The Catholic Bishops of North Dakota have expressed their disagreement with a proposed anti abortion law. This disagreement has been misunderstood by many Catholics and pro lifers, it seems.
If you read the reasoning of the Bishops, they are absolutely correct in opposing this law which is SEVERELY anti-woman, and I have to agree with them. Here's a quote from their letter of explanation: (Please share with anyone you feel should know - women have been abused enough in our society without this!)
>
> >>>Of particular
concern, then and now, is the punishment of the woman
> having the abortion. For pastoral, moral, and prudential reasons, the
> bishops have stated that they will not support a bill that penalizes the
> woman since she is most often the abortion's second victim. Since
> criminalizing the woman is not necessary to legally stop abortion and does
> not further the pastoral need to bring the woman full emotional and
> spiritual healing, it serves no legitimate purpose and can even be
> counterproductive to the legal, pastoral, and cultural goals of the Gospel
> of Life.
> While this is a threshold issue, the bishops also examine pro-life
> legislation to determine whether it is reasonably calculated to furthering
> the end of abortion, whether it has a realistic possibility of withstanding
> constitutional scrutiny, whether it jeopardizes existing pro-life policies,
> and whether it is consistent with the work of the bishops of the United
> States and the Holy See. Assuming a revision to the proposed bill would
> eliminate the penalty for the woman, the bishops would further examine the
> bill on these points.
>
> Please be assured that while the bishops may differ with you on these
> points, they remain fully committed to ending the horror of abortion in our
> country. The bishops take seriously their apostolic functions as shepherds
> and teachers called to build a culture of life. I know that you will treat
> them and their decisions with courtesy and respect as we strive to work
> together, creating a united force against the culture of death.<<<<<
>
Read more: - Attorney Crary's
letter requesting support, and the reply of the North Dakota Catholic
Conference.