Warning About Pending NYS Abortion Legislation

By Linda Busetti

If the Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act (RHAPP bill) passes through the New York State Legislature, it “would elevate abortion to a fundamental right in New York State,” warned Kathy Gallagher, Director of Pro-Life Activities for the New York State Catholic Conference.

Gallagher presented information sessions on the RHAPP bill at two locations in the diocese – at diocesan offices at 310 Prospect Park West and at the Immaculate Conception Center, Douglaston – on Tuesday, April 8.

The RHAPP bill was introduced by former Gov. Eliot Spitzer, but is still pending in the Senate Health Committee. Unfortunately, Gov. David Paterson is “a strong supporter of abortion rights,” who “opposed a ban on partial-birth abortion,” Gallagher said. Because much of the current legislative session is being taken up with the state budget, there is the possibility the bill make not come up for a vote. But, it may come back into play after the fall elections.

KATHY GALLAGHER, director of Pro-Life Activities for the N.Y.S. Catholic Conference, presented two information sessions recently about pending abortion legislation in the state legislature.

Gallagher called New York State the “abortion capital of the U.S.” with legalized abortion in 1970, she said, before the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.

She explained, “how this bill could undo what progress has been done” to limit abortion in the state.

Among the pro-life progress she chronicled were a 1971 civil rights law protection for medical employees “who do not wish to be involved in the performance of abortions; clinic regulations; fetal death certificates; abortion excluded from “family planning funding”; abortions performed after 12 weeks must be in a hospital and, after 20 weeks, there must be a second physician.

She cited also, a 1989 Pre-Natal Care Assistance Program, which allows low-income mothers to get pre-natal vitamins and visits with a doctor.

Gallagher warned that if RHAPP (S.5829 or S.6045A) is passed, abortion would be come a “fundamental right.” She said “the bill says that the state cannot discriminate in benefits, services or information it provides…. it would ensure that New York women have the same or stronger reproductive rights as those currently.”

The RHAPP bill would “promote late term abortions of fully formed infants” while current New York State law prohibits abortions after 24 weeks. This bill would create a “huge loophole” in New York State law, Gallagher said, by creating a broad “health exception” to the 24 weeks stipulation, which could be interpreted in terms of a woman’s economic situation, age or circumstances. The bill would also “authorize non-physicians to perform abortions” replacing doctors with “health care practitioners.” Gallagher said this comes as a result of fewer doctors around the country who want to perform abortions.

Also, the bill would lift age restrictions on who can get the “morning after pill.”

According to Gallagher, the RHAPP could ultimately “force doctors to perform abortions, force hospitals to permit abortions, and force insurance plans to cover abortions” even if they are Catholic affiliated, because the state government controls state operating certificates, licensing and state funding.

“Anyone who calls themselves pro-life should be outraged at this bill,” Gallagher concluded.

“When people find out” about the bill, she said, “they are incensed and want to do something.”

Gallagher advised taking action by first going to the Catholic Conference’s website at www.nyscatholic.org and clicking on the Take Action Now button on the lower right. Then click on the green Take Action button under Extreme Abortion Proposal Still Alive in Albany. It will allow you to compose a message to your legislator, which will be automatically e-mailed according to your address. You can also sign up for further alerts by joining the Catholic Advocacy Network through the website.