Judge's decision against partial-birth abortion ban called 'callous'

Published: 2004-09-09

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Terming it a "callous opinion," a spokeswoman for the U.S. bishops criticized a federal judge's ruling that the law prohibiting the procedure known as partial-birth abortion is unconstitutional. In a Sept. 8 ruling, U.S. District Judge Richard Kopf in Nebraska said the 2003 law should have included an exception allowing that type of abortion to be used in cases where the woman's health is in danger. The only exception to the ban is when the mother's life is at risk. In a statement, Cathy Cleaver Ruse, director of planning and information in the U.S. bishops' Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities in Washington, said Kopf's decision shows the reach of an "abortionist's veto" that she said was established by the Supreme Court in a ruling four years ago. In a 5-4 decision June 28, 2000, the high court struck down Nebraska's law banning partial-birth abortion. She said with their majority decision in Stenberg vs. Carhart, the five justices ruled "that the Constitution will allow no legal protection for children from the violence of partial-birth abortion, as long as there are abortion doctors who favor it. Judge Kopf's ruling shows this 'abortionist's veto' in action."

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