PHILADELPHIA, PA– April 2, 2019 –The Catholic Medical Association today issued its full support of House Republican Whip Steve Scalise, who plans to introduce a discharge petition which would force a vote on the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.
The discharge petition comes after several states passed or introduced legislation allowing for late-term abortions and have discussed infanticide in some cases.
“As health care professionals, this violates the moral law and our obligation to act in charity toward our neighbor, who happens to be in this case, the most helpless of patients,” said Dr. John Schirger, President of the CMA. “We are reminded of our Lord’s admonition that whatever we do to the least of His children we do to Him,” added Dr. Schirger.
The Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act would require medical professionals to provide babies who are born alive after an attempted abortion the same level of care that any infant would receive.
“Any politician who cannot support this common sense, humanitarian law is heartless and should not be representing Americans,” said Dr. Kathleen Raviele, OBGYN and Past President of the CMA. “The usual and customary response of a compassionate physician would be to come to the aid of a child in distress. Would you expect any less if your child were drowning or choking at a playground?”
Representative Scalise and Representative Ann Wagner plan to formally introduce the discharge petition today.
The CMA encourages Catholics everywhere to contact their state lawmakers and express their support of this legislation.
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The Catholic Medical Association is a national, physician-led community of over 2,300 healthcare professionals consisting of 102 local guilds. CMA mission is to inform, organize, and inspire its members, in steadfast fidelity to the teachings of the Catholic Church, to uphold the principles of the Catholic faith in the science and practice of medicine.
