Contact: Ben Johnson, Source: LifeSiteNews.com
New York's Catholic leadership and Senate Republicans have resolved that the abortion expansion measures proposed by Governor Andrew Cuomo this week will not pass.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan has stepped up opposition to the bill, which he says will go far beyond "codifying" the provisions of Roe v. Wade, as Gov. Cuomo has said it would do, to a radical expansion of abortion in the Empire State.
On Tuesday, Cardinal Dolan stated: "This legislation would add a broad and undefined 'health' exception for late-term abortion and would repeal the portion of the penal law that governs abortion policy, opening the door for non-doctors to perform abortions and potentially decriminalizing even forced or coerced abortions."
Earlier today, he reiterated that the New York State Catholic Conference supports nine of the 10 provisions of Cuomo's "Women's Equality Act," which focus on things like stemming human trafficking and domestic violence.
"Sadly, the tenth is, literally, 'a killer,' as it increases access to abortion," he said. "In a state where 40% of babies are aborted – and, in some areas, 60% of babies of Latino or African American blood – we hardly need to further the abortion license."
"Can't we work together to help pregnant women in trouble with more lifegiving alternatives?" he asked.
Cardinal Dolan's remarks on the bill today were coupled with a statement supporting a national proposal granting amnesty to 11 million illegal immigrants.
His opposition to the abortion expansion bill was the second issue mentioned.
He had previously called the Women's Equality Act's conscience clause "vague and insufficient."
New York Senate Republicans agree the abortion expansion is unwise and unnecessary.
Scott Reif, a spokesman for GOP State Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos, has said the Republicans "will not consent to bringing that measure to the floor." Republicans, too, support the rest of the bill's nine measures.
But Governor Cuomo retorted that the pro-abortion and feminist groups involved in drafting his legislation will not allow the bill to be broken into separate parts.
"The coalition has been united in wanting all 10 to pass," he said.
In his announcement on Tuesday, Cuomo said of the legislation, "I see it almost as a bill of rights."
