Bishop Bootkoski Urges Parishioners to Oppose FOCA Legislation
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
January 22 marks the 36th Anniversary of the tragic Supreme Court Decision in Roe v. Wade which legalized abortion in our country.
Because of this decision, millions of unborn babies have been killed. Subsequent pro-life policies which place restrictions on abortion have been enacted helping to save some innocent lives.
Now, however, a potential federal law could wipe out virtually all restrictions on abortion. We cannot stand by and let this happen. The Diocese of Metuchen—together with dioceses from across the nation—is mobilizing for a campaign against this potential federal law.
The grave and unprecedented threat to human life is the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), a sweeping anti-life bill that creates a “fundamental right” to abortion throughout nine months of pregnancy. FOCA would eliminate restrictions on abortion that not only save lives, but that are favored by a majority of Americans, such as:
- Eliminate regulations that protect women from unsafe clinics and unscrupulous abortionists
- Force American taxpayers to fund abortions
- Force every state to allow partial-birth abortions
- Eliminate conscience rights of physicians, nurses and hospitals that oppose abortion on religious, moral or ethical grounds
- Eradicate parents’ rights and responsibilities to be involved in their minor daughter’s abortion decision
If FOCA becomes law, abortion will become an entitlement the government must fund and promote. There are approximately 3,700 abortions in the United States each day. The number of abortions now stands at over 48 million since abortion was made legal in 1973. Under FOCA, these numbers will certainly increase.
In the past we have been able to keep FOCA from becoming a law.
FOCA was first introduced in Congress in 1993 but never came up for debate or a vote in the U.S. House or Senate. Pro-life advocates credit a nationwide postcard campaign with helping to keep the bill from advancing.
The FOCA bill was reintroduced in 2007 and then Senator Barack Obama was a co sponsor. We expect enormous pressure on the new Congress to reintroduce the bill again. In response to this threat to human life, another national postcard campaign will be launched this month.
This endeavor of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will send a message to Congress that the radical policies of FOCA are contradictory to Church teaching on the sanctity of life and must not become part of our nation’s laws. Through the postcard campaign, Catholics throughout the country will have the opportunity to let our representatives know that we do not support FOCA and its anti-life policies.
I ask all of you to become informed and involved in this campaign for life. As Catholics, we must witness to the inviolable dignity of human life at all stages. Please continue to pray for our elected officials, that they may walk in the light of Christ and enact policies that protect human life and that they work to oppose federal funding and promotion of abortion.
Sincerely in the Lord,
Most Rev. Paul G. Bootkoski
Bishop of Metuchen