Oregon unborn victims bill loses church backing over death penalty

Published: 2005-05-19

PORTLAND, Ore. (CNS) -- Concerned about a possible expansion of the death penalty, Catholic leaders in Oregon have withdrawn their support for an unborn victims of violence bill in the state Legislature. In February, the Oregon Catholic Conference voiced conditional backing for the legislation, which would create separate criminal charges when an unborn child is killed or injured in crimes carried out against the mother. The support was contingent on an amendment which would ensure that the measure would not make the death penalty a more frequent sentencing option. But the conference withdrew its support after a House panel May 2 took up the unamended version. On May 12, the Oregon House of Representatives passed the legislation without the amendment. "The Oregon Catholic Conference must advise the House Judiciary Committee that it cannot support H.B. 2020 ... with the inclusion of the death penalty as a sentencing option," said a May 2 letter from conference director Bob Castagna to the House Judiciary Committee chairman.

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