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Catholic Church Campaigns Against Bill That Has Not Been Introduced

By Howard M. Friedman

Time Magazine yesterday reported on the intensive campaign initiated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops against Congressional passage of the Freedom of Choice Act, even though the Act has not even been introduced into Congress. In the 108th and 110th Congresses, the Freedom of Choice Act was introduced, but did not pass. It would have essentially codified Roe v. Wade so that if the constitutional basis for the decision were ever reversed, the same right to choose would be protected as a matter of statutory law. (Full text of bill in 110th Congress.) The anti-FOCA campaign has spread fast through the Internet, with a number of exaggerated claims about the law being disseminated. The furor apparently stems for a single remark Obama made as a candidate in 2007 when he told a Planned Parenthood affiliate that the first thing he would do as president is to sign FOCA. Time Magazine says:

FOCA is proving to be the perfect political issue for anti-abortion advocates ? and for congressional Republicans, who have taken up the cry as well. Unless and until FOCA is voted on by Congress, they can invoke it as a looming threat. And the longer it remains a dormant issue, the more credit they can take for their own "proactive" efforts to "defeat FOCA"...

Several Catholic groups have attempted to counter fears that the bill is about to be enacted and have tried to correct some of the inaccurate claims being circulated.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on February 20, 2009 (boomark / email).