BALTIMORE (CNS): Fears about laws and changes in regulations on abortion that might advance under a new Democratic-run Congress and White House are the central focus of a statement approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The statement was issued on November 12 during a meeting of the conference in Baltimore.
The majority of the 830-word, untitled statement focuses on concerns about the possible passage of the Freedom of Choice Act, calling it “an evil law that would further divide our country” and adding that the Church “should be intent on opposing evil”.
It warns against interpreting the outcome of the November 4 elections as “a referendum on abortion” and says “aggressively pro-abortion policies, legislation and executive orders will permanently alienate tens of millions of Americans”.
The statement starts by saying the bishops “welcome this moment of historic transition and look forward to working with President-elect (Barack) Obama and the members of the new Congress for the common good of all”.
“We want to continue our work for economic justice and opportunity for all; our efforts to reform laws around immigration and the situation of the undocumented; our provision of better education and adequate health care for all, especially for women and children; our desire to safeguard religious freedom and foster peace at home and abroad,” it said.
The statement went on to explain Church teaching that life is a gift from God and that “a good state protects the lives of all”.
It said Roe versus Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court ruling overturning nearly all restrictions on abortion, was “a bad law. The danger the bishops see at this moment is that a bad court decision will be enshrined in bad legislation that is more radical than the 1973 Supreme Court decision itself.”
The statement elaborated a range of concerns about the proposed Freedom of Choice Act, including concerns that it would “deprive the American people in all 50 states of the freedom they now have to enact modest restraints and regulations on the abortion industry”.
In a January 2008 statement, Senator Obama said he would support passage of the Freedom of Choice Act.
