FOCA and beyond
Unless you have been out of the country for the past month, and off the Internet, you have heard about the "Fight FOCA Campaign" which U.S. Bishops have spearheaded to raise awareness in the public square and among politicians about the dangers inherent in the passage of the Freedom of Choice Act.
In its current form, FOCA was introduced in Congress as a reaction to former President Bush signing the Ban on Partial-Birth Abortion. The proposed bill declares, "it is the policy of the U.S. that every woman has the fundamental right to choose to bear a child; terminate a pregnancy prior to fetal viability; or terminate a pregnancy after viability when necessary to protect her life or her health." It "prohibits a federal, state or local governmental entity from denying or interfering with a woman's right to exercise such choices; or discriminating against the exercise of those rights in the regulation or provision of benefits, facilities, services or information."
In other words, FOCA makes abortion a positive right with the corresponding obligation of government to provide unfettered access to that "right". Not only does FOCA codify Roe v. Wade into law, but it goes far beyond Roe in not only allowing but promoting abortion on demand.
If we prevent the passage of FOCA, have we won the abortion battle in this country? No. Have we sent a strong message to Congress and the new Administration that Americans do not support abortion as a fundamental right? Yes. Thirty million postcards asking Congressional leaders to "oppose FOCA or any similar measure" promoting abortion tend to make a statement.
While FOCA is perhaps the most comprehensive vehicle for sending this message, a more immediate threat though narrower in scope, is the Prevention First Act reintroduced into the Senate last month. The bill prohibits health insurance plans from excluding coverage for birth control drugs and devices; requires that all hospitals receiving federal funds dispense the morning-after pill; and directs hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to the abortion industry.
Also of great importance is the maintenance of the Hyde-Weldon Conscience Protection Amendment, a rider attached to the annual federal appropriations bill. This key measure prevents discrimination against health care providers that do not perform or refer for abortions. Without conscience protection, Catholic hospitals, along with doctors and nurses whose consciences are violated by participating in abortions, will be forced to perform abortions or leave the medical field. This is not good for medicine nor is it good for expanded access to heath care. The importance of strong conscience clauses, now referred to as "refusal clauses" by opponents, cannot be overstated.
Those who say the Church should stay out of politics have lost sight of the fact that politics must be shaped by morality. We each have a moral responsibility to advocate for just laws. Making something legal does not make it acceptable. History has been a harsh judge of those who ignored ethics and went along with popular laws later condemned by society.
Does failure to actively oppose laws facilitating the slaughter of 50 million unborn children translate into approval of laws so favorable to abortion that they make it a right? I wonder how a country that "kills its young," in the words of Mother Teresa, will be judged by history - and more importantly, how will we be judged by God?
Vicki Evans is Respect Life Coordinator for the Archdiocese of San Francisco.
From February 13, 2009 issue of Catholic San Francisco.
