Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Chicago (Agenzia Fides) – The leaders of the Catholic Church in Illinois organised a meeting with a group of experts throughout the American State for approval of a law that would require doctors to refer women who are about to have an abortion, to first have an ultrasound procedure. The initiative to discourage abortions 'HB 786' is the result of proposals put forward by Republican lawmakers and anti-abortion groups. Recently the Archbishop of Chicago, Cardinal Francis George, met with the governor of Illinois, Pat Quinn, and local congressional leaders who had already endorsed the proposal. The Catholic Church is hoping that more than 80% of women who see their children through this exercise will decide not to abort.
The law provides that in any center where abortions are carried out, doctors will be required to do this type of ultrasound for women seeking to terminate their pregnancy after six weeks of gestation. “The woman should have the opportunity to have an ultrasound and see a scan of the child at least one hour prior to administration of any anesthesia or medication in preparation for abortion.”
The initiative, which if approved, will come into force immediately, providing that the Department of Public Health issue the requirements to each center that administers this type of ultrasound, and that only in cases of medical emergency it would not have to be followed. This is a new initiative by the Catholic Church as part of its “legislative agenda”, a part of which is also their recent support of the law to abolish the death penalty in Illinois. (AP) (8/4/2011 Agenzia Fides)
