Prolife Christians are hailing the first significant abortion restriction in the 30 years since Roe v. Wade. On June 4 the U.S. House of Representatives voted 282 to 189 to ban partial-birth abortion. The Senate voted 64 to 33 in March to ban the procedure.
Both Houses passed similar bills twice before. Former President Clinton vetoed them. President Bush has promised to sign a bill as soon as it reaches his desk. The partial-birth ban has been in conference committee since June 5.
"Passage of this important legislation is a shared priority that will help build a culture of life in America," Bush said.
H.R. 760 imposes fines and possible imprisonment for doctors who kill a "partially delivered fetus" except when necessary to save a mother's life. In the procedure, abortionists deliver all but a baby's head. They then crush the skull before removing the dead child from the birth canal.
Three years ago, the Supreme Court struck down a similar ban in Nebraska. Family Research Council's Ken Connor said the new bill—with a tighter definition of the procedure—is a "constitutionally sound" way to ban a "barbaric procedure."
NARAL Pro-Choice America's Kate Michelman said the move is significant: "President Bush and antichoice leaders in the Congress have crossed the Rubicon towards rolling back Roe."
Jay Sekulow of the American Center for Law and Justice said prolife attorneys "stand ready to defend it in the courts."
Refocusing the Pro-life Agenda | The pro-life cause is winning the battle of persuasion in the minds of many Americans. (March 1, 1999)
Abortion's Untold Story | How journalist Cynthia Gorney has helped both sides of the abortion debate to view the other side honestly. (April 27, 1998)
Wanted: A New Pro-life Strategy | Twenty-five years after Roe, and 37 million abortions later, we have to admit we are losing the fight. (Jan. 12, 1998)
Roe v. McCorvey | What made "Roe" betray the pro-choice cause? (Jan. 12, 1998)
Abortion Pill Seems on Fast Track | Pro-life activists say they will now concentrate their opposition efforts on grassroots education about the drug's potential dangers. (Sept. 16, 1996)
You Say Choice, I Say Murder |Before prolife arguments can reach the undecided American, we have got to look at the language we use. (June 24, 1991)
The Abortion Wars | What most Christians don't know about the history of pro-life struggles. (Oct. 6, 1989)
Reversing Roe v. Wade | It may take more than a single court decision to counter abortion on demand. (Sept. 20, 1985)