The media reminds us of how innocent human lives are very often affected by legislation and court decisions. The U.S. House of Representatives is currently considering harmful legislation that would overturn President Bush’s Pro-Life policy regarding stem cell research. However, the House has just passed a Pro-Life Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act, which will help to prevent minors from crossing state lines to avoid state parental involvement laws. Just recently, in the courts, a judge ruled that a couple could sue for wrongful death because their frozen embryos had been mistakenly destroyed by an in vitro fertilization clinic. Recognizing how judges and legislators can influence these issues and policies is vitally important. Please continue to remain politically informed, involved, and in touch with your legislators and elected officials.
Please read this issue of the Pro-Life Update carefully to understand some of the challenges we now face and how you--an educated Pro-Lifer--can help advance the Culture of Life. Please share this information with your family, friends and church congregations. Make copies. Spread the news. Embryo-Killing Research Bill Introduced in U.S. House
Reps. Mike Castle (R-DE) and Diane DeGette (D-CO) have introduced a bill entitled the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (H.R. 810) in the U.S. House of Representatives. This bill would authorize federally funded research using stem cells from human embryos who are donated by their biological parents. The process of removing the stem cells will necessarily kill those embryos. As of May 5, 2005, H.R. 810 had 198 sponsors, which is just 20 short of an absolute House majority. Sadly, even some of our typically Pro-Life Texas delegation are backing this measure, including Congressmen Joe Barton and Kay Granger among others.
President Bush has vowed that federal funds will not be used to support research that requires killing human embryos. This new bill, however, would overturn President Bush’s policy. The large number of cosponsors has virtually ensured that this bill (or one very similar) will be heard and voted on in the U.S. House of Representatives this summer. There will also likely be a vote on a similar bill (S 471) in the U.S. Senate, which was introduced by Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa).
Please contact your legislators to let them know that you cannot support legislation that promotes the destruction of innocent human life. For a list of current cosponsors, please visit www.nrlc.org.
Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act Passes U.S. House
On April 27, 2005, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (CIANA), which would make it a federal offense to transport a minor (age 17 or under) across state lines for an abortion if this is done to evade a state parental involvement law, unless a state court has issued a waiver. “This bill prevents abusive boyfriends and older men from circumventing parental consent,” said Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH).
Currently, about one half of the states have parental notification or consent laws in effect. These laws are often circumvented, however, when male predators transport minors across state lines for a clandestine abortion to cover their crime. “Children cannot even be given aspirin at school without their parents’ permission, so I cannot comprehend how anyone could possibly justify that administering an abortion is less traumatic or potentially dangerous than taking an aspirin,” commented Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA), who is an OB-GYN.
The U.S. Senate is also considering a similar bill, the Child Custody Protection Act (S 403). It has been sponsored by Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) and has 38 sponsors. According to the Senate Republican leaders, it is one of the top ten priorities of this session. Both Senators Hutchison and Cornyn are sponsors of this measure. Wrongful Death Lawsuit Raises Questions about When Life Begins
A Chicago judge has ruled that a couple may pursue a wrongful death suit over the destruction of their frozen embryonic child. In his ruling, Judge Jeffrey Lawrence wrote, “Philosophers and theologians may debate. But there is no doubt in the mind of the Illinois legislature when life begins. It begins at conception.” Allison Miller and Todd Parrish filed a suit to seek compensation for the killing of their embryonic child at a fertility clinic.
This decision has raised many concerns for fertility clinics and the biotechnology community. “It makes everyone nervous,” Robert Schenken of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine told the Christian Science Monitor. Schenken estimates that there are almost half a million frozen embryos in the U.S. “If the embryo is considered human life when it’s first developed, that puts the clinic and lab director at obvious risk. Laboratory mistakes happen... Even though it’s a state law, the implications are very important for all clinics that perform in vitro [fertilization].”
The implications reach even farther than the moral issues surrounding in vitro fertilization (IVF). “If you’re following the philosophical argument, it would make all [embryonic] stem cell research immoral. And what does it say about the half-million frozen embryos?” Kahn asked the Monitor.
The Pro-Life community has long questioned the use of in vitro fertilization. Due to the exorbitant prices associated with IVF, doctors generally create more embryos than are needed. The result, then, is the creation of “extra” embryos that most often remain frozen in fertility clinics.
