by
Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
February 26,
2008
Albany,
NY
(LifeNews.com) -- Leaders of the New York State Catholic Conference
have named the defeat of a pro-abortion bill Gov. Eliot Spitzer is pushing
as their top priority for the legislative session. Though the Catholic
group has several other topics it wants to address, the bill is so problematic
that it will dedicate itself to defeating it.
The Catholic groups will convey the message to legislators in the coming weeks, but will rally pro-life Catholics from across the Empire State at its Public Policy Day in Albany on March 11.
Dennis Poust, director of communications for the conference, told the Catholic Courier newspaper about the decision.
“We generally don't prioritize our issues, but this bill is so repugnant that we have no choice but to go out in force on it,” Poust said.
The bill would trump virtually every limit on abortion the Supreme Court has allowed -- from prohibiting taxpayer-funding of abortions to allowing parental involvement.
The Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act would also go further by forcing Catholic and other religious hospitals to cover abortion in insurance plans, allow abortions on premise, and allow non-doctors to do abortions.
The measure has been introduced in the Republican-controlled state Senate, but Poust is concerned that the measure could still gain traction, especially with the governor pushing it.
“In the past, Governors Pataki and Cuomo were pro-abortion, but Gov. Spitzer is proving to be an abortion activist,” Poust told the newspaper. “It’s taking us down a very dangerous path in our state.”
Should the measure be approved, it would be very difficult to ever overturn legal abortion if the Supreme Court reverses Roe v. Wade.
ACTION: Contact the members of the New York State Senate and urge strong opposition to the Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act. Go here for contact information.
Related
web sites:
New York State Senate - http://www.senate.state.ny.us
New York Catholic Conference - http://www.nyscatholic.org
