Cruel Bill Plays Politics with Women's Health and Lives: Why Catholics Reject 20-Week Ban

WASHINGTON, May 13, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- After a failed attempt in January, Congress is at it again—representatives scheduled a vote on HR 36, a bill that would ban abortion across the country after 20 weeks.

"This cruel bill, which is based on arbitrary gestational limits and junk science, would put women's health and rights at risk, particularly poor and marginalized women," said Jon O'Brien, president of Catholics for Choice. "It's dangerous and outright wrong for policymakers to play politics with women's lives and health.

"Catholics trust women and believe they deserve respect for their personal, private healthcare decisions, including abortion. The Catholic faith tradition believes that individual conscience is the final arbiter in moral decision-making—bishops and policymakers should respect this. This bill adds the unnecessary pressure of ticking clocks and expiring time limits. As Catholics, we believe it is more important that a woman make the right decision for herself and her family than she make a hasty one.

"Policymakers must remember that the bishops don't speak for all Catholics. In fact, the bishops' position—opposing all abortion without exception—is rejected by 84 percent of Catholic voters in the US. Members of Congress must do the right thing and resoundingly reject HR 36 for the second time."

Catholics for Choice shapes and advances sexual and reproductive ethics that are based on justice, reflect a commitment to women's well-being and respect and affirm the capacity of women and men to make moral decisions about their lives.

SOURCE Catholics for Choice