Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell Signs Pro-Life Ultrasound Requirement Into Law
Governor insists that legislation can help the mother make a fully informed decision'
Courageous Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell signed into law a bill requiring Virginia women to undergo an ultrasound procedure prior to having an abortion in order to be fully informed about the procedure, its serious health risks,and its undeniable result, the taking of the life of an innocent child.
Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, disregarding protests from some opponents of the Right to Life and the right to fully informed consent signed into law a controversial bill requiring Virginia women to undergo an ultrasound procedure prior to having an abortion.
PrintLOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, disregarding protests from some Anti-Right to Life Democrats, signed into law a bill requiring Virginia women to undergo an ultrasound procedure prior to having an abortion in order to be fully informed about the procedure and its implications.
The measure stirred some national debate over a provision that might have required some women to undergo transvaginal ultrasounds. Opponents denounced that procedure as medically unnecessary and physically invasive.
Governor McDonnell is Pro-Life. He recognizes the fundamental human right of the other person involved in every procured abortion, the child, who is always killed by the act.He also saw the danger of a misinterpretation of the well intended provision, which was fed by the opponents. So, he had the mandatory aspect of that part of the legislation stripped out.
The Virginia House of Delegates passed a revised version last week that allows women to "reject" a transvaginal ultrasound and to opt for an abdominal ultrasound. Such a procedure is regularly used these days as "baby's first picture." It shows the objective and scientific truth. That child in the womb is a human person, one of us, and every procured abortion takes his or her life.
McDonnell restated his support for the bill, which he says will provide additional information that "can help the mother make a fully informed decision" about having an abortion."This bill does not legally alter a woman's ability to make a choice regarding her pregnancy," the statement said.
He continued, "It does, however, put Virginia in line with 23 other states that have some type of requirement that a woman be offered a view of an ultrasound before an abortion can be performed."
He is correct. The trend is unmistakeable. It reflects the growing recognition of the truth concerning abortion, its risks and its true consequences.
Every major surgical procedure now requires a fully informed consent. Why? Among other reasons, for the safety of the patient. As a nation we believe, as a matter of public policy, that everyone has a right to know not only the risks involved in major surgery but the alternatives! That is, every major surgery except abortion.It has become untouchable, a kind of "super right".
The bill is set to go into effect on July 1. Virginia will become the eighth state to require medical providers to administer ultrasounds for women before performing abortions. In the state of Texas, the provider must also display and describe the image of the ultrasound with an explanation about the child and her growth.
Some Virginia Democrats who oppose the fundamental human right to life of the child in the womb harshly denounced McDonnell for signing the bill. They have urged opponents of the legislation to contribute to the Democratic Party as a means of fighting back against his actions.
They postured their opposition to the fundamental human right to life of the child - as well as their objection to fully informing the mother of the risks of major surgery - in the rheotic of "abortion rights", trying to make it sound noble. The fact is very major surgical procedure - beside abortion - now requires a fully informed consent.The implications are obvious, abortion gets a pass. It has become some new "ultra-right" in the contemporary culture.
These opponenets of the Rights of the Child and mother offered their comments: "The overwhelming public response to the radical agenda that Republican extremists in Richmond and in Washington are trying to force on American families has left many right-wing politicians looking for a way to dodge accountability for their actions -- until they can find away to change the subject,"
The Chairman of the Virginia Democratic Party Brian Moran is trying to raise money off of the issue saying in a fundriser, "Will you contribute $20, $50 or $100 to the Democratic Party of Virginia today and help us hold them accountable?"
One of the leading organization which opposes the Fundamental Right to Life - and deceptively calls itself a "women health's organization" - NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia, accused Governor McDonnell of facilitating "an unprecedented invasion of privacy and government intrusion into the doctors' offices and living rooms of Virginia women." Fortunatley, he was not intimidated.
The measure has elicited strong reactions from both the Right to Life and the Anti-Right to Life camps. Some trivialize this entire discussion as a matter of "right" versus "left", or "conservative" versus "liberal". Even some in the Catholic and broader Christian Press. They are ill informed. It is a truly a struggle between reporting the truth or reporting the lies. Catholic Online will not use the language of those who oppose the Natural Law Right to Life in our reporting. We will not pass on their subterfuge and sophistry by using their loaded language.
Many Democrats - and Republicans - who oppose the Right to Life - and want to allow the killing of children in the womb at any time and for any reason - decried the bill as an "invasion of privacy" aimed at shaming women out of having abortions. However Pro-Life Democrats and Pro-Life Republicans heralded it as a way to provide women with as much information as possible about their pregnancies prior to choosing to have an abortion or to save the life of the child.
"This law is a victory for women and their unborn children. We thank Gov. McDonnell and Virginia's pro-life legislators for their work to ensure that women have all the facts and will no longer be kept in the dark about their pregnancies," Family Research Council President Tony Perkins said in a statement.
© 2011, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.
The measure stirred some national debate over a provision that might have required some women to undergo transvaginal ultrasounds. Opponents denounced that procedure as medically unnecessary and physically invasive.
Governor McDonnell is Pro-Life. He recognizes the fundamental human right of the other person involved in every procured abortion, the child, who is always killed by the act.He also saw the danger of a misinterpretation of the well intended provision, which was fed by the opponents. So, he had the mandatory aspect of that part of the legislation stripped out.
The Virginia House of Delegates passed a revised version last week that allows women to "reject" a transvaginal ultrasound and to opt for an abdominal ultrasound. Such a procedure is regularly used these days as "baby's first picture." It shows the objective and scientific truth. That child in the womb is a human person, one of us, and every procured abortion takes his or her life.
McDonnell restated his support for the bill, which he says will provide additional information that "can help the mother make a fully informed decision" about having an abortion."This bill does not legally alter a woman's ability to make a choice regarding her pregnancy," the statement said.
He continued, "It does, however, put Virginia in line with 23 other states that have some type of requirement that a woman be offered a view of an ultrasound before an abortion can be performed."
He is correct. The trend is unmistakeable. It reflects the growing recognition of the truth concerning abortion, its risks and its true consequences.
Every major surgical procedure now requires a fully informed consent. Why? Among other reasons, for the safety of the patient. As a nation we believe, as a matter of public policy, that everyone has a right to know not only the risks involved in major surgery but the alternatives! That is, every major surgery except abortion.It has become untouchable, a kind of "super right".
The bill is set to go into effect on July 1. Virginia will become the eighth state to require medical providers to administer ultrasounds for women before performing abortions. In the state of Texas, the provider must also display and describe the image of the ultrasound with an explanation about the child and her growth.
Some Virginia Democrats who oppose the fundamental human right to life of the child in the womb harshly denounced McDonnell for signing the bill. They have urged opponents of the legislation to contribute to the Democratic Party as a means of fighting back against his actions.
They postured their opposition to the fundamental human right to life of the child - as well as their objection to fully informing the mother of the risks of major surgery - in the rheotic of "abortion rights", trying to make it sound noble. The fact is very major surgical procedure - beside abortion - now requires a fully informed consent.The implications are obvious, abortion gets a pass. It has become some new "ultra-right" in the contemporary culture.
These opponenets of the Rights of the Child and mother offered their comments: "The overwhelming public response to the radical agenda that Republican extremists in Richmond and in Washington are trying to force on American families has left many right-wing politicians looking for a way to dodge accountability for their actions -- until they can find away to change the subject,"
The Chairman of the Virginia Democratic Party Brian Moran is trying to raise money off of the issue saying in a fundriser, "Will you contribute $20, $50 or $100 to the Democratic Party of Virginia today and help us hold them accountable?"
One of the leading organization which opposes the Fundamental Right to Life - and deceptively calls itself a "women health's organization" - NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia, accused Governor McDonnell of facilitating "an unprecedented invasion of privacy and government intrusion into the doctors' offices and living rooms of Virginia women." Fortunatley, he was not intimidated.
The measure has elicited strong reactions from both the Right to Life and the Anti-Right to Life camps. Some trivialize this entire discussion as a matter of "right" versus "left", or "conservative" versus "liberal". Even some in the Catholic and broader Christian Press. They are ill informed. It is a truly a struggle between reporting the truth or reporting the lies. Catholic Online will not use the language of those who oppose the Natural Law Right to Life in our reporting. We will not pass on their subterfuge and sophistry by using their loaded language.
Many Democrats - and Republicans - who oppose the Right to Life - and want to allow the killing of children in the womb at any time and for any reason - decried the bill as an "invasion of privacy" aimed at shaming women out of having abortions. However Pro-Life Democrats and Pro-Life Republicans heralded it as a way to provide women with as much information as possible about their pregnancies prior to choosing to have an abortion or to save the life of the child.
"This law is a victory for women and their unborn children. We thank Gov. McDonnell and Virginia's pro-life legislators for their work to ensure that women have all the facts and will no longer be kept in the dark about their pregnancies," Family Research Council President Tony Perkins said in a statement.
© 2011, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.
- - -
Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.
Keywords: Bo0b McDonnell, ultrasound procedure, abortion rights, Right to Life, Pro-Choice, Ultrasound, Human Rights, Anti-Abortion
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I haven't read the bill, but to your post Stephanie, which I agree completely with, are these type of classes and information part of the process? As to your point about men, it's the primary reason that I have been involved in men's ministry for so long. The better trained and formed a man is in the faith, the less likely he will put a women in that position. I have always thought that abortion is merely a sympton of the culture. We spend so much time trying to treat the symptom but never get to the disease. While there are many aspects to this disease, one aspect is clear. Manhood is in a state of chaos. You can point to almost every social demographic and see the failure so clearly. Abortion is no exception. I strongly believe that when we change the attitude of men today towards sex etc, we will win this war against abortion. To your post about information, seems to me that maybe we should start pressuring the various state medical boards for the inconsistency in informed consent rules. I probably get more darn information on the risks of a procedure from my dentist than women do when getting an abortion.
Stephanie, Great Post. I hope many read it and listen well because you offer great ideas and solutions. God bless.
Excellent !! This is a good news. Thanks Governor McDonnell. God bless !!!
I think many women are not informed about the reality of abortion, especially about how dangerous it is. It is a very unnatural act, forcing the cervix open and scraping a child out of the womb. It puts women at risk for cancer and for giving birth to children before they are full-term, so the babies have to spend their first weeks, sometimes a month or more, in the hospital, very expensive indeed. The more abortions you have, the greater the risk and the earlier a baby could be born. They are also at risk for mental and emotional health issues, such as depression. 70% of women regret their abortions, and those who do not usually do not understand the reality of what they did. It's just about them and their future, "I couldn't care for a baby, so I had to have an abortion." as if motherhood and murder are the only two options for a pregnant girl/woman. Some women also abort so her boyfriend will stay with her, but this never works. The guy almost always leaves immediately after the abortion. I guess female fertility scares them off. Scumbags.
There are some public assistance programs for single mothers, but the best choice for the baby is almost always placing him or her for adoption. Let the adoptive family know about your family medical history, and let them take care of the baby. An adoptive family is a stable, married couple, who can afford to take in a(nother) child. They can give them food, water, shelter, a good education, and a stable family home. There are thousands and thousands of couples on waiting lists to adopt newborn babies, and even 7,000-14,000 on a list to adopt babies born with disabilities and diseases like Down Syndrome or Cystic Fibrosis (things that 90% of parents abort over). Many people who were adopted went on to lead very successful and happy lives. Steve Jobs was adopted, as were a lot of the cast members from "Little House on the Prairie." Some do have times of depression or other problems, but that is common with the general population and isn't limited to adopted people. And of course the adoptive family is well-equipped to give him/her the help he/she needs. Adoptive kids get to feel extra special because their parents chose them, and they know their birth parents wanted them to have the best life they could have. *And* sometimes they even reunite with their birth parents as adults, which can also be wonderful, assuming both parties want to meet.
Some women do not want to place their baby for adoption because they don't feel like they can give them up, or they are under the "if I can't have this baby, no one can" immature attitude. But there are classes to help you to not bond with your baby. They are used for surrogate mothers, and although that is against church teaching, the classes can be beneficial to someone who is going to place her child for adoption. And I can tell you they are very effective. A woman I know was carrying a baby for her friend, but to cut out details, the baby born ended up being her own child. So the friend (who was moving away) chose not to take the baby girl (she offered to give her to her friend anyway out of guilt), and she ended up with her parents who had two other daughters. Well, the mother was very absent-minded and forgetful at first, leaving her baby in the car, etc. She also had trouble bonding with her new baby. She is a great mother to the youngest daughter now (this story isn't about someone being a terrible mother), but I am sure that she wouldn't have been so forgetful if she hadn't taken those classes. Those classes help you mentally prepare yourself to give your child to his or her adoptive parents.
I think it's mostly lack of information. Most people don't even know about the classes you can take to help separate from your baby! Or about the super-long waiting lists to adopt infants, even ones with disabilities or diseases.
I agree TinyBig. But what is the state's plan for assiting mom's that hopefully keep their babies. They are there for a reason and that reason probably does not go away once they make a different decision. As I read the 40 days for life emails, one thing I see in a lot of the stories is the follow up by rescue groups. Will there be something that helps them throughout their pregnancies?
Great news I heard all week, thank you!
This is good news, but Rob and Kim, good points.
The main role of gov. is to protect its people.
The next step is to mandate a discussion before an abortion with the mother about the cremation, burial and final transport of her baby.
A little responsibility for their actions is a public concern.
This is great news. You can bet your bottom dollar that the Marxist Democrat Party will contest this to a federal court where they have there judicial hacks on the bench. The article says that this Bill was bi-partisan. I.m stunned to hear that the State of Virginia actually has Pro-Life Democrats. This will be an effective practice that will expose women to the reality of their pregnancies. They will see that they have a "Baby" in their wombs instead of a blob of tissue. This is a great step in the right direction but the ultimate goal is to overturn Roe vs Wade.
Kim, you've brought up an interesting point in regards to a forced medical procedure. I understand why it's advocated, but I think you are spot on about it being a government, medical mandate that we are ok with because it comports to our ideology. Abortion = evil, thus government intervention ok. But given that it might be preventing an evil, is that a proper role for government?