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The Radical Reproductive
Health Act
In his 2013 State of the State Message, Governor
Andrew Cuomo called for the passage of the “Reproductive Health Act” ("RHA")
as part of a "Women's Equality Act".
This is a radical bill
that would expand abortion in New York. It
would:
- Establish a “fundamental right of
privacy” within New York State law, which
would make abortion virtually immune from
any regulation or restriction,
- Ensure that abortion is legal throughout
all nine months of pregnancy,
- Permit non-doctors to perform abortions,
- Prevent the
passage of reasonable regulations on
abortion (e.g., parental notification laws,
bans on sex-selection abortions)
- Allow post-viability abortions to be
performed on an out-patient basis in clinics
that go virtually unregulated by public
health authorities, endangering both women
and unborn children, and
- Endanger conscience protections
under current law, which could force Catholic
hospitals to perform abortions, and could
even force Catholic schools and charitable
agencies to promote or refer for abortions
and contraception.
Here is a flyer
in
English and
Spanish), and a more detailed
Fact Sheet with information
about this bill (also available in
Spanish).
Here are also some
sample bulletin blurbs you can use (in both
English and Spanish).
Here are several
blog posts that will give you more information
about RHA:
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Important
Poll Results
A recent poll of
New Yorkers shows that the great majority of New
Yorkers are opposed to an expansion of abortion,
and to the provisions of the RHA. For more
details, see
here.
Some of the most
significant findings:
- Only 17%
approve of unlimited abortion on demand
through the ninth month of pregnancy (which
is the current law, thanks to the Supreme
Court, and which would be confirmed by the
Reproductive Health Act.);
- 80%
disapprove of such a policy, 61%
strongly.
A large majority
of New Yorkers oppose the following, which would
be permissible under the Reproductive Health
Act:
- 92%
oppose abortion for selecting the sex of a
baby;
- 89%
oppose abortion for reducing triplets or
twins to a single child;
- 75%
oppose allowing non-doctors to perform
abortions; and
- 71%
oppose forcing Catholic hospitals to allow
abortions.
Large majorities
also support the following reasonable
regulations of abortion, all of which would be
impermissible under the Reproductive Health Act:
- 87%
support providing information about options
and risks to pregnant women before they make
an abortion decision;
- 78%
approve of a 24-hour waiting period prior to
an abortion; and
- 76%
approve of parental notification for minors’
abortions.
Take Action to Stop the
Reproductive Health Act
A broad-based
coalition has been formed to fight against the
Reproductive Health Act --
New
Yorkers for Life. Please "Like" their
Facebook page, and "Follow" them on Twitter.
Here are some
steps that you can take to stop this expansion
of abortion in New York:
- Get
Informed. Here is a flyer in
English and
Spanish and
sample bulletin blurbs. Please
distribute them as widely as possible.
- Don't
Fall for False Information. The
Governor and the pro-abortion advocates are
spreading false information about the legal
implications of this bill. Please read the
blog posts linked above,
which you can use to correct
the falsehoods.
- Write
your legislators. We strongly urge you
to contact your legislators about the bill.
You can use the Catholic Conference's Action
Network for this: go to the
Catholic Conference webpage and click on
"Take Action". Or, you
can use this
sample letter.
- Visit
your legislators. Visits to the
legislators' local district office are very
important. It would be particularly helpful
to have priests, medical personnel and women
make these visits.
- Organize
local rallies. We believe that local
rallies in key districts would be very
helpful.
- Write
letters to the editor. Letters to local
newspapers can be very effective in shaping
opinion and influencing legislators.
- Use local
media. Call in to your local radio talk
and news shows to express your opinion on
the bill.
- Use
social media. In addition to the
New Yorkers for Life Facebook and
Twitter, you should spread the word about
this through your own social media contacts.
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Sample Homilies
We have asked
several priests to draft sample homilies, so
that priests and deacons can have ideas on how
to preach about the Reproductive Health Act:
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Sign up for the Catholic Advocacy Network
The most effective tool we have to influence our
legislators is the
Catholic Advocacy Network.
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Edward T.
Mechmann, Esq.,
Public Policy Coordinator
 edward.mechmann@archny.org
646.794.2807
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