Editorial

Our society has been so wrapped up in the November 7 elections that we might not have paid attention to what the U.S. Supreme Court is doing. However, citizens concerned about respect for life should turn their attention to what is happening in the high court.

On Wednesday, Nov. 8, the Supreme Court will begin hearing oral arguments on the constitutionality of the federal Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. After Congress passed the ban, it was signed into law by President George W. Bush on November 5, 2003.

Law challenged. However, the law was challenged by pro-abortion organizations in three different court jurisdictions (California, Nebraska, and New York). The ban does include an exception to save the life of the mother, but lower courts have struck it down because it has no exception for women's health.

Defenders of the law maintain that partial-birth abortion is never medically necessary to protect a woman's health. (Health, of course, covers even mental health, so it would render the law virtually meaningless.)

Gruesome procedure. Partial-birth abortion is a gruesome procedure. It happens generally in the second or third trimester when premature babies are partially born, then have their skulls punctured with scissors and their brains sucked out. When he signed the ban, President Bush called partial-birth abortion a "terrible form of violence that has been directed against children who are inches from birth."

Even people who consider themselves "pro-choice" have decried this brutal procedure. Although not used very often, partial-birth abortion shows how our society's respect for life has deteriorated since abortion was legalized in 1973.

Key test of new appointees. This case will be a key test of the two newest Supreme Court appointees: Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito. Why is this so important?

Five justices of the Supreme Court ruled in the year 2000 to uphold a previous partial-birth abortion law. One of the five voting against the ban was Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who has since retired. Now there are two new justices who could tip the scale in favor of the partial-birth abortion ban.

Second Look Project. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities has been providing information on partial-birth abortion to members of Congress, the news media, and other leaders in its Second Look Project. "Now that the court is taking a second look at the horrendous practice of partial-birth abortion, this new campaign will help remind the public and our elected officials how much is at stake," said Deirdre McQuade of the Secretariat. These facts are posted on the Web site, www.secondlookproject.org

I encourage people to learn more about this issue and pray for our Supreme Court justices to uphold the partial-birth abortion ban as one step to restore protection for all human life in our country.

Mary C. Uhler

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