Could expand abortion in N.Y.

The New York State Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the state’s bishops, reports that Gov. Andrew Cuomo is calling on the State Legislature to return to Albany to pass the Abortion Expansion Act (S.2796/A.1748), which he calls the “Reproductive Health Act.”

The Catholic Conference noted that Gov. Cuomo is using President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nomination and the possible overturning of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion in the United States as a rallying cry.

As The Evangelist went to print this week, Gov. Cuomo had signed an executive order to expand abortion and contraceptive coverage in New York. A press release stated that, now, insurers “must cover over-the-counter emergency contraception in addition to all other contraceptive drugs, devices or other products,” as well as “the dispensing of 12 months of contraceptive at one time, all without co-insurance, copays or deductibles.”

Gov. Cuomo also called on the State Senate to reconvene and vote on codifying Roe. v. Wade into State law, which the Assembly has already done.

“Why does Cuomo want even more abortions in New York? We are already the abortion capital of the country and New York’s abortion laws pre-date Roe,” the Catholic Conference tweeted in response. “Let’s work to reduce, not expand, abortion.”

In a memo of opposition to the Abortion Expansion Act, the Catholic Conference said the legislation amounts to late-term abortion expansion. It empowers non-doctors to perform abortions; could compel participation in abortion; eliminates protections for pregnant women and unborn children; jeopardizes children born alive after abortion; and will increase the abortion rate.

Human Life Action and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops further noted that:

•  Constitutional scholars have stated publicly that Roe v. Wade is bad constitutional law.

•  Polls show most Americans oppose Roe’s policy of unlimited abortion on demand, through the ninth month of pregnancy.

•  States have been compelled by public outcry  to enact laws to protect the unborn and their mothers to the maximum extent possible under Roe.

•  Most physicians and hospitals, secular and religious, refuse to perform abortions.

•  Roe has divided the country for decades.

(Learn more at www.nyscatho­lic.org or call 518-434-6195.)