ON THE SANCTITY OF LIFE
I searched my newspaper yesterday and today for photos and articles about the Sanctity of Life marches that took place across the country on Monday, January 23rd. Guess what??? There were none! Nada.
I have read that thousands peacefully marched all over the country! Hurrah for them! I salute their faithfulness!
Instead, on Monday I read in my local paper that Governor Andrew Cuomo (NY) is promising to pass pro-choice legislation by pushing the passing of the Reproductive Health Act (Bill #A06112). This bill was submitted back in 2007, and now Gov. Cuomo has decided it needs to be passed. The bill allows abortion after 24 weeks if the baby is not viable or if the mother’s life is in danger. The worst part of the bill is the section that redefines “person” in the event of a homicide. Here’s the particulars…
This bill says:
1. EVERY INDIVIDUAL HAS THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO CHOOSE OR REFUSE
CONTRACEPTION; AND
2. EVERY FEMALE HAS THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO DETERMINE THE COURSE OF
HER PREGNANCY, WHICH INCLUDES THE RIGHT TO CARRY A PREGNANCY TO TERM OR
TO TERMINATE A PREGNANCY: (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF FETAL VIABILITY; AND
(II) AT ANY TIME IF SUCH TERMINATION IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE PREGNANT FEMALE'S LIFE OR HEALTH.
S 1701. AUTHORIZED PERFORMANCE OF ABORTIONS.
THE PERFORMANCE OF AN ABORTION BY A QUALIFIED, LICENSED HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER, ACTING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF HIS OR HER PRACTICE, IS AUTHORIZED:
1. IN THE ABSENCE OF FETAL VIABILITY; AND
2. AT ANY TIME, IF IN THE GOOD FAITH MEDICAL JUDGMENT OF A PHYSICIAN,
SUCH TERMINATION IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE FEMALE'S LIFE OR HEALTH.
This part explains what “viability” means:
6. "FETAL VIABILITY" MEANS THE POINT IN PREGNANCY WHEN, AS DETERMINED
BY A PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED PRACTITIONER ACTING IN GOOD FAITH
WITHIN THE SCOPE OF HIS OR HER PRACTICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERALLY
ACCEPTED MEDICAL STANDARDS APPLIED TO THE PARTICULAR FACTS OF THE CASE
BEFORE THAT PRACTITIONER: (A) THE GESTATIONAL AGE OF THE FETUS IS TWENTY-FOUR
WEEKS OR MORE, AND (B) THERE IS A REASONABLE LIKELIHOOD OF THE
FETUS'S SUSTAINED SURVIVAL OUTSIDE THE UTERUS WITHOUT THE APPLICATION OF
EXTRAORDINARY MEDICAL MEASURES.
This part explains where the abortion is to be performed...
1.[When an abortion is to be performed after the twelfth week of
pregnancy it shall be performed only in a hospital and only on an in-pa-
tient basis.] When an abortion is to be performed after [the twentieth
week of pregnancy,] FETAL VIABILITY, AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED BY SUBDIVI-
SION SIX OF SECTION SEVENTEEN HUNDRED THREE OF THIS CHAPTER, IT SHALL BE
PERFORMED BY A PHYSICIAN IN A FACILITY WHICH IS LICENSED BY THE DEPART-
MENT PURSUANT TO ARTICLE TWENTY-EIGHT OF THIS CHAPTER AND a physician
other than the physician performing the abortion shall be in attendance
to take control of and to provide immediate medical care for any live
birth that is the result of the abortion, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT AN
ABORTION SHALL NOT BE DELAYED FOR THE PURPOSE OF SECURING SUCH SECOND
PHYSICIAN'S ATTENDANCE IF, IN THE JUDGMENT OF THE PHYSICIAN PERFORMING
THE ABORTION, SUCH DELAY WOULD POSE A RISK TO THE FEMALE'S LIFE OR
HEALTH. The commissioner [of health] is authorized to promulgate rules
and regulations to insure the health and safety of the mother and the
[viable child] LIVE BIRTH, in such instances.
Note it says that an abortion performed after the 12th week must be performed only in a hospital and only on an inpatient basis. But after fetal viability (the 20th week), it can be performed in a licensed facility by a physician and it stipulates another physician not performing the abortion must be present to provide medical care to the baby in the event of a live birth. However the abortion is not to be delayed for the purpose of getting the second physician in attendance (paraphrase) unless the mother’s life is in danger.
My concern here is if an abortion is being performed, we must assume the mother’s life is at risk or the unborn child is no longer alive in the womb. Doesn’t it make sense to perform this in a hospital rather than a "licensed facility" if the mother’s health is at risk? If the argument to abort is because the mother's life is at risk, then she must certainly need special care at a hospital equipped to deal with the life risks she is facing. Saying a licensed facility is an acceptable venue minimizes her health risks or is it merely another word for an abortion facility? The bill does not mention what health risks to the mother would warrant having an abortion.
Another important point; perhaps the worst...
This bill redefines the definition of a person. In the event of a homicide, “person” is now defined as having been born and was alive. This is terrible. This seems to mean if a woman is assaulted and her unborn child is killed as a result, the perpetrator will not be considered guilty of a homicide. Under this bill, the unborn child’s death would be irrelevant.
Thoughts...
When we as a nation devalue human life, even the life of the unborn, we have lost a bit of our humanity. When life means nothing, we have come to a place where no life is sacred. If bills such as this are passed into law, we open the door to writing more laws that allow us to acceptably snuff out a life if is convenient and good for the masses.
This a terrible bill because it devalues the life of the unborn.
Copyright 2012 Linda Hull
SANCTITY OF LIFE SUNDAY
Years ago I volunteered at a Crisis Pregnancy Center with a Christ centered philosophy. It was truly one of the best ministry experiences I’ve ever been involved with. During the years I served, I learned so much about people and about myself.
When people reveal their heart, it is easy to see why the abortion issue is so fraught with conflict. The dispute is not really about whether a baby should live or die. It’s about whether a woman has a right to allow her unborn child to be killed.
It’s very plain that sin is at the root of abortion. That sin is the demand to control. For a Christian, there is no conflict. More to the point, the struggle for control over our lives should not be a conflict. We Believers know that Jesus paid the price for our lives—heart, mind, body, and spirit. He paid with His life. If we choose Jesus and His gift of forgiveness and eternal life, the question is settled. We gave up our rights to “self”. We no longer control anything, but have yielded all to our Savior. He is our Lord and Master.
People are often yielded to the lies of Devil who asks the question, “when does life begin?” The doubt is cast when the question evolves to become, “Does life really begin at conception?” Ultrasound technology allows us to know the truth to these questions. Yes, life does begin at conception. The Devil continues to deceive women, just as he did with Eve long ago in the Garden. He plants doubt, and we fall for it. People have sought an excusable way out of an unplanned pregnancy, and thought they had found it in Roe Vs. Wade.
It is the Devil who says to the heart and mind of women, “Do you really want a baby? A baby requires so much care, time, and effort. You’ll be trapped and your life will be ruined.”
It is the Devil who casts the doubt in a woman’s mind that she is unfit to raise a child, particularly if she didn’t want it in the first place.
It is the Devil who whispers to a woman that her life is more important than that of her child.
The more we listen, the easier it is to convince ourselves that we have the right and responsibility to end a life. I heard these excuses from the Devil so many times, as women tried to convince themselves to follow through on an abortion.
One thing I learned while counseling is that women have a conscience, the one God gives to all of us so we can discern right from wrong. When we violate that conscience, we feel the guilt and the shame. Life is valuable to God. Each life has a purpose God has determined. When we cease to value life, we have violated God’s Law.
I praise our Lord for forgiveness for sin. He alone can provide the absolution so many seek. The Bible tells us that He puts our sin “as far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalms 103:12, KJV). He doesn’t remember our sin: “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” (Hebrews 8:12) Believers, this is why we can believe our sin has been taken away. He doesn’t keep a record around so He can bring it up from time to time. He frees us from that awful guilt and shame.
Unbelievers can also be forgiven and cleansed from sin by turning to Jesus in repentance, asking forgiveness and seeking Him to be your Lord and Savior. If abortion is your sin, please know that if you will accept the righteousness of Jesus, you can be saved from the punishment of your sin. He has already taken your punishment for you when He died on the cross. All you must do is receive it.
Abortion is a hideous crime against women and it is an attempt by the Devil to defeat God’s plan. Do not be fooled. There are many married couples who would be willing to adopt and love an unwanted child. There are many who will help someone in a crisis pregnancy. Seek them out. There is much knowledge available about the in uterine child. Get knowledge to know the truth. If you need to talk about this, contact me.
January 22nd is Sanctity of Life Sunday. Let us defend the life of the unborn.
Copyright © 2012 by Linda Hull