State Senator Patrick Welch, D-Peru, has broken with other members of the Democratic Party with his consistent advocacy of pro-life legislation.

Welch was recently honored by the Illinois Pro-Life Coalition III for his support of pro-life legislation during the past legislative session, and said he endorses the pro-life view that life begins at conception.

Welch was commended by Ralph Rivera, chairman of the Illinois Pro-Life Coalition, and received a Pro-Life appreciation certificate and a letter of gratitude from the coalition for his “exemplary pro-life voting record.”

Although members of the Democratic Party are more commonly pro-choice, Welch said he felt only moderate pressure from within the party. He said, “you always get pressure from liberals who are pro-choice, and there are more pro-choice members of the Democratic Party than there are pro-lifers, but the pro-life view is still held by a significant number of Democrats.”

Welch’s position is in conflict with the stance taken by the National Organization for Women (NOW). On Jan. 22, the DeKalb-NIU chapter of NOW held a candlelight vigil to commemorate the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade legalizing abortion.

Marsha Barton, co-president of the chapter, said the question is not at what point life begins, but whether women ought to have control over their own bodies. “It’s up to each woman to make her own decision; it’s not up to the government to decide,” Barton said.

Welch criticized the Roe v. Wade precedent as “inviting speculation as to when life begins.” He said it is extremely difficult to define when life begins if not at conception, and that the choice of some time after conception is arbitrary.

In contrast to NOW’s emphasis on the rights of the mother, Welch said “abortion involves other rights and not just those of the mother.” He said that he is a strong advocate of legislation to protect children’s rights also.

Welch also has shown his support for the Fluency Bill and the Illinois Senate investigation of NIU President Clyde Wingfield’s house renovations.