Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Sep 1, 2021 / 12:30 pm (CNA).
President Joe Biden on Wednesday said his administration is “deeply committed” to upholding legal abortion, after Texas’ pro-life “heartbeat” law went into effect.
“My administration is deeply committed to the constitutional right established in Roe v. Wade nearly five decades ago and will protect and defend that right,” Biden, a Catholic, said of the 1973 Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion nationwide.
The Texas Heartbeat Act went into effect on Wednesday, after the Supreme Court did not act on a last-minute petition to block the law.
The law requires doctors to search for a fetal heartbeat before performing an abortion. If a heartbeat is detected – which can be as early as six weeks into pregnancy – then abortions are prohibited under the law, except in medical emergencies. The law is enforced through private lawsuits, and not by the state government.
Private citizens can initiate lawsuits for illegal abortions against anyone performing an illegal abortion, or anyone assisting in an illegal abortion including through payments or reimbursements. Lawsuits can also be brought against anyone who “intends to engage” in performing or assisting an illegal abortion.
“The Texas law will significantly impair women’s access to the health care they need, particularly for communities of color and individuals with low incomes,” Biden stated on Wednesday.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that abortion “is gravely contrary to the moral law,” and says that civil laws must protect human life from “the moment of conception.”
Paragraph 2273 of the catechism states, “The moment a positive law deprives a category of human beings of the protection which civil legislation ought to accord them, the state is denying the equality of all before the law.
Other Catholic members of Congress criticized Texas’ law and supported legal abortion, in statements issued on Wednesday.
“Now Roe is upended. But we’re not going anywhere. This is a fight for our lives,” stated Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) in a tweet.
“If the Supreme Court won’t protect #RoeVWade, Congress must,” stated Rep. Marie Newman (D-Ill.). “Abolish the filibuster and pass the Women’s Health Protection Act so we can ensure reproductive rights for all women.”
Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) stated, “You have the right to a safe, legal abortion. This is the beginning of the fight—not the end.”
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America’s president is more than committed, he’s dedicated to infanticide. As if an unjust legislation, a civil law has greater authority than divine law Pres Biden is determined to expand abortion to its limits, as if in his slackened mind there exist limits. Next step is already practiced murder of the postnatal infant ad liberum. Despite the Catechism, the hierarchy in America he’s judged himself the arbiter. Silence from Rome, specifically the Chair of Peter aids and abets Biden. Actually, the only response from the Chair via Cardinal Ladaria’s CDF was that American bishops desist from open opposition, from the issue of a declaration of Eucharistic coherence with teeth. Instead we got a flaccid rehash of long held doctrine absent of just limits and retribution. Does that not effectively give sanction to his reception of the Eucharist? This is the dilemma of Catholicism in America, a presumptuously self proclaimed faithful Catholic declaring his faith a private affair. A loud and clear virtual Vatican pronouncement that it’s fine to support infanticide and be Catholic. A few good bishops, cardinals are insufficient. There needs be a collective renting of garments, even if absent of the sixty or so hedgers, calls to the Pontiff to defend the faith. All the evangelization in the world, Synods on synodality, exhibitions of His Holiness’ piety will not return disillusioned parishioners to the pews. Only moral courage, persistently voiced and practiced adherence by presbyter and bishop to Christ’s commandments will. Waiting on Rome rather than act sanctions evil’s deadly claim on infant and soul.
Spare me. Just spare me.
Pfft. Maybe he should just be…”committed.”