Written by Mike Roche’s father: Bill Roche A parishioner of St. Mary Star of the Sea, Diocese of Venice
On January 29, the U.S. Senate failed to pass the “Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.” The bill would have prohibited abortions starting at 20 weeks after fertilization because, by that time, the unborn child can definitely feel pain. One Senator stated: “You should listen to what doctors tell you about the unborn child in the fifth month” but many of his colleagues chose to ignore the child’s pain. The bill failed—it needed 60 votes, it received 51. Sadly, 14 Catholic Senators voted against the bill.
Cardinal Dolan (NY) called the Senate’s failure to pass the bill “appalling.” He went on to say: “Abortions performed in the second half of pregnancy usually involve brutally dismembering a defenseless unborn child, while also posing serious dangers to his or her mother. The Senate’s rejection of this common-sense legislation is radically out of step with most Americans. Opinion polls consistently show that a strong majority of the public opposes late-term abortions---including those who self-identify as ‘pro-choice’. Furthermore, the United States is currently one of only seven countries that allows abortions beyond 20-weeks. The other six are North Korea, China, Vietnam, Singapore, Canada and the Netherlands. The Senate must rethink its extreme stance on late-term abortions. I call upon the public to tell the Senate that this vote is absolutely unacceptable.”
