Massachusetts House Passes Bill Legalizing Abortion Until Birth
The Massachusetts House passed a radical bill legalizing all late-term abortions in the Bay State.
On July 22, the House passed H. 5595, “An Act prioritizing patient access to care.” The legislation essentially removes all remaining restriction on abortion in Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Family Institute (MFI) warns.
The Massachusetts House passed H. 5595 by an overwhelming 119-33 vote. Nine Democrat members joined all 24 present Republican members in opposing the bill.
“It allows abortion past 24 weeks with no requirement of medical justification, meaning abortions could be performed at full term, just days before natural birth, for any reason or no reason at all,” MFI advises.
Under current Massachusetts law, abortion is only legal past 24 weeks if it is:
- Necessary to preserve the life of the patient;
- Necessary to preserve the patient’s physical or mental health;
- Warranted because of a lethal fetal anomaly or diagnosis;
- Warranted because of a grave fetal diagnosis indicating the fetus is incompatible with life.
It’s important to note current Massachusetts law already provides massive loopholes for women to abort their child late in pregnancy, since the law’s “physical or mental health” exception provides wide latitude for abortionists to determine when an abortion is “necessary.”
H. 5595 would make the state’s already permissive abortion law even more radical by striking out existing limitations on late-term abortion and including the following language (with no restrictions):
The bill would also do away with the existing medical review process “and the reporting safeguard for late-term procedures,” MFI states.
In effect, H. 5595 would weaken what little safeguards for life exist in Massachusetts and expressly legalize all abortions on demand for any reason in state law.
“While abortion proponents argue that late-term abortions are rare,” MFI states, “expanding this barbaric practice does serious damage to our society’s moral foundation.”
“Protecting unborn life and caring for women are not opposing goals. Real compassion means building up support for mothers, not removing every check on when a life can be ended.”
The bill now goes to the Massachusetts Senate for consideration. Gov. Maura Healey has not indicated whether she would sign the bill. Last year the governor approved a shield law to protect abortion providers in Massachusetts from prosecution for prescribing and sending abortion drugs to individuals out of state.
Christian citizens can respond to H. 5595 in three ways. First, MFI is urging Massachusetts citizens to take action and urge their state senator to vote no on S. 1563, the Senate version of the bill. The organization is also calling on Christians who live in Massachusetts to call the Senate Ways and Means Committee at (617) 722-1481 and urge every member to vote against the bill.
Second, Christians nationwide should pray for wisdom and conviction for Massachusetts legislators to defeat the radical abortion legislation.
Finally, Christians can get involved by volunteering with their local pregnancy resource center or donating to Focus on the Family’s Option Ultrasound ministry to help save babies from abortion.
If you are experiencing an unexpected pregnancy and want to learn more about your options, you can visit My Choice Network.
Related articles and resources:
Dealing With Unplanned Pregnancy
Become an Option Ultrasound Life Advocate
New Insights on the Dangers of the Abortion Pill
Overcoming Abortion and Becoming a Force for Life
How You Can Join the Pro-Life Movement
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