The Doe v. Gomez decision has led to abortion extremism in Minnesota December 15, 2022 | Press Release MINNEAPOLIS — Today marks the anniversary of the Doe v. Gomez Minnesota Supreme Court decision that requires a policy of abortion-on-demand and taxpayer funding of abortion. It has now led to the elimination of most of Minnesota’s longstanding abortion-related laws, including informed consent and parental notification requirements. “The Doe v. Gomez ruling got the Minnesota Constitution wrong and imposed abortion extremism in Minnesota,” Dec 15, 2022 Extreme ruling strikes down commonsense Minnesota abortion laws July 11, 2022 | Press Release MINNEAPOLIS — Today a decision in Ramsey County District Court struck down a number of abortion-related... Jul 11, 2022 Abortions stay level in 2021 as Minnesota begins post-Roe era July 1, 2022 | Press Release MINNEAPOLIS — Abortions in Minnesota inched downward in 2021, according to a report just released by the... Jul 1, 2022 MCCL applauds Court's decision in Dobbs case allowing Americans to protect unborn children June 24, 2022 | Press Release MINNEAPOLIS — Today Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL), Minnesota’s oldest and largest pro-life... Jun 24, 2022 Pro-life groups endorse Brad Finstad for Congress in southern Minnesota special election June 1, 2022 | Press Release MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) Federal PAC and National Right to Life have... Jun 1, 2022 MCCL GO urges WHO to cease abortion promotion, recommit to health and peace May 23, 2022 | Press Release GENEVA, Switzerland — Today Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life Global Outreach (MCCL GO) urged the... May 23, 2022 MCCL and other pro-life leaders issue letter opposing criminalization of women who have abortions May 12, 2022 | Press Release MINNEAPOLIS — Today Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL), Minnesota’s oldest and largest pro-life... May 12, 2022 U.S. Senate set to vote on no-limits abortion bill that would invalidate existing Minnesota laws May 10, 2022 | Press Release MINNEAPOLIS — Tomorrow the U.S. Senate is expected to vote on a motion to proceed with a sweeping bill... May 10, 2022

MCCL is Minnesota's largest pro-life organization. We work to secure protection for innocent human life from conception until natural death. MINNESOTA CITIZENS CONCERNED FOR LIFE The mission of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life is to secure protection for innocent human life from conception until natural death through effective education, legislation, and political action. LEARN MORE LIFE LEADERSHIP CAMP Middle and high schoolers can sign up for one of our fun and impactful pro-life summer camps. LEARN MORE THE LATEST First-ever Life Launch conference equips pro-life young adults at Mall of America On April 11, MCCL hosted our first-ever conference for pro-life college students and young adults. The Life Launch conference provided a day full of education, networking, and fun! The event took place in a private venue on the fourth floor of the Mall of America, overlooking Nickelodeon Universe. ... Apr 28 Pro-life men need to get involved The pro-abortion movement likes to present abortion as a women’s issue only. Supposedly, because the mother is carrying the baby, she is the only person impacted by the abortion. But this claim is incorrect: fathers who lose their babies are deeply affected by abortion. A 2023 study found that more than 7 in 10 men reported negative effects on themselves from a partner’s abortion. ... Apr 2 Is abortion really just a 'woman's issue'? For decades, mainstream culture has framed abortion as solely a “woman’s issue,” telling men to simply “mind their own business.” As a result, countless pro-life men have abandoned their convictions, while a staggering number of younger men never form any opinion on abortion at all. ... Mar 12 UPCOMING EVENTS MAY 10 MOTHER'S DAY MAY 18 LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDS MAY 20 ORATORY CONTEST DEADLINE SUMMER 2026 COUNTY FAIR OUTREACH MOTHER'S DAY This Mother's Day and every day, we thank moms for the gift of life. LEARN MORE PRO-LIFE RESOURCES PREGNANT? Find help for your circumstances. GET HELP ABORTION IN MINNESOTA 14,358 abortions were reported in 2024, according to the Department of Health. LEARN MORE THE CASE FOR INCLUSION Every human being has human rights. Both pregnant women and unborn children deserve our support and protection. READ MORE Join us to save lives. DONATE NOW QUICK LINKS RESOURCES Pregnancy help Why pro-life? MN's extreme policies Press releases Get updates Social media EVENTS March for Life Choose Life Drive Legislative Dinner Student Day @ the Capitol Life Leadership Camp Fair outreach GET INVOLVED Contact MCCL Contact lawmakers Book a speaker Donate Volunteer Privacy Policy

Abortion up to birth in the state Constitution? That's too extreme for Minnesota. Too extreme for Minnesota. Abortion up to birth in the Constitution? That's too extreme for Minnesota. Minnesota law already allows abortion without limits. Now some legislators and advocates want to permanently enshrine this policy in the state Constitution—while excluding protection for the rights of conscience and religion. The constitutional amendment bill failed to pass in 2024 , but advocates are trying again in 2026 (SF 473 —the so-called "Equal Rights Amendment" or ERA). The proposal is not just extreme but also dishonest . If the bill passes, voters would be asked on the ballot to protect equal rights based on "pregnancy" (among other things), with no mention of abortion. Voters would never see the language in the bill that defines the word "pregnancy" to include the right to unlimited abortion! What can you do right now? Contact your state senator and representative and tell them: "Vote NO on the Equal Rights Abortion Amendment." Contact your state lawmakers here , or call your senator at 651-296-0504 and your representative at 651-296-2146. Don't know who represents you? Find out here . Frequently Asked Questions: Minnesota’s extreme abortion policy and the proposal to enshrine it in the Constitution Does Minnesota law really allow abortion for any reason—all the way up to birth? Yes. In 2023, lawmakers enacted a “fundamental right” to abortion (HF 1) with no limitations at any stage in pregnancy (legislators rejected dozens of amendments that would have made the law more moderate, including amendments to prevent elective abortions in the third trimester). Lawmakers in 2023 also repealed a 1974 law that had limited abortion after viability, leaving no gestational limit remaining in Minnesota statute (SF 2995). Now, in 2026, some lawmakers and advocates want to enshrine this extreme policy in the Minnesota Constitution so that future lawmakers won’t be able to legislate on the issue. Aren’t late abortions extremely rare or non-existent? Although most abortions occur earlier in pregnancy, 294 Minnesota abortions took place at 20 weeks or later in 2022 alone , according to the Department of Health. And the numbers could increase following the 2023 legal changes, which included repeal of the law limiting abortion after viability. (Prior to its repeal, the legal status of the viability law had been unclear, but abortion practitioners still “adhered to it in practice,” according to an analysis in Minnesota Reformer .) Now, no legal obstacle remains to prevent practitioners who focus on abortions late in pregnancy (like Warren Hern and the late LeRoy Carhart ) from setting up shop in Minnesota—or to prevent existing abortion facilities from expanding the window during which they perform abortions. Passage of the proposed constitutional amendment would be a further invitation to anyone who wants to practice late abortion in Minnesota. In fact, a former practitioner of third-trimester abortions in Kansas and New Mexico told the Sahan Journal that she “would not feel comfortable opening a third-trimester practice in Minnesota” when the viability law remained on the books, but that she would be open to it after the law’s repeal. “If I could find a hospital that would provide backup without regard to gestational age, then I would consider setting up a clinic in Minnesota,” she said. “Being surrounded by anti-abortion states, Minnesota would be a good location for a clinic.” Don't late abortions only happen for health reasons? Evidence actually shows that late abortions are usually elective. “Data suggest that most women seeking later terminations are not doing so for reasons of fetal anomaly or life endangerment,” explains a study published in Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health . Arizona has collected data on health reasons for abortion at different stages of pregnancy, and the data indicate that about 80 percent of abortions at 21 weeks or later are not related to health at all (whether fetal health or maternal health). In any case, Minnesota’s extreme policy allows late abortions for any reason and is not limited to reasons of fetal or maternal health. What makes Minnesota’s policy the most extreme in the country? In addition to establishing a fundamental right to abortion without limits, at any time during pregnancy, Minnesota lawmakers in 2023 repealed numerous longstanding abortion-related laws. The repealed laws included a measure protecting born-alive infants from being left to die, a program providing practical support to pregnant women, a requirement that women receive informed consent before abortion, and a requirement that only physicians perform abortion. With the repeal of the born-alive protection, Minnesota law no longer requires that “reasonable measures consistent with good medical practice” be taken “to preserve the life and health of the born alive infant.” Instead, only “care” is required, which the bill's author described as “comfort" care (as opposed to lifesaving treatment). The language also now applies to any babies born alive, not just ones who survive abortion. Thus, while this change threatens abortion survivors, it could also endanger babies born with disabilities and congenital illnesses. When do unborn children feel pain? Growing evidence shows that unborn children can feel pain earlier than previously thought. A leading researcher whose work was often cited by abortion defenders (because he held that unborn children couldn’t feel pain until 24 weeks) has changed his mind in light of this evidence, writing in the Journal of Medical Ethics that fetal pain is possible as early as 12 weeks. More than 1,600 Minnesota abortions took place after that point in 2022, often involving a brutal process of dismemberment. Copyright © 2026 MCCL. All rights reserved.

Learn how euthanasia and assisted suicide endanger the lives of people who are sick, elderly, and disabled. EUTHANASIA + ASSISTED SUICIDE Euthanasia and assisted suicide—the killing of patients for their alleged benefit—endanger the lives of people who are sick, elderly, and disabled. Learn more about this growing threat below. Euthanasia overview : Here's what euthanasia and assisted suicide are, and where and how they are practiced. Assisted suicide in Minnesota : Court cases and proposed legislation have challenged Minnesota's law protecting against assisted suicide. Advance directives : These legal documents protect against unwanted denial of care in the event that you are unable to speak for yourself. The case against assisted suicide : Here's why assisted suicide is both unethical and dangerous.

The MCCL March for Life commemorates the lives lost to abortion in Minnesota and calls for protection for both mother and child. Update: The 2026 MCCL March for Life took place on Thursday, January 22, at the Minnesota Capitol in St. Paul. Watch the March for Life livestream at this link. Find the program here. You're invited to kick off a pivotal year for Life alongside thousands of other pro-lifers at the 2026 MCCL March for Life. As Minnesota’s biggest pro-life event of the year, the March is a unique opportunity to commemorate lives lost, expose Minnesota’s extreme abortion policies, call for change—and generate pro-life momentum heading into the legislative session, February’s precinct caucuses, and the fall elections. The March begins at noon on Thursday, January 22, on the grounds of the Minnesota Capitol in St. Paul. It will be followed from 12:30 to 1:00 by a program on the Capitol steps featuring speakers, music, and more. January 22 marks the anniversary of the 1973 legalization of abortion, and the MCCL March for Life has been held every year since then. This year’s event comes in the wake of extreme new pro-abortion policies and rising abortions—and just ahead of a pivotal election that will determine control of state government. Will you help this event make a lasting impact in our state? Please make plans now to attend, and to bring others with you. We encourage you to pre-register (either as an individual or as a school bringing students). Pre-registration is not required (all are welcome!), but it helps MCCL as we plan. Every student (from middle school through college) who pre-registers is guaranteed to receive a newly designed pro-life beanie hat at the event! Help promote the March in your church, community, family, or social media circles. Promotional materials are available to download . (Click here for a Spanish flier .) Contact MCCL for sample bulletin announcements. Encourage your church or MCCL chapter to arrange for a bus to transport people to the March. MCCL can help with subsidizing the cost if needed. Directions and parking information are available online. Buses may park along Martin Luther King Blvd. Pro-life signs will be provided, but you are also free to bring your own. In case of severe weather, check this website or your email (or contact MCCL at 612-825-6831) to see if there is a change of plans. We’ll see you on January 22!

Laws can affect abortion and other right-to-life issues. So MCCL works at the Minnesota Capitol to support legislation that saves lives. LEGISLATION The laws and policies our government implements can affect abortion and other right-to-life issues. That's why MCCL works at the state Capitol to support legislation that saves lives. Minnesota's extreme policy : See the current state of abortion law in Minnesota. Sign petition : Sign MCCL's online petition against abortion extremism. Legislative successes : MCCL has helped enact numerous pro-life measures over the decades. Legislative accountability ratings : Check how state lawmakers have voted on right-to-life issues. Contact lawmakers : Find contact information and tips for communicating with your elected representatives.

MCCL is Minnesota's oldest and largest pro-life organization. Discover why we are so effective. ABOUT MCCL MCCL is Minnesota's oldest and largest pro-life organization. Learn more about us—and about how you can partner with us to protect the vulnerable. Overview : Read about who we are and what we do. Volunteer : Take advantage of one of our volunteer opportunities. Contact MCCL : Contact us with your questions. Get involved : There are many ways to partner with MCCL. MCCL policy on violence : MCCL strongly condemns violence and illegal activities.

The pro-life view isn't just a feeling or personal preference. It's not merely a belief that some people hold. It is supported by very good reasons. It is based on a fact of science and a principle of justice. Why Pro- Life? THE CASE FOR INCLUSION Abortion ends the life of a human embryo or fetus. Is this killing morally permissible? Or is it an injustice? More than 150 years ago, a Boston physician named Horatio R. Storer pointed to the heart of the issue. "The whole question," he observed , "turns on ... the real nature of the foetus in utero ." Does the unborn child have a right not to be intentionally killed? Does she matter like we matter? Does she count as one of us? Yes, she does. This position is based on a fact of science and a principle of justice . Science: The unborn is a human being First, the unborn (the human zygote, embryo, or fetus) is a human being—a living human organism at the earliest developmental stages. This is a fact established by the science of embryology. Four features of the unborn human are important: Distinct. The unborn has a DNA and body distinct from her mother and father. She develops her own arms, legs, brain, nervous system, heart, and so forth. Living. The unborn meets the biological criteria for life. She grows by reproducing cells. She turns nutrients into energy through metabolism. And she can respond to stimuli. Human. The unborn has a human genetic signature. She is the offspring of human parents, and humans can only beget other humans. Organism. The unborn is an organism (rather than a mere organ or tissue)—an individual whose parts work together for the good of the whole. Guided by a complete genetic code, she needs only the proper environment and nutrition to develop herself through the different stages of life as a member of our species. "Human development begins at fertilization when a sperm fuses with an oocyte to form a single cell, a zygote," explains the textbook The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology . "This highly specialized, totipotent cell marks the beginning of each of us as a unique individual." The scientific evidence , then, shows that the unborn is a living individual of the species Homo sapiens , the same kind of being as us, only at an earlier stage of development. Each of us was once a zygote, embryo, and fetus, just as we were once infants, toddlers, and adolescents. Related articles The pro-life view in three simple steps Responding to three main arguments for abortion A guide to effective pro-life dialogue Why the unborn is a human being Why unborn humans have rights My body, my choice? Excluding the unborn doesn't make any sense Equality and abortion are mutually exclusive How a shallow view of the self underlies arguments for abortion More articles Justice: All human beings have human rights Second, all human beings have human rights. Everyone counts. This is a principle of justice. Unborn humans are different from most born humans in a number of ways, but those differences aren't relevant to whether or not someone has rights. Unborn children may look different from older human beings, but appearance has nothing to do with value. Unborn children are less physically and mentally developed, but toddlers are less developed than teenagers, and that doesn't make them any less important. Unborn children are dependent on someone else , but so are newborn children and many people with disabilities. Defenders of abortion often argue that unborn humans aren't "persons" who have rights because they lack certain characteristics. One problem with this view is that it excludes more human beings than just unborn children. If unborn children aren't persons because they lack higher mental functions , for example, then human infants , people in temporary comas, and patients with advanced dementia aren’t persons either. Another problem is that this approach undermines equality for everyone . If characteristics like cognitive ability or physical independence make us valuable, then those who have more of those characteristics are more valuable than those who have less. None of us are equal according to this view. Historically, every single attempt to divide humanity into those who have rights and those who are expendable has proven to be a colossal mistake. Why think abortion is any different? The truth is that we have human rights simply because we are human —not because of what we look like, or what we can do, or what others think or feel about us , but rather because of what (the kind of being) we are. That's why every human being matters, and every human being matters equally. Why abortion is unjust The argument for the pro-life view, then, may be summarized like this: The unborn is a human being. All human beings have human rights, which include the right not to be intentionally killed. Therefore, the unborn human being has human rights. This is why abortion—the intentional killing of human beings in utero (through lethal suction , dismemberment , crushing, or poisoning )—is unjust. It's why both pregnant women and their unborn children deserve our respect, protection, and care. Answering arguments for abortion Here are some of the most common arguments offered in defense of abortion—and why they don't work. Choice Many abortion supporters say that women have a right to choose , or that we should trust women and let them decide . People do have the right to choose to do lots of things. But there are some acts that aren’t just and shouldn’t be permitted by law because they harm innocent people. The question at hand is whether abortion is one of those harmful acts. There are good reasons (see above) to think it is. (Read more about this argument.) Bodily autonomy Women have a right to control their own bodies, many defenders of abortion argue. Bodily autonomy is very important, but it must respect the bodies and rights of others . Most people agree, for example, that pregnant women shouldn’t ingest drugs that cause birth defects. And if harming unborn children is wrong, then dismembering and killing them (through abortion) is even worse. Moreover, parents should provide basic care for their children (including during pregnancy) because they are responsible for the existence of those children. (Read more about this argument.) Tough circumstances Pregnant women often face very difficult circumstances. But if unborn children are valuable human beings, like born children, then killing them is no more justified in tough situations (e.g., financial hardship) than killing born children in those same situations. Our response to the difficulties women face should be to provide support, resources, and ethical alternatives —so no woman feels like abortion is her only option. (Read more about this argument.) Rape Although rape and incest account for less than one percent of Minnesota abortions, these cases are very real. Rape is a truly horrific crime, and the crime is made even worse when the woman then becomes a pregnant mother against her will. Abortion, however, compounds the violence of rape by taking the life of a vulnerable human being who has done nothing wrong. Both the mother and child deserve support and care in the midst of this very painful and unfair situation. Adverse diagnoses An adverse prenatal diagnosis is heartbreaking. But just as disease and disability don't justify killing born children, they aren't good reasons to kill unborn children either. Moreover, support and alternatives to abortion are available, including adoption for children with special needs and perinatal hospice in the event of a terminal diagnosis. (Read more about this argument.) Saving the mother In rare and tragic cases, saving a pregnant woman's life requires ending her pregnancy (such as through premature delivery or C-section)—even though the child may not be able to survive outside the womb. This is uncontroversial, though, because it's better to save the mother's life than to let both mother and child die. It is not the same as intentionally killing the child, which is never medically necessary . Imposing a view Some people express personal opposition to abortion, yet don't want to impose that view on others by making abortion illegal. But the reason to personally oppose abortion is that it unjustly takes the life of an innocent human being. And surely the law ought to protect basic human rights and prevent violence against the defenseless. No one would say, "I'm personally opposed to sex trafficking, but I don't want to impose that view on everyone else." (Read more about this argument.) Forcing religion People often say that pro-lifers are trying to force their religious beliefs on the rest of society. But the pro-life position is supported by science and reason and is held by many non-religious people . Opposition to killing unborn children is no more inherently "religious" than opposition to killing teenagers (or anyone else). Moreover, the fact that a person's position on an issue may be influenced by religion should not exclude it from public consideration. The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s work in the civil rights movement, for example, was heavily influenced by his religious convictions. (Read more about this argument.) Danger of illegal abortion Before abortion was legalized, some say, many women died from illegal abortions—and this will happen again when abortion is banned. The truth is that antibiotics and other medical advances produced a dramatic decline in maternal deaths through the middle of the 20th century. This drop occurred before the 1973 nationwide legalization of abortion, which had no apparent effect on mortality rates. Indeed, a wealth of evidence shows that we can protect the rights of unborn children and have a high standard of maternal health at the same time. (Read more about this argument.) Punishing women Some abortion supporters warn that when abortion is illegal, women who have abortions will be put in prison. That's not true. Before the legalization of abortion in the United States, women who underwent abortion were virtually never prosecuted (practitioners of abortion were targeted instead). Post-abortive women deserve compassion , not condemnation. Gender equality Some feminists argue that gender equality requires legalized abortion. The challenges of pregnancy and childbirth do fall uniquely on women and not men (though men are equally responsible for their children). But the burdens of caring for five-year-old children fall on the parents of five-year-old children and not on everyone else—and laws against killing or abandoning five-year-olds are not unjust for that reason. Despite differing circumstances, everyone should be equally prohibited from taking innocent human life. More can and should be done, however, to hold men to their responsibilities as fathers and to accommodate the essential role mothers play in our society. (Read more about this argument.) Men and abortion Some people say that men shouldn't express an opinion about abortion. It's true that men can't fully understand the experience of pregnancy, but it's also true that abortion is either right or wrong irrespective of the experience of any particular person . The pro-life view is held by millions of women. That view cannot just be dismissed because of a trait of a person who happens to be advocating it. If abortion really is the unjust taking of innocent human life, then both women and men ought to speak up on behalf of the unborn girls and boys who have no voice. (Read more about this argument.) Additional arguments Do laws work to stop abortion? No, abortion is not health care Are pro-lifers misogynists and hypocrites? Is abortion actually good for unborn children? The frozen embryo rescue argument Abortion is the opposite of love Is there a moral right to abortion? The values of pro-choice people actually support the pro-life position Unborn children aren't constructed—they develop More articles QUICK LINKS RESOURCES Pregnancy help Why pro-life? 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MCCL alcanza a la comunidad hispanohablante con nuestro mensaje provida a través del programa "Latinos por la vida." LATINOS POR LA VIDA Latinos por la vida es un programa de Ciudadanos de Minnesota Preocupados por la vida (MCCL) que se dedica a compartir el mensaje provida con la comunidad latina de Minnesota. Queremos proteger a bebés no nacidos, apoyar a mujeres embarazadas, y abogar por la dignidad humana en cada etapa. ¿Te unirás a la causa? Qué puedes hacer tú Invitar a MCCL a dar una presentación en tu evento o en tu iglesia hispanohablante. Puedes pedir una oradora en línea . Compartir materiales providas en español. Descarga los enlaces de PDF (a la derecha) o contacta a nuestra oficina para recibir estos materiales. Podemos ayudar a proveer recursos para tu iglesia, grupo, o comunidad. Donar para convertirte en miembro de MCCL y para apoyar a nuestra misión de provida . Aprende, promueve y asiste a los eventos providas de MCCL. Conéctate con nosotros por los redes sociales . Inscríbete para recibir actualizaciones providas por corréo electrónico . Materiales Provida Marcha Por La Vida La Vida Antes De Nacer El Problema De Planned Parenthood ¿Estás Embarazada? ¿Necesitas ayuda? La Política Extrema del Aborto en Minnesota

MCCL GO is an accredited NGO that works at the international level (U.N., O.A.S.) to oppose abortion and defend the right to life. GLOBAL OUTREACH MCCL Global Outreach (MCCL GO) is an MCCL program that works at the international level to oppose abortion and defend the right to life. We attend major international conferences, present written and oral statements, meet with delegates and ambassadors from other countries, and develop resources and materials regarding abortion, maternal mortality, and euthanasia. MCCL GO is an accredited non-governmental organization with consultative status at the United Nations. We are also a registered civil society organization with the Organization of American States. More information about MCCL GO is available on the GO website . MCCL GO speaks at UN conference and brings University of St. Thomas law students to UN