June 8-9, 2013
My dear diocesan family,
In New York State,
where one in every three pregnancies ends in abortion, it’s clear that we, as a
state, have lost sight of these most vulnerable babies.
Governor Andrew Cuomo
has introduced a Women’s Rights Bill. The
Catholic Church supports nine out of ten points in this bill. However, one of
the points contains language that would
ease restrictions in state law on late-term abortion and runs the risk of
broadly expanding abortion access at all stages of pregnancy, including any child who is not “viable “as viability
is defined by the abortionist. It also allows the State Health Department to
decide who may perform abortions, which does not limit it to health care
professionals.
This legislation would
add a broad and undefined “health” exception for late-term abortion. It would repeal the portion of the penal law
that governs abortion policy such as the criminal prosecution of a person who
tries to directly cause the death of an unborn child, as found in cases of
domestic violence against pregnant women. This lack of clarity also means that medical
and non- medical institutions, such as Catholic Schools and charities, could be
compelled by state regulators to counsel or refer people for abortion, or risk
losing state contracts and licenses that are necessary for them to continue to
operate.
The position of the
Catholic Church through every age is clear:
Life is sacred. Our focus is to enhance and promote the life and dignity
of all human beings from the moment of conception to the moment of natural
death.
Please join me and all
the bishops of New York in fully opposing this radical measure. Let’s stand
together with the leaders in Albany who share our conviction that we have no
need for such a bill to become law. We
must defeat this serious attempt to expand abortion. We need to respect women
and protect the child in the womb.
New Yorkers need to
stand together with the leadership in Albany who share our conviction. We cannot stand idle. We must protect our children. We must act now!
Please contact the
Governor and your state legislators today, and tell them not to expand abortion
in New York. You can send your message
through the Catholic Action Network website:
N Y S Catholic dot org
Thank you.
Yours
sincerely in Christ,
Most Reverend Richard J. Malone
Bishop
of Buffalo
RJM:mh