New York bishops denounce Cuomo’s abortion bill
June 06, 2013
Cardinal Timothy Dolan and the other bishops of New York State have denounced a provision of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Women’s Equality Act that would expand abortion access.
“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,” the bishops said. “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. In addition, we find the conscience protection in the bill to be vague and insufficient, and we are concerned about the religious liberty of our health facilities.”
“We fully oppose this measure, and urge all our faithful people to do the same, vigorously and unapologetically,” the bishops continued. “We invite all women and men of good will to join in this effort and defeat this serious attempt to expand abortion availability in our state and to codify the most radical abortion proposals of any state in the nation.”
“Instead of expanding abortion and making abortions even more prevalent, we would like to protect both the woman and the child in the womb,” the bishops added. “In New York, where one in every three pregnancies ends in abortion (and upwards of 6 in 10 in certain communities), it is clear that we as a state have lost sight of that child’s dignity. We pledge all our efforts to defeat this proposal.”
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Further information:
- Statement of the Bishops of New York State on abortion expansion bill (New York State Catholic Conference)
- Cuomo Women’s Rights Plan May Hinge on Abortion Proposal (New York Times)
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Posted by: chasann113163 -
Jun. 09, 2013 8:08 AM ET USA
Actions speak louder than words, It is indeed time for action from the Cardinal and the Bishops. Who are they afraid of offending, surly it is not the Catholic Faithful, we have raised our voices, is anyone listening.
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Posted by: frjpharrington3912 -
Jun. 07, 2013 4:17 PM ET USA
Last February Cardinal Raymond Burke, Prefect of the Apostolic Signature in Rome, told an audience in Ireland that Catholic politicians who vote in favor of abortion legislation should be advised by their pastors not to receive Holy Communion, and if they persist in support of abortion they should be refused Communion. In his meeting last month with Gov. Cuomo there has been no indication that Cardinal Dolan advised the radical pro-abortion governor Cuomo to abstain or be refused Communion.
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Posted by: richardols3892 -
Jun. 07, 2013 3:54 PM ET USA
I'm with Minnesota Mary. It's not as though Card. Dolan needs be toothless. Rather, he chooses to be toothless with his meaningless denunciations of pro-abortion politicians. They are more to be admired than is the Cardinal because they stick up for their beliefs and push for them. Does the Church in America stand for anything these days?
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Posted by: -
Jun. 06, 2013 11:08 PM ET USA
Maybe now Cardinal Dolan will come to his senses and state categorically that because of governor Cuomo's pro abortion bill and his public stance in support of abortion the governor can no longer be considered a Catholic in good standing and he can no longer receive the sacraments including Holly Communion.
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Posted by: Minnesota Mary -
Jun. 06, 2013 6:22 PM ET USA
Another toothless denunciation from the Cardinal and bishops. (Yawn)
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Posted by: Defender -
Jun. 06, 2013 12:51 PM ET USA
Cuomo knowingly put this bill together and acknowledges that it's a Catholic problem, but deliberately intends to proceed with it anyway. Is it me or is this a studied and deliberate slap in the face to the Magisterium and to the bishops who are responsible for teaching it? Hasn't Cuomo been consistently unrepentant in his anti-Catholic actions? What are Cardinal Dolan and his fellow bishops waiting for? They've created enough scandal by doing nothing for far too long.
