Former Chief Pro-Life Spokeswoman for USCCB: "Roe v. Wade Stands in the Way"

Cathy Ruse, former chief pro-life spokeswoman for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, writes at National Catholic Register on the necessity of overturning Roe v. Wade in order to enact even relatively small abortion restrictions:

... According to British press reports, more babies born very prematurely are surviving, and this good news is shaking the foundation of British abortion law.

Research at University College London Hospital shows that babies born between 22 and 25 weeks gestation are surviving at dramatically higher rates today than ever before. In 1981, only 32% of extremely premature babies survived. By 2000, the survival rate had climbed to 71%.

But these youngsters pose a problem for the abortion establishment in Great Britain. British law allows abortion without a medical reason for up to 24 weeks gestation, and the preemies have sparked a national debate about changing the 20-year-old law.

Here in the United States, such a debate would be meaningless because of Roe v. Wade.

Roe mandated that abortion remain legal at all points in pregnancy, even without a medical reason; it granted abortion doctors the power to nullify any restriction at any time based on “emotional” reasons for the abortion. Because of this, we have the most permissive abortion law in the world.

In an interview after the 2008 March for Life, a reporter seemed perplexed about my optimism over public opinion on abortion. Most people think abortion should be legal. Shouldn’t I feel defeated?

Reporters tend to see abortion as an all-or-nothing proposition: If you think abortion should be legal then you support Roe v. Wade, if not, you oppose it. But Americans’ views on abortion are highly fact-specific.

Is the mother’s life at risk without an abortion? Is the abortion for financial reasons? Is the baby’s heart beating? Circumstances matter.

The annual CBS News opinion poll on the legality of abortion gives people the following choices:

1. It should be permitted in all cases.

2. It should be permitted, but subject to greater restrictions than it is now.

3. It should be permitted only in such cases as rape, incest and to save the woman’s life.

4. It should only be permitted to save the woman’s life.

5. It never should be permitted.

For the last three years, 70% of people chose answers 2 through 5. That means 70% of Americans disagree with Roe v. Wade.

Under Roe, abortion cannot be prohibited or limited to cases of rape, incest, or life endangerment. And for those who want “greater restrictions” on abortion, Roe v. Wade stands in their way...

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