STATEMENT OF THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF IOWA
AND THE IOWA CATHOLIC CONFERENCE
July 1992
We are encouraged that the Supreme Court in Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey has decided that states have the statutory authority to protect human life. Now states have the legal right to require informed consent, a 24-hour waiting period, parental consent, definition of medical emergency, and record keeping rules. In Iowa, we have championed the similar issues of parental notification and statistical reporting of abortions. We are encouraged that the Court found
(1) that states had a legitimate interest in offering factual, nonbiased information to women seeking abortions; and (2) that unemancipated minors are required to obtain the consent of one parent; and (3) that states can recognize that an abortion procedure is more than minor surgery.
At the same time, we are saddened that the Supreme Court has reaffirmed its 1973 abortion decisions and failed to give even minimal consideration to the lives of unborn children.
In doing so, the Court ignored what most Americans believe about abortion. Americans reject the reasons for which most abortions are currently performed in the United States. Americans reject permissive abortion and want limits to the unfettered destruction of unborn human life.
We must increase our respect for human life. This includes the unborn, the elderly, the prisoner, and those threatened by nuclear war, poverty and starvation. There can be no peace in the world as long as abortion is permitted.
We invite all men and women of good will to join us in the work of restoring meaningful protection to the unborn and addressing the underlying problems that send so many women and defenseless children to the abortion clinics.
July 1992
