Opposes AG move, bills on abortion

"I am convinced these bills are not targeting violence," stated Catholic Conference associate director Kathleen Gallagher of two bills introduced last week in the Legislature. "They are intended to suppress and stifle the pro-life message."

She termed the Attorney General's action -- the formation of a "reproductive rights division" within his office -- "an outrageous abuse of taxpayer dollars."

Broad terminology

The clinic-access bill, Mrs. Gallagher said, uses such broad terminology that "interfering" with someone's access to an abortion clinic can be defined as "restricting a person's freedom of movement."

Under those rules, anyone protesting abortion could be seen as breaking the law -- even a pro-lifer handing someone a brochure or a husband stopping his wife on the way into a clinic to say, "Wait; let's talk about this."

Opposition

Laws already exist to prosecute those who commit violence, she noted, adding: "We're opposed to those illegal acts, but no bill will make them more illegal. We are opposed to that bill, firmly. We're lobbying all the Senate members to make sure they understand our concerns."

The day after the Assembly passed the clinic-access bill, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (R-Rensselaer) announced the Senate's alternative: an "anti-stalking" bill that would penalize stalkers, such as the murderer of abortionist Dr. Barnett Slepian, who was killed in October. Mrs. Gallagher said that the Catholic Conference is still analyzing the Senate's bill and its ramifications for pro-lifers.

'Outrageous'

Mr. Spitzer stated in a news release that the new unit would "combat violence at health clinics" and "ensure women's access to reproductive health services." The Reproductive Rights Unit, he said, would be dedicated to:

* "Combating all clinic-related violence;

* "Assisting and supporting clinic workers who are the targets of intimidation and violence;

* "Ensuring that woman have unfettered access to reproductive services;

* "Prosecuting those who violate clinic access laws, using both civil and criminal remedies;

* "Advocating stronger clinic access legislation; and

* "Investigating and/or assisting federal authorities in determining whether there are conspiracies to prevent access to clinics, and harass or intimidate clinic workers and patrons."

Violence

In addition to the above goals, the attorney general said that the unit would examine how the mergers of Catholic and non-Catholic hospitals affects abortion rights, "false advertising of reproductive services and misuse of the internet by abortion opponents."

Mrs. Gallagher responded: "If it wasn't such an outrageous abuse of taxpayer dollars, it would be funny. He says he wants to protect women's access to abortion in New York State: There is no other state that has higher access to abortion than New York! There are just no restrictions at all."

Sees infringement

Thus far, she noted, lawmakers have told her they hear much more often from those in favor of pro-choice efforts.

(For a list of state lawmakers, see the Catholic Conference's web site: www.nyscatholicconference.org.)

(02-04-99) [[In-content Ad]]