8 The Catholic News & Herald
March
5,
2004
FIGHTING FOR LIFE it by would
the legislation might "try to nullify offering substitute language" that
recognize only the
harm done
Bishops, pro-lifers
oppose
to the
woman but not to her child. But he called this
type of "single-victim approach" un-
research budget proposal
cell
mothers and families who grieve the loss of their unborn children. The bill has been dubbed "Laci and
fair to
METUCHEN,
Conner's Law" after California murder victims Laci Peterson and her unborn son, Conner, who disappeared in 2002 and were later found dead. Laci's husband, Scott, is charged with the mur-
CNS
PHOTO FROM Reuters
A choir sings during a memorial service for Laci Peterson at the First Baptist Church in Modesto, Calif., May 4. Peterson was eight months pregnant at the time of her death, and her husband, Scott, has been charged with double homicide. The Unborn Victims
of Violence Act,
as legal victims of violence,
will
proposed
legislation to recognize
unborn children
be renamed Laci and Conner's Law.
Victims of Violence Act Those who supported the said
VICTIMS, from page 1
it
legislation
reflected the opinion of the majority
of Americans, while opponents expressed
concern that
it
stem-cell institute
the
House
mea-
rejected an alternative
taxpayer
now
for this type of research. of the prospective stem-cell center was met with strong opposition
woman
but would not have recognized her unborn chUd as a victim of the attack
The approved measure would able the federal that,
when
government
a pregnant
to recognize
woman
kidnapping across state
— such
lines
as a
or an at-
killed as a result,
victims
harmed or the crime has two
her unborn chUd
—
the
woman and
is
excludes abortion and thus
"all
the
life.
They warned
that publicly funded research poses profound moral ques-
About 30 states have laws offering some form of protection to unborn victims in crimes against pregnant women. The House previously passed such a
and urged individuals to contact
tions,
McGreevey and sentatives
and
their legislative repre-
let
them know
for research that destroys
human
Marie Tasy, public and
Senate took no action either time. "We encourage people in the Diocese of Charlotte to contact our two U.S. Senators by fax, e-mail or phone," said
affairs director for
New
Jersey Right to
posal "unconscionable."
bad enough that Governor sold out humanity and ignored the will of the people to do the bidding of the biotech industry, be is now trying to force this immoral re-
director of the diocesan
"It is
McGreevey
suggested
calling
said people
may
also
the
want
visit
the National Committee for a
man
Life
Amendment's
of co-sponsors uvva.htm.
list
more disappointing
that
was some
it
life.
legislative
governor's budget pro-
Life, called the
Respect Life office.
Nadol
that they
oppose the use of their tax dollars to pay
bUl twice, in 1999 and 2001, but the
Web
ers,"
down
she
"Taxpayers should not be
McGreevey
Hucell
human
...
grisly ex-
beings."
has been outspoken in
promote embryonic stem-
his efforts to
site for a
New
research in
Jersey since a
was signed
bill
law in January. On Feb. 13, the governor sent a ktter to the state's Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, requesting that he help encourage the research. authorizing
Editor Kevin E. Murray contributed
the throats of the taxpay-
said.
perimentation on
to
at http://nchla.org/
to
this story.
it
into
the bUl should nonetheless be de-
somehow
preserve a
'right' to
abortion."
little
research violates the sanctity of hu-
man
Committee on Pro-Life Ac-
also noted that legislation explic-
feated to
her chUd.
"This
cally precious
We
of the measure. is chairman of the
itly
insist
unborn child is intrinsiand valuable and deserving of standing in the law and protection," said Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., in urging passage of the biU.
"The
U.S. bishops' tivities,
tack that takes place on federal property
— and
Keeler
The cardinal, who
saulted or killed in the commission of federal crimes of violence
cell
forced to fund this radical
nullify the intent
as-
is
ated their position that embryonic stem-
single-victim substitute amendment."
WUliam H.
urged lawmakers to approve the Unborn Victims of Violence Act as drafted and to reject any substitute that would
en-
Catholic Conference, the bishops reiter-
search
Baltimore Cardinal
as well.
from the New Jersey Catholic bishops and pro-life organizations. The governor unveiled his budget Feb. 24. In a statement from the New Jersey
"Please vote for the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, S.1019, and oppose any
legislation
Jer-
money
In a letter sent to Congress Feb. 19,
The
be taken up by the Senate.
New
state to use
first
must
children.
it
If
News
136 co-sponsors.
Nadol
approved.
Capitol's switchboard at (202) 2243121 and leaving the following message:
unborn
sure that would have increased penalties for those who attacked a pregnant
gives victim rights to
is
sey will become the
referred to Laci Peterson in his letter, saying: "As Sharon Rocha, mother of Laci Peterson and grandmother of Conner, reminds us: 'There were two bodies Jihat washed up in San Francisco Bay, and the law should recognize that reality.'" The bOl, sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, has 25 cosponsors. The House version was sponsored by Rep. Melissa Hart, R-Pa., with
would erode current abor-
tion laws because
—
James E. McGreevey's $6.5 million budget proposal to flind a
cardinal
Maggi Nadol,
(CNS)
N.J.
New Jersey Gov.
ders.
The
stem-
N.J.
bill
La (BeCCa Sposa
simply ensures that both
mother and chUd are protected from violent assault
the beautiful bride
and murder," the cardi-
nal wrote.
He had warned
-that
opponents of
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