Editorial

Pro-life victories:
Celebrate, but continue prayers and hard work

Thanks be to God! Recent victories show that the prayers and hard work of pro-lifers are succeeding in changing minds, hearts, and public policies in our country.

Last week our nation and state experienced two significant pro-life victories. And a Newsweek survey published in the magazine's June 9 issue revealed strong support for the right to life of unborn babies.

Partial-birth abortion ban. On the national level, the U.S. House of Representatives voted June 4 to ban the partial-birth abortion procedure by a two-thirds majority. The Senate approved its version of the ban on March 13.

The Senate had attached the Harkin Amendment, an endorsement of Roe v. Wade, to its version of the bill. Right-to-life forces want to see that amendment deleted when the House-Senate conference committee meets to resolve differences. If changed, the bill must again be approved by both houses before going to President George W. Bush for his promised signature.

State Conscience Clause bill. Here in Wisconsin, the state Assembly passed a Conscience Clause bill. This proposed legislation would protect health care professionals from being forced to participate in activities related to abortion, euthanasia, assisted suicide, and research involving the destruction of human life.

Pro-abortion forces and other opponents of the bill tried to weaken the legislation with amendments, but the Assembly rejected these attempts. The proposal now goes to the state Senate for action. Contact your state senators urging them to support this bill.

Newsweek poll. The cover story of Newsweek was titled, "Should the Fetus Have Rights?" Findings of the poll - taken by Princeton Survey Research Associates - were a qualified, "Yes." Nearly half of the poll respondents believe human life starts at fertilization, while only 11 percent think it does not begin until birth.

Those surveyed revealed strong support for bringing homicide charges on behalf of unborn children killed in the womb. Eighty-four percent believe prosecutors should be able to bring those charges: 56 percent said this should happen in all cases and another 28 percent said it should be done only in cases where the fetus is able to survive outside the womb.

The poll gives impetus to the Unborn Victims of Violence Act. The U.S. Senate is expected to debate this proposal in the near future. The federal act is similar to Wisconsin's Fetal Homicide Law enacted in 1998. Our state law, one of the strongest in the nation, recognizes unborn children at any stage of pregnancy as separate victims.

For more information on the federal bill, visit the National Right to Life Committee Web site at www.nrlc.org. Please contact Wisconsin's senators to support the Unborn Victims of Violence Act.

Yes, pro-life forces can celebrate these victories. But we must all continue to pray and work for more victories for life in the future.

Mary C. Uhler, editor

Mailbag

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To the editor:

The reflections of Monsignor Paul J. Swain, "Fifteen Years as a Priest" (Catholic Herald, issue of May 22) were very impressive and appropriate especially in these days when the Catholic priesthood has been under tremendous scrutiny and attack from many quarters.

I appreciated his expressions of gratitude to God for the gift of his priesthood: " . . . each day as priest has special meaning"; "Sometimes I stand at the altar awed by the moment"; "Priesthood is a life that fulfills beyond my imaginings."

Beautifully stated, Monsignor, and may your tribute to God's holy priesthood be effective in increasing vocations to your precious vocation.

James E. Brennan, Janesville

To the editor:

Your edition of the Herald of May 15, 2003, once again featured Tony Magliano's strange views [print edition only]. He wanders on that the "media shields" us from war's images - certainly absurd after the frontline views from Iraq.

He fails to take into account that we've given Saddam 12 years of diplomacy to clean up his act with no results.

He fails to consider that this dictator was responsible for killing over 900,000 of his own people plus 400,000 Iranians.

Obviously, Mr. Magliano has never served in the armed forces or been involved overseas in a despot ruled country or I'm sure his "off beat" views would be altered considerably.

William Bartz, Westfield