April 1, 2016

Archbishop Tobin praises new state restrictions on abortion signed into law

Criterion staff report

Indiana became the second state in the nation to ban abortions sought because of a diagnosis of a disability in an unborn baby when Gov. Mike Pence signed into law House Enrolled Act 1337 on March 24.

The law also bans abortion motivated by the gender or race of the unborn child.

In a statement, Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin praised the new law.

“This new law reflects the love that God has for everyone by affirming that every human life is sacred,” he said. “This is a decisive step in promoting life, not death, for unborn human life. No baby should lose its life because of a potential disability or its gender or race. Every human life matters.”

Glenn Tebbe, executive director of the Indiana Catholic Conference, who serves as the legislative and public policy spokesperson for the Church in Indiana, expressed support for the proposed law while it was being debated during the session of the Indiana General Assembly that recently came to a close.

“It’s important that the concern for human life is and continues to be a topic of the legislature,” Tebbe said. “Indiana laws in terms of restrictions and limitations on abortion and promoting life are good, but it’s always important that we keep finding opportunities to enhance those laws to make them stronger.”

A similar law was approved in North Dakota in 2013. †

Local site Links: