Georgia bishops say proposed life amendment won't reduce abortions

Published: 2008-01-22

ATLANTA (CNS) -- Georgia's two Catholic bishops said they do not support a proposed amendment to the state Constitution that would establish the rights of personhood for embryos from the moment of conception because they feel it will not help reduce the number of abortions. Atlanta Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory and Bishop J. Kevin Boland of Savannah said in a Jan. 8 statement that they believe HR 536 -- called the Paramount Right-to-Life Amendment -- "does not provide a realistic opportunity for ending or reducing abortion in Georgia." The state's Catholic spiritual leaders said they support an amendment to the federal Constitution that protects human life, an approach that has been endorsed by the U.S. bishops for many years. Pat Chivers, communications director of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, said there is not a split between the Catholic Church and the other pro-life organizations. In fact, the Georgia bishops said they have "admiration and respect for those who have crafted this legislation," but they cannot endorse the legislation. Chivers said the church does not feel the amendment would help reduce the number of abortions and so it won't advocate for it.

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