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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 works to promote respect and protection for unborn children and other vulnerable lives, but it is only possible because of our members. MCCL MEMBERSHIP As Minnesota’s largest and most effective pro-life organization , MCCL works through education, legislation, and political action to promote respect and protection for unborn children and other vulnerable members of the human family. But none of our work is possible without the tens of thousands of pro-life citizens who support us. Membership is the foundation of MCCL. A simple donation is all that is necessary to be an MCCL member. Members automatically receive a free subscription to MCCL News , which provides pro-life news and commentary and information about legislation, MCCL events, and more. Members may also receive updates and action alerts about key pro-life bills and important events. In addition, some members choose to get involved with a local MCCL chapter, pursue volunteer opportunities , or find other ways to make a difference as a pro-life citizen. Our members are not only the financial base that enables all of our pro-life activities. They are also the grassroots force that advocates for pro-life legislation, attends pro-life events, educates local communities, and much more. Remember, though, that only a simple donation is necessary to be part of this movement. We hope you will consider joining us by making a gift to MCCL today .

MCCL carefully uses funds so that every dollar counts. Most gifts are modest donations from individuals. MCCL receives no government funds. MCCL FUNDS General Fund The MCCL General Fund is a 501(c)(4) charitable fund that is used for both educational and legislative activities. It may be used, for example, to advocate for pro-life bills and to educate the public about the positions held by political candidates. (The General Fund may not, however, be used to express support for or opposition to political candidates.) Because these funds can be used to lobby for protective legislation, donations to the General Fund are not tax-deductible. Contributions to the General Fund give us the greatest degree of flexibility in the use of your donation. Education Fund The MCCL Education Fund is a 501(c)(3) charitable fund that supports our purely educational efforts, including pro-life brochures and resources, speaking presentations, and programs like Life Leadership Camp and our county fair booths . These funds cannot be used to lobby for legislation or to support or oppose political candidates. Donors may deduct donations to this fund on their income taxes. Other 501(c)(3) entities may donate to this fund without tax concerns. State PAC The MCCL State Political Action Committee (State PAC) supports or opposes political candidates seeking office in state government. Donations to this fund are not tax-deductible, and anyone may contribute to the fund. Federal PAC The MCCL Federal Political Action Committee (Fed PAC) is used to support or oppose candidates for federal office. Under federal law, MCCL may only accept donations to the Federal PAC from current donors to MCCL. Donations to this fund are not tax-deductible. Donations to the two PACs combined usually total less than 10 percent of MCCL's income and expenditures. Approximately two-thirds of our expenses are for purely educational purposes. The Education Fund was established for those who need or want to make an IRS 501(c)(3) tax-deductible contribution to MCCL. Donate now to support MCCL's work. The bulk of MCCL's support comes from modest donations given by individual members. We receive no government funding. MCCL has both a 501(c)(4) General Fund and a 501(c)(3) Education Fund, in addition to three political action committees (PACs), the MCCL State PAC, MCCL Federal PAC, and MCCL Victory Fund. MCCL carefully uses funds so that every dollar counts. Approximately 94 percent of our total expenditures is used for our programs.

See answers from 2026 gubernatorial candidates to MCCL's pro-life questionnaire.

Here are some concrete ways you can partner with MCCL to make a pro-life difference. TAKE ACTION In the effort to protect the unborn, their mothers, and other vulnerable human beings, even little things make a difference—things that anyone can do. Here are just a handful of concrete ways you can partner with MCCL to make a lifesaving difference. Give financially to MCCL , and pray for our efforts. Only with your ongoing and faithful support can we continue (and expand) our pro-life educational, legislative, and political work. Attend and/or promote MCCL events like the March for Life , Legislative Dinner , Student Day at the Capitol , Life Leadership Camp , and Fall Tour. Check the calendar on the homepage to see what’s coming up next. Contact your state lawmakers during the legislative session and urge them to support MCCL’s agenda. Pro-life legislation saves lives. Urge your pro-life friends and family to join MCCL. Membership is the foundation of everything that MCCL does. Connect with MCCL on social media to stay abreast of the latest issues and to share pro-life articles and graphics with your social networks. Read and share our blog . Sign our online pro-life petition against abortion extremism in Minnesota. Ask people at church or elsewhere in your community to do the same to support this crucial effort to save unborn lives. You can also collect signatures by printing our petition and returning it to the MCCL office. Vote pro-life in election years! Public officials—from the president down to state legislators—impact laws and public policies affecting abortion and assisted suicide. On every Election Day, lives are on the line. Volunteer for a shift staffing your local MCCL county fair booth or the MCCL State Fair booth. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper about right-to-life issues, or share your pro-life views on social media. Get involved with a local MCCL chapter. Chapters can organize county fair booths, host fundraisers, and much more. MCCL appreciates every little thing you do—everything we can do together—in defense of the right to life of all members of the human family.

Not so "Minnesota Nice." Click here to learn more.

Current abortion legislation in Minnesota: 2026 THREATS TO LIFE IN MINNESOTA: 2024 BILLS The pro-abortion "Equal Rights Amendment" (ERA) Legislators in 2024 are proposing a so-called “Equal Rights Amendment” to the state Constitution that Minnesotans would vote on in November of 2024 or 2026. The current proposal would enshrine a right to abortion up to birth in the Minnesota Constitution. It also removes protection for "creed," which puts the religious and conscience rights of Minnesotans in grave jeopardy, including the right not to be forced to participate in abortion. Tell your legislators to VOTE NO on the dangerous ERA. Learn more about the dangers of the ERA . Mandated abortion coverage A health bill (H.F. 4053 / S.F. 3967) would require that every health insurance plan cover elective abortion. I f the measure becomes law, Minnesotans would be forced to support abortion through their health insurance premiums. Tell your legislators to VOTE NO on the bill to mandate abortion coverage. Assisted suicide The so-called "End-of-Life Option Act " (H.F. 1930 / S.F. 1813) would authorize a doctor to prescribe a lethal drug overdose in order for a patient to intentionally end his or her own life. This bill poses serious risks to members of our society. Tell your legislators to VOTE NO on the bill to legalize assisted suicide. Learn more about the dangers of assisted suicide . Take ac tion now 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 .

INFORMATION FOR DELEGATES: TAKE BACK MINNESOTA GOVERNOR CANDIDATE SURVEY Note: Here are updated responses of the candidates for governor to MCCL's pro-life survey . Because of you , precinct caucuses on Feb. 3 were a success for pro-lifers in Minnesota. Many new people turned out for caucuses to give a renewed voice to unborn children. We thank you! Our work is not done, though. As you know, precinct caucuses are just the first step in taking our elections back for Life. There is more to do to ensure we have candidates on the November ballot who will win our state for unborn babies, pregnant moms, and others who need our support and protection. At precinct caucuses, thousands of you were elected delegates or alternates to your local endorsing conventions . If you were one of those elected as a delegate or alternate, you should soon receive from your political party a "convention call" telling you when and where your local endorsing convention will be held. Some of you may have received it at your precinct caucus already. Watch this page for further information about your local convention, but you will have two basic duties while you are there: Vote to endorse candidates to run for vitally important state Senate and state House seats. You will have a say in choosing pro-life candidates who have what it takes to win against pro-abortion candidates in November. Vote for delegates (including yourself!) to the state political party conventions held in the last week of May. We need you and other pro-lifers there to speak out for Life! Please let us know if you’ve been elected a delegate or alternate so we can connect you with other pro-life delegates. Communicating and working together will ensure that each convention—from the local endorsing conventions to the state and congressional district conventions—is as successful as possible for Life. To report that you’re a delegate, email mccl@mccl.org with your name, mailing address, email address, and textable phone number. Together, we will organize and win in 2026 for innocent human life!

As science, technology, and medicine continue to advance, human life must be respected and protected at every stage and in every condition. STEM CELL RESEARCH + HUMAN CLONING In recent years, stem cell research and related bioethical issues have posed new ethical challenges. As science, technology, and medicine continue to advance, human life must be respected and protected at every stage and in every condition. What are stem cells? A stem cell is an unspecialized cell with two unique abilities: to become different types of cells, such as heart, blood, or nerve cells to self-renew, dividing and creating more stem cells Stem cells are found in many places throughout the body. They usually function to replace dead cells and repair damaged tissues. In young organisms (embryos), stem cells give rise to the different organs and tissues of the body as it develops. Some stem cells are multipotent , which means that they can become only a limited number of cell types—usually cells within a specific tissue type. Stem cells found in the adult body (adult stem cells) are usually multipotent. Other stem cells are pluripotent , which means that they can theoretically become all of the cells types of the body. These cells are found in young embryos (embryonic stem cells). Scientists seek to harvest stem cells in order to use them for research and medical therapies. Scientists aim to transform stem cells into the tissue types targeted by disease or injury and transplant them into patients’ bodies, where they can work to repair damaged organs and body systems. Types of stem cells Adult (or non-embryonic) stem cells (ASCs): These stem cells have traditionally been called “adult stem cells” even though they are present in both adults and children. ASCs are found in various tissues such as bone marrow, skin, and fat. They are also found in umbilical cord blood, placentas, and amniotic fluid. No harm is done to people when ASCs are extracted from them for research or therapies. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs): These cells are found in the “inner cell mass” portion of a young embryo about five days after fertilization, which is called a blastocyst. ESC researchers derive the stem cells from the embryo and culture them in the laboratory. Most embryos used for ESC research were created through in vitro fertilization (IVF) at fertility clinics and then donated for research (because they were “left over” and the parents did not want to implant them). Embryos can also be created by cloning (somatic cell nuclear transfer) specifically in order to derive their stem cells. These stem cells are sought because they would be genetically (nearly) identical to a patient. (See “Human cloning” below.) ESC research is unethical because it requires killing the embryo in order to derive the stem cells. Human ESCs were first derived at the University of Wisconsin in 1998. Stem cells from cloned human embryos were first derived by a team of Oregon scientists in 2013. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs): In a major breakthrough, researchers in 2007 announced that they had taken adult cells and genetically “reprogrammed” them to become pluripotent stem cells, virtually equivalent to ESCs. These induced pluripotent stem cells seem to offer the same theoretical benefits as ESCs from cloned embryos—they can be taken from a patient’s own body, so they are genetically matched to that patient—but they do not require the destruction of human embryos or human cloning. Japanese scientist Shinya Yamanaka won a Nobel Prize in 2012 for his discovery of the iPSC technique. Human cloning In 1996 Dr. Ian Wilmut famously used the cloning process called somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) to create Dolly the sheep, the first adult mammal created by that method. In SCNT, the nucleus of an egg is removed and replaced with the nucleus from a somatic cell (a body cell other than an egg or sperm cell). The DNA from the somatic cell gives the egg a full complement of 46 chromosomes. The egg is then stimulated using electricity or chemicals, and, if successful, it begins dividing as a new embryo. The new organism is genetically virtually identical to the individual from whom the somatic cell was taken. After the first isolation of human ESCs in 1998, researchers envisioned using SCNT to create cloned human embryos whose ESCs could be extracted for research and therapies. By using somatic cells from patients (people suffering from diseases or conditions that stem cells might help treat), cloned embryos could be created whose stem cells would be genetically matched to those patients, possibly preventing rejection by the immune system. (See “The benefits of stem cells” below.) Human cloning offered the chance to create “patient-specific” pluripotent stem cells. Traditionally, a distinction has been made between “reproductive cloning” and “therapeutic cloning.” In reproductive cloning, the embryo created by SCNT would be implanted in a woman’s uterus with the intention that it develop toward maturity and become a fetus, infant, child, and so on. Almost everyone opposes human cloning for this purpose. On the other hand, many researchers and advocates support therapeutic cloning, in which the human embryo created by SCNT is destroyed in order to extract stem cells for research and (potentially) therapies. This is the kind of human cloning that many researchers have pursued. The only difference between the two kinds is whether the cloned embryo is allowed to grow and develop (reproductive cloning) or is killed for research (therapeutic cloning). Technical problems have hindered human “therapeutic cloning” research. One problem is that cloning requires a large number of human eggs, which must be harvested from women. This procedure poses risks to women’s health. A cloning breakthrough finally arrived in 2013 when researchers at Oregon Health & Science University announced that they had successfully isolated stem cells from cloned human embryos. But the announcement came after breakthroughs in non-controversial stem cell research—especially the creation of iPSCs, which are also patient-specific pluripotent stem cells—had made the quest for human cloning seem unnecessary. The therapeutic benefits of stem cells Embryonic stem cells have often been touted as superior to adult stem cells because they are pluripotent—they can become virtually any kind of cell—and they have a greater capacity for proliferation (they can divide almost indefinitely). But this same flexibility and rapid growth have created serious obstacles to the use of ESCs for medical therapies. ESCs tend to form tumors when transplanted, and scientists have had difficulty coaxing ESCs into the right kind of differentiated cells. ESCs may also be rejected by a patient’s immune system because they are not genetically identical to the patient. Human cloning could possibly solve the rejection problem, but the other difficulties remain. Some human clinical trials using ESCs are underway, but no successful treatments have yet been developed using embryonic stem cells. Induced pluripotent stem cells are nearly identical to ESCs, so they tend to have both the same potential advantages and the same challenges. Like stem cells from cloned embryos, however, iPSCs can genetically match a patient and possibly avoid the problem of immune rejection. Moreover, creating iPSCs seems to be easier and more efficient than deriving ESCs from either IVF- or SCNT-produced embryos. So iPSCs may offer practical advantages over research with human embryos. Adult stem cells are typically multipotent rather than pluripotent, but they have proven to be more flexible than expected. And they tend not to have the major problems that afflict ESCs. ASCs are more stable and do not form tumors, and they can be taken from a patient’s own body and then transplanted into sick or damaged tissue, avoiding the possibility of immune rejection. ASCs can also be taken from a tissue-matched donor. Adult stem cells are the only kind that has successfully treated human patients. The stem cells contained in bone marrow, for example, have been treating people who suffer from leukemia and other diseases for decades. These bone marrow transplants have saved thousands of lives. Stem cells from umbilical cord blood have also treated thousands of patients. As of 2014, more than 60,000 people worldwide each year receive adult stem cell transplants. ASCs have now been used to treat dozens of different conditions, including arthritis, diabetes, lupus, multiple sclerosis, brain cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, heart disease, sickle cell anemia, stroke damage, Parkinson’s disease, and spinal cord injury. (Most of these therapies are treatments, not cures, however, and many adult stem cell treatments are experimental and are not yet generally approved and available.) Funding should support adult stem cell research ASCs are currently successfully treating diseases and offer hope for many more therapies in the future. ESCs have not yet produced any proven medical treatments, but they may still be useful for studying diseases and other research. These same benefits, however, can be achieved using iPSCs, which do not require the destruction of human embryos or human cloning. Embryonic stem cell research is both unethical and simply unnecessary to realize the promise of stem cell research. The main political and public policy debate concerning stem cell research has involved its public funding. Both ESC and ASC research are currently funded by the federal government. Funding should be directed solely to ethical ASC and iPSC research, not research that requires the destruction of human life. In Minnesota, scientists at the University of Minnesota conduct stem cell research of all kinds. They should focus their efforts on ethical, effective research with ASCs and IPSCs. Additional articles: The case against embryo destruction Photo: ucsc.edu

MCCL is a pro-life presence at the State Fair, county fairs, and numerous other events such as conferences. PRO-LIFE BOOTHS + DISPLAYS MCCL is a pro-life presence at the State Fair, county fairs, and numerous other events. MCCL booths often include pro-life educational materials, life-sized fetal models, fetal development videos, pro-life petitions , and more. Each summer, MCCL provides a pro-life booth at about 85 county fairs across Minnesota. MCCL also has a booth at the State Fair each year. Minnesota fairgoers number in the millions each summer—fair booths are the single biggest pro-life educational outreach of the year. MCCL relies on our chapters and on hundreds of faithful volunteers to staff these booths. To volunteer for a shift staffing the MCCL booth at your local county fair or the State Fair, contact MCCL . Dates for the 2026 Minnesota county fairs are available here . If you are attending a fair, be sure to stop by the MCCL booth to pick up the latest pro-life materials and sign the pro-life petition. And say thanks to our wonderful volunteers. See you at the fair!

Planned Parenthood portrays itself as an indispensable provide of women's health care. But what's the reality? PLANNED PARENTHOOD: Abortion. Money. Politics. Scandal. Planned Parenthood portrays itself as an indispensable provider of women’s healthcare. But what’s the reality? Here’s what everyone needs to know about Planned Parenthood Planned Parenthood and Abortion Planned Parenthood performed a record-high 402,230 abortions in 2023, according to the group’s 2023-2024 annual report . That makes Planned Parenthood, by far, the leading practitioner of abortion in the United States. In recent years, the annual abortion total at Planned Parenthood has increased even when overall abortions in the country have trended downward. Most of Planned Parenthood’s other services, by contrast, have consistently declined. Contraceptive services have dropped nearly 40 percent since 2010 . Cancer screenings (mostly manual breast exams and pap tests) have dropped 73 percent. “Prenatal services” (which were always very rare) have plummeted 77 percent. “Total services” provided by Planned Parenthood are down 14 percent. Among the three pregnancy-related services Planned Parenthood provides women who are already pregnant (abortion, adoption referral, prenatal services), abortion accounts for 98 percent. For every one adoption referral, Planned Parenthood performs 187 abortions. The group is 57 times more likely to perform an abortion than to provide any prenatal care. Planned Parenthood and Money Planned Parenthood took in $2.026 billion in revenue during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. That’s a 93 percent rise since 2010 —even as the organization has provided fewer services. Planned Parenthood’s revenue consistently exceeds its expenses by tens of millions of dollars (and sometimes more)—the difference was $27.4 million in the last fiscal year alone. In the year ending June 2023, Planned Parenthood received $792.2 million in government reimbursements and grants. Although federal dollars are not supposed to directly fund abortion (except in rare cases), the money Planned Parenthood receives is fungible and serves to support its abortion activities. Moreover, some states, including Minnesota, directly reimburse Planned Parenthood and other abortion centers for elective abortions through their Medicaid programs. Planned Parenthood and Politics Planned Parenthood’s political arms oppose any restrictions on abortion considered by Congress, state legislatures, and the courts. Planned Parenthood opposes limits on late abortions, partial-birth and dismemberment abortions, and taxpayer funding of abortions. It opposes parental involvement (for minors) and informed consent requirements before women undergo abortion. It opposes licensing and inspection of abortion facilities. And—perhaps most of all—it opposes any reduction of its own taxpayer funding. Planned Parenthood also spends heavily to elect candidates to office who favor unlimited abortion and support funding for Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood has become, as the Washington Post reports , “a powerful political juggernaut.” Planned Parenthood and Scandal Abortion isn’t the only reason that Planned Parenthood is controversial. Some former employees, for example, have filed whistleblower lawsuits alleging fraud, and many audits have found Planned Parenthood facilities overbilling the government . A 2018 investigation found numerous cases of Planned Parenthood failing to report child sexual abuse. And sting videos show Planned Parenthood executives discussing the harvesting of fetal body parts (such as liver and brain) in exchange for compensation from outside companies. Planned Parenthood and Minnesota Planned Parenthood North Central States (PPNCS), the regional Planned Parenthood affiliate, operates the state’s largest abortion facility in St. Paul and four other Minnesota centers that offer chemical abortions. Planned Parenthood performed a record-high 7,533 abortions in Minnesota in 2023, according to the Minnesota Department of Health —nearly five times that of the state’s next highest practitioner. Contrary to state and national abortion trends, abortions at Planned Parenthood in Minnesota have consistently gone up. As the overall state abortion total decreased 18 percent from 2009 to 2021, Planned Parenthood increased its abortions by 79 percent. In 2009, the organization performed 32 percent of Minnesota abortions; 12 years later, it performed 70 percent. Planned Parenthood benefits from Minnesota’s policy of Medicaid-funded abortion, which allows the group to offer “free” (state-funded) abortions to low-income women. Planned Parenthood billed Minnesota taxpayers a record-high $773,459 for a record-high 3,643 abortions in 2021, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services . Planned Parenthood increased its tax-funded abortions by 321 percent between 2011 and 2021. Planned Parenthood and Women’s Health Planned Parenthood claims that it is essential to women’s health. But it provides a very limited range of actual health services. Better alternatives are available for women who need care. Federally qualified health centers, unlike Planned Parenthood, provide comprehensive health care to low-income women and men. They also outnumber Planned Parenthood clinics by approximately 15-to-1 . If women’s health care (rather than abortion) is a priority of government, then public funding should be redirected from Planned Parenthood to these full-service health centers. That’s what federal proposals to defund Planned Parenthood have sought to do. For women facing unexpected and challenging pregnancies, pregnancy resource centers provide practical support and assistance. Unlike Planned Parenthood, they offer women positive alternatives to abortion. And they greatly outnumber Planned Parenthood facilities both in Minnesota and nationwide.

MCCL is Minnesota's oldest and largest pro-life organization. We work to secure protection for innocent human life from conception until natural death through education, legislation, and political action.