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Here are some uplifting developments in Europe, the USA and Australia. We can regain cultural and political ground with persistence and grace.

We’re halfway through 2022.

And you know what? Good things are happening.

1. Hungary has a new pro-family President

Who is Katalin Novák? Well, for some seven years, she held front-bench positions in the Hungarian Government, including time served as Minister for Family Affairs.

Hungary’s support for pro-family policy has been incredible to behold — and Katalin Novák has had a great deal to do with it.

In 2019, she told the Australian Family Coalition (AFC) personally: “In Australia, the situation is a little bit like in Hungary.”

“As a government, I think we can underline in every field of life the value of family life – because without strong families we won’t ever have strong nations.

“We won’t have a strong Europe — and you won’t have a strong Australia — without strong families.”

Hungary will continue to be a country to watch.

2. A huge pro-life win in America

The infamous 1973 US case of Roe v Wade was an utter travesty, establishing a federal right to abortion under the guise of a constitutional right to “privacy”.

Having said that, the fact it was overturned nearly half a century later — in the face of international pressure — is nothing short of miraculous.

Contrary to the hysterics seen since, the overturning of this case does not mean a nationwide US ban on abortion. Rather, it simply reverts to a situation where each US state may make its own laws.

Many pro-lifers in Australia, pining for some similar legal outcome in Australia, seem to have missed this point. We don’t need such a decision here. Abortion laws already rest (for the overwhelming part) with the states.

What we need in Australia is not a legal leg-up. We just need to take encouragement from our US friends and keep building a culture of life, whether it be by growing the movement, supporting pro-life MPs, or helping vulnerable mothers at the coalface.

3. The Australian political landscape is changing

The AFC has long encouraged supporters to become active in party politics.

Sure, we need groups like AFC to alert supporters to key issues and help them to take action.

But, increasingly often, our pleas to policymakers seem to fall on deaf ears — and the issues are largely decided by the time legislation is introduced to our parliaments.

That’s why people should join a political party: to have their say directly and to help choose who their parliamentary candidates are in the first place.

We can’t afford to wait until “minutes to midnight” anymore and wonder why we can’t hold the line.

Look at the marriage debate. Or the swathe of abortion-to-birth bills around the country in recent years.

That’s why it’s been uplifting the see the surge of people getting involved to have their say.

A recent Adelaide Advertiser article referenced 1000 new conservative members of the SA Liberal Party alone, quoting “insiders” who talked of a looming “seismic shift in policies”.

SA Liberal Senator Alex Antic said it was a return to party values “not seen in decades”.

“Politics is a contest of ideas. It’s about values — not constantly sharpening the pencil for personal gain,” he said.

“I’m working hard to support and promote those who share the party’s values for the betterment of the community.”

“That doesn’t seem to be a familiar concept to some. Their approach didn’t work all that well on both election days [state and federal] this year, did it?”

Ouch! But a fair question to ask.

So, it’s not just overseas that change is occurring. It’s happening right here in Australia too.

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Photo of President Katalin Novák by Alan Santos/Wikimedia Commons