A proposed bill promising major changes in the U.S. abortion landscape has Roman Catholic bishops threatening to close Catholic hospitals if the Democratic Congress and White House make it law.
The Freedom of Choice Act failed to get out of subcommittee in 2004, but its sponsor is poised to refile it now that former Senate co-sponsor Barack Obama occupies the Oval Office.
A spokesman for Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., said the legislation "is among the congressman's priorities. We expect to reintroduce it sooner rather than later."
FOCA, as the bill is known, would make federal law out of the abortion protections established in 1973 by the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe vs. Wade ruling.
The legislation has some Roman Catholic bishops threatening to shutter the country's 624 Catholic hospitals — including 11 in the Archdiocese of St. Louis — rather than comply.
The so-called Freedom of Choice Act is a truly reprehensible piece of legislation. It's sponsors display a lack of moral clarity that is breathtaking. The church must speak up on this issue. Christians of all political stripes ought to be scandalized by our nation's continued slaughter of unborn children. The Freedom of Choice Act will serve only to increase this heinous evil.
It would indeed be a tragedy if Catholic hospitals were forced to close rather than be required to participate in abortions. As someone who has made many pastoral visits in numerous Catholic hospitals over the last 20 years I can tell you that they do outstanding work. I am also deeply thankful for their unwavering commitment to oppose abortion.
Read the entire article HERE.
* Incidentally, I do not approve of the sign on the OKC man's car.
4 comments:
Excerpt from the Freedom of Choice Act…
“The Roe v. Wade decision expanded the opportunities for women to participate equally in society. In 1992, in Planned Parenthood v. Casey (505 U.S. 833), the Supreme Court observed that, `[t]he ability of women to participate equally in the economic and social life of the Nation has been facilitated by their ability to control their reproductive lives.”
Stated in plain language: “We should allow women to abort their children if it will interfere with their job or their social life. In fact, abortion is THE mechanism which allows women to gain their true social and economic merit to society.” That would be the official position our country holds on abortion. And no state or local government would be able to do anything about it - would be sued in federal court should they try.
The point of the bill, for those who don’t know, is to basically codify abortion into law so that the American people cannot gain any ground against it through overturning Roe v. Wade. It would make a Roe v. Wade overturn useless.
Harley,
You are absolutely right. This is an attempt to make abortion a permanent part of our national fabric. I am not normally a pessimistic person but I truly fear for the future of our country. I do not believe people really understood what they were voting for when they elected this President and this congress.
Bill
Harley,
Spot on.
Bill,
It is hard not to be pessimistic or cynical. But God is good and sovereign. If He ceases to be merciful to our country it should not be a surprise to anyone. The Canannites sacrificed their children in the fires of Molech for generations and God eventually brought judgment down upon them (Yes, that was God's doing).
Also, this agressive drift to greatly expand and permanently enshrine abortion in the U.S. should surprise no one. The President promised this throughout his campaign. He never hid his radical commitment to abortion. He is simply keeping his promises.
Todd,
I know that you are right, I guess what bothers me is that so many "Christians" seem to be clueless on all this. In addition, so many seem to have bought into a false Gospel, a Gospel of comfort and ease, with little or no consequences for how we live our lives.
Bill
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