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New York State’s Catholic Bishops reacted swiftly and unequivocally when Governor Andrew Cuomo rolled out his long anticipated Women’s Equality Act June 4.
“We are profoundly distressed by the introduction of a bill in New York State today that would ease restrictions in state law on late-term abortion and runs the serious risk of broadly expanding abortion access at all stages of gestation,” said Cardinal Dolan in a statement the bishops issued shortly after the governor’s announcement.
“This legislation would add a broad and undefined ‘health’ exception for late-term abortion and would repeal the portion of the penal law that governs abortion policy, opening the door for non-doctors to perform abortions and potentially decriminalizing even forced or coerced abortions.”
The bishops also said conscience protections in the bill were “vague and insufficient” and added they were concerned about the religious liberty of Catholic-run health facilities under the act.
Governor Cuomo has made the Women’s Equality Act, a 10-point plan, which includes a final component codifying federal “abortion rights” into state law, an important part of his legislative agenda. The bill faces a tough fight in the State Senate where Democrats hold a slight numerical but not functional majority. The bill is expected to easily pass through the Assembly where the Democrats, most but not all of whom support abortion, hold a large majority.
The Catholic bishops said they support the first nine points of the governor’s agenda that “enhance the dignity of women” and committed themselves to working with the Legislature to guarantee “real equality for women and men.” However, they said, “The direct taking of the life of a child in the womb in no way enhances a woman’s dignity.”
“As the pastors of more than 7.2 million Catholic New Yorkers, we oppose this measure and urge all of our faithful people to do the same,” they said.
Bill proponents claim its abortion elements simply “codify” federal law, but the bishops said the bill’s crafters have been selective in what federal laws they have chosen to codify. Nowhere, they pointed out, did the bill contain portions of federal law that limit abortion, such as the ban on taxpayer funding, the ban on partial-birth abortion or protections for unborn victims of violence.
Current state law allows abortion after 24 weeks of pregnancy only if the mother’s life is in danger. With the new law, late-term abortions would be permitted under a “health” exception, broadly interpreted by the courts to include age, economic, social and emotional factors. A majority of New Yorkers oppose late-term abortion.
Governor Cuomo insisted the abortion elements in the bill do not expand or extend abortion in the state but merely protect existing “rights” for New Yorkers should federal court rulings change. “This is a bill that can and should pass,” he said at a news conference attended by several women’s groups. He said the bill “would bring clarity and transparency to the people of New York. They have right to know how their elected officials feel on each and every one of these 10 points,” he argued.
Barbara Meara, chairwoman of the New York State Right to Life Committee, said the 10-point omnibus bill was actually designed to veil its real intention.
“The governor’s so-called Women’s Equality Act is nothing more than a Trojan horse—a beautiful package to push through the death and destruction of third-trimester abortion,” she said.
Meanwhile, Catholic New Yorkers were mobilizing to make sure the pro-life voice is heard in Albany as the debate intensifies. The archdiocesan Family Life/Respect Life Office is sponsoring a bus to Albany for a day of advocacy Wednesday, June 12.
“New Yorkers For Life is encouraging broad participation from every corner of the state,” said Sister Lucy Marie, S.V., the archdiocese’s Respect Life coordinator. “The day is intended to be a visible sign of the commitment of pro-life New Yorkers. We hope to fill the Senate hallways and galleries with a clear message: stop the abortion expansion act!”
She urged New Yorkers opposed to abortion to contact their legislators. “If you’ve already sent a message, please send another,” she said. “The most important thing though is to pray, pray and continue to pray for the defeat of this proposal.” Many parishes in the archdiocese held holy hours June 7 to do just that.
Cardinal Dolan stressed the battle to come was ultimately about human dignity.
“Instead of expanding abortion and making abortions even more prevalent, we would like to protect both the woman and the child in the womb,” he stated. “In New York, where one in every three pregnancies ends in abortion, upwards of six in 10 in certain communities, it is clear we as a state have lost sight of that child’s dignity.
“We pledge all our efforts to defeat this proposal. We call on all pro-life New Yorkers to stand together with us and with all the leadership in Albany who share our conviction that we have no need for such a bill to become law. We need instead to enhance and promote the life and dignity of all human beings from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death.”
Bus Departure Times:
1st stop, New York City from the Catholic Center (1011 First Ave at 55th St.) 9:00 a.m.
2nd stop, Yonkers 9:45 a.m. – In front of Macy’s (Bus Stop) at Cross County Shopping Center in Yonkers (800 Central Park Ave.)
3rd stop, Rockland 10:30a.m. – Palisades Mall in West Nyack (1000 Palisades Center Dr West Nyack, NY 10994)
4th stop, Orange 11:30 a.m. - Newburgh Mall (1401 Route 300, Newburgh, NY 12550)
5th stop Ulster 12:15 p.m. - Quality Inn & Suites (114 Route 28, 114 Onteora Trail , Kingston, NY, 12401)
Please note: to warrant a pickup, five or more people must gather at a stop. Buses return home after 5 p.m.
Information: sr.lucy.marie@archny.org
