Leaders of the Church in Texas spoke out this week regarding Monday’s Supreme Court ruling striking down a Texas law that aimed to protect women seeking abortion.
The Texas Catholic Conference noted the support of Texans for the law. «Its main purpose is to secure surgical center, health and safety standards for women seeking an abortion,» a report on the conference web site noted. » Their lives are as precious as those of their children.»
«Surgical abortion is an invasive procedure that poses numerous and serious medical complications. The state has a legitimate interest in ensuring the maximum level of safety for the woman subjected to the procedure and that viable emergency care is available if complications such as hemorrhage, infection, uterine perforation, blood clots, cervical tears, or allergic reactions occur. It is irresponsible for physicians to perform this procedure without being able to provide follow-up treatment for the associated complications.
«This ruling allows abortion doctors to continue to provide abortion in Texas without providing the needed safety provisions at clinics or follow-up care in hospitals. The Catholic Church in Texas, in communion with millions of Catholics across America and the world, will continue its efforts to protect life and human dignity from conception to natural death.»
Meanwhile, the archbishop of Houston, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, said the Court ruling «is putting the lives of women at great risk.»
«The Church has long been aware that abortion has significant deleterious effects on women. Psychological damage resulting from loss of a child to abortion is a frequent occurrence, having long-term adverse consequences not only for mothers but for entire families. There can be no serious argument that these complications –physical, psychological and spiritual – do not occur,» he said.
«We as a Church remain dedicated to providing women with options reflecting the true human dignity of both herself and her child and to shepherding those women and men who suffer following abortion. We will continue to work towards the affirmation of each human life in our society and our world.»
