LAC News
FOCA: Return of an Old Foe
By By: Marian L. Ward
June 2008

The so-called Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) is once again rearing its ugly head, this time in the 110^th Congress in the form of the S. 1173 and H.R. 1964.  The pro-life community has successfully beat back this legislation since 1980, when it was first introduced.   Now this odious bill is returning to the forefront as a major issue in the 2008 presidential election.

FOCA is sweeping legislation which purports to protect a woman’s “right” to an abortion at any time and for any reason during the course of her pregnancy. 

This bill unapologetically nullifies any “… Federal, State and local statute, ordinance, regulation, administrative order, decision, policy, practice, or other action enacted, adopted, or implemented before, on, or after the date of enactment …” that would “deny or interfere with a woman’s right to choose to bear a child; to terminate a pregnancy prior to viability; or to terminate a pregnancy after viability where termination is necessary to protect the life or health of the woman.”  

FOCA overturns parental notification and consent laws, informed consent laws, waiting periods and more, including the recently upheld federal Partial Birth Abortion Ban.  And, just when you thought this bill couldn’t get any worse, it defines “viability” as being completely under the discretion of the attending physician.

In an attempt to soften the blow of this extreme bill, liberals in Congress claim it’s “simply a codification of the principles enunciated in Roe v. Wade.”  However, this rhetoric is misleading at best, and Denise M. Burke of Physiciansforlife.org calls it “blatantly untrue and intentionally deceptive.”  Burke further asserts that “FOCA goes far beyond Roe, envisioning a nation with no meaningful regulation of abortion and seeking to undo years of progress made by protecting women and their children from the negative consequences of abortion and in reducing abortion rates.”

In fact, FOCA’s legal impact would be devastating.  Burke warns that it establishes — for the first time ever (not even Roe or subsequent Supreme Court decisions do this) — abortion as a fundamental Constitutional right.  In effect, the bill “[enshrines] unlimited abortion-on-demand into American law,” states Burke.

Shari Rendall, Director of Legislation and Public Policy for Concerned Women for America (CWA), says, “The Freedom of Choice Act is one of the largest affronts to the lives of unborn Americans since Roe v. Wade.  FOCA would essentially undermine every policy success we have had in the last 35 years to protect the lives of our youngest and most vulnerable Americans.”

It may seem that FOCA is not a huge threat since President Bush would almost certainly veto it.  But while this is a relief, we are still under a liberal-controlled House and Senate, and the Majority is dangerously close to having enough pro-abortion seats in the Senate to override a veto.

The stakes are extremely high in the 2008 election.  We need to be extremely and prayerfully aware of every election from the President to Members of Congress and more.  And we need to vote!  Planned Parenthood and other liberal activist organizations are well aware that the stakes are high for them as well. 

We as Christians and conservatives must stand for truth and life — all the way to the polling place.

Pray: For a swift end to this unprecedented assault on life and that Congress never has enough votes to impose such a radical pro-abortion measure as the so-called Freedom of Choice Act.

Act: Call your Senators and Representatives at 202-224-3121 and urge them to oppose this reprehensible pro-abortion legislation.