WASHINGTON— Cardinal Timothy Dolan, chair of the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, urged the
U.S. House of Representatives to pass the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection
Act (H.R. 36). It is expected to come to the House floor the first week of
October. The bill, introduced by Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ), proposes a ban on
abortions starting at 20 weeks after fertilization.

In a September 29 letter to the House, Cardinal Dolan
wrote, “All decent and humane people are repulsed by the callous and barbarous
treatment of women and children in clinics…that abort children after 20 weeks.”

“Planned Parenthood’s callous and disturbing practices
of harvesting fetal body parts from late-term abortions, partial-birth
abortions, and the deplorable actions of late-term abortionist Dr. Kermit
Gosnell…, have shocked our nation and led many Americans to realize that our
permissive laws and attitudes have allowed the abortion industry to undertake
these procedures,” Cardinal Dolan said, calling the 20-week ban a “common-sense
reform.”

The Cardinal offered reasons why “the proposed ban on
abortion at 20 weeks after fertilization is a place to begin uniting Americans
who see themselves as ‘pro-life’ and as ‘pro-choice’.” The first centers on the
expanding range of fetal ‘viability’. “The Supreme Court’s past insistence that
unborn children must be ‘viable’ to deserve even nominal protection is not
meaningful or workable…[M]edical technology is moving the point of viability
earlier in the pregnancy putting Roe on a collision course with itself.”
Second, there are life-threatening dangers to women undergoing abortions beyond
20 weeks. Finally, addressing the proposal to perform late-term abortions in
“mainstream” clinics, he notes that those clinics generally refuse to perform
the risky procedures. “What does it say about us as a nation, if we will not
act against abortions that even full-time abortionists find abhorrent?”
Cardinal Dolan asked.

Cardinal Dolan reaffirmed the right to life of humans
at every stage of development, and clarified that the Church remains committed
to advocating for the full legal protection of all unborn children: “[E]very
child, from conception onward, deserves love and the protection of the law….
[T]he real problems that lead women to consider abortion should be addressed
with solutions that support both mother and child.”

For the full text of Cardinal Dolan’s letter to the
House of Representatives, visit: www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/abortion/upload/CdlDolan-HR36-House-Ltr-09-29-2017.pdf.

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Keywords: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB,
U.S. House of Representatives, Congress, Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection
Act (H.R. 36), Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ), abortion, late-term abortion,
viability, Roe v. Wade, Dr. Kermit Gosnell, Planned Parenthood, fetal organ
harvesting, civil rights, pro-life, 20-week abortion ban

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Media Contact:

Judy Keane

202-541-3200

Source:: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops