Editor's note: Lori Kehoe is the executive direction of New York State Right to Life. The following is her statement responding to Gov. Cuomo's Women's Equality Act, which would codify Roe v. Wade in New York law, and radically expand late-term abortions in the state. Find out more about the bill here.
June 4, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The governor’s Women’s Equality Act is nothing more than a Trojan Horse— a beautifully gift-wrapped package of death and destruction.
The Governor’s newly released abortion agenda involves enshrining a barbaric federal law from the last century. Under Roe v. Wade, abortionists like Kermit Gosnell can kill babies with a heartbeat, babies capable of feeling pain, babies who are full term and waiting to be born. Instead of protecting these children, the governor is dragging New York in the wrong direction.
Current law states that only a duly licensed physician may perform an abortion. This bill repeals that section and allows anyone to perform an abortion (Article 125.05 Penal Law).
The bill offers no guidance on how viability is determined.
Supreme Court precedent holds that determining the viability of babies is left entirely to the abortionist’s discretion. Allowing abortionists to determine the viability of babies is a major conflict of interest that should be remedied— not enshrined in New York State law.
Roe allows for abortion until the moment of birth. Currently, babies in the womb are protected in New York State law after 24 weeks (Article 125 Penal Law), except to save the mother’s life.
This bill would repeal that law and insert a “health” exception, broadly interpreted by the courts to include age, economic, social and emotional factors. If the governor has his way, third trimester abortion will become commonplace in New York State. This will expand abortion and increase the already staggering death toll.
If a mother needs to end her pregnancy in the third trimester, it can be safely ended with a C-section. A C-section takes minutes and results in a newborn baby. No one has to die. A third trimester abortion takes days endangering a mother’s life and results in a dead baby.
The Women’s Equality Act is unclear about conscience protections. The term healthcare provider is not defined. The bill says nothing about protecting those who oppose referring or counseling for abortions – even third trimester abortions.
We don’t need abortionists like Kermit Gosnell setting up their horrific third trimester abortion business in New York State.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, New York already has the highest level of induced abortion in the nation. In 2009, 119,996 of New York’s children lost their lives to induced abortion. Approximately 40% of pregnancies in New York City end in abortion. Among African Americans in New York City, that number climbs to 60%. In short, New York does not need more abortion. If anything, we need to address the underlying issues that make women feel like they have no other choice than to end the life of their children.