March 1, 2009
A Bad RHAPP
How do we stop something that’s evil? For example, suppose there is a bill in New York State that will cause death of babies and destruction of the well being of women and girls? I asked one of our state legislators whether he’s influenced by the input of our New York State bishops council and he said, “We’re really not influenced by ‘outside groups.’” He also said that he pays little attention to post card or e-mail campaigns that are organized by ‘special interest groups’ (including the church). He pays much more attention to individual citizens who take the time to write to him in their own words.
So, are you up for some “extra” work to stop something that’s just wrong? First let me describe what’s wrong and then suggest what we can do about it. What’s wrong (very wrong) is the Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act (RHAPP). You can read the whole thing online, but let me quote one paragraph: “Every female has the fundamental right to determine the course of her pregnancy, which includes the right to bear a child or to terminate a pregnancy prior to fetal viability, or at any time if such termination is necessary to protect the female's life or health. The performance of an abortion by a qualified, licensed health care practitioner is authorized under the following circumstances: 1. prior to fetal viability; and 2. at any time, if in the good faith medical judgment of the physician, such termination is necessary to protect the female's life or health.”
What’s significant is that this new law would no longer require doctors to be involved in abortions; now “health care practitioners” can end the baby’s life. And now babies in the womb who are old enough to live outside the womb can be aborted in New York State -- and that will become a “right.” Some are suggesting that the legal language embedded in other parts of this bill will result in cuts in funding to hospitals which won’t provide abortions and that it will make it illegal for a requirement that teens get parental permission for an abortion (though permission is required to dispense an aspirin to a child). I can’t figure out where the bill says this (I’m no lawyer), but we don’t need to even add these issues to oppose a bill that says that ending an unborn baby’s life is a “fundamental right.” No, that’s fundamentally wrong.
How do we stop something that’s evil? Please take a moment to read a plan of action by clicking here. Then choose your way to act. It’s your fundamental right to state your opinion.
