"A Heartbeat Away" is a book entailing the life and times of its author, Janet Porter. It speaks to the origins of her pro-life organization, Faith2Action, and the movement to pass the Heartbeat Bill that seeks to end abortion in the United States.
Her saga's consistent theme is embedded in the faith that "with God, all things are possible" and that "accomplishment is unbounded when God is one's guide."
The Heartbeat Bill (legislation banning abortion once the heartbeat of a fetus has been detected) was conceived as a response to the pro-life groups that wanted to limit abortion and control its practice. It was in this environment where Porter first met her opposition.
Her book chronicles how she went from being called a "young, naïve, idealist" to someone who openly and vigorously challenged the pro-abortion forces and in so doing, she held pro-life groups and politicians accountable for their pledges to end abortion in their respective states.
The most compelling part of this book is the amount of detail, first-hand knowledge, and behind-the-scenes information that Porter conveys in order for the reader to fully understand what she went through, state-by-state, to get these bills passed and signed into law.
She discusses the seemingly impossible tasks of getting sheepish politicians from both sides of the aisle to support the Heartbeat Bill. Guiding her every step of the way, she underscores, was her unwavering faith in God.
Pulling no punches, Porter goes into great detail about the politicians and interest groups who she considers deceivers to the staunchest pro-life bill ever written. And sometimes, she names names — notably former Ohio Gov. and Republican presidential hopeful John Kasich and some state chapters of the National Right to Life Committee.
It is challenging to categorize such a book because it blends and crosses genres so succinctly.
One can reasonably make the case that it could be a memoir, a Christian tome, a political action book, a primer on coalition building, and an argument to put an end to abortion.
This multi-genre approach welcomes the open-minded reader with an enjoyable writing style full of refreshing authenticity. The Heartbeat Bill and this book are not about her; they are about saving the unborn and ensuring that the unborn have their God-given right to life. Unequivocally, this book is as impactful as it is thoughtful.
The book "ends" with a call to action to the reader by devoting oneself to God and serving His will on earth.
At the beginning of the book, Porter recalls the anecdote that kicked off her mission "to end Abortion while here [on Earth]." So moving is this book that, at its conclusion, the reader will be emboldened to join Faith2Action movement and contribute to the fight to end abortion.
This book is both a call to action and a true tour de force documenting the trials and tribulations of both the Heartbeat Bill and the pro-life movement. Even to those who don't share the author's commitment to the pro-life cause, it is a worthy read just to demonstrate how one person can make a difference with the force of an idea.
Michael Cozzi is a Ph.D candidate at Catholic University in Washington, D.C.
© 2023 Newsmax. All rights reserved.