Flash: FOCA may not be so far away

I've been among those who doubted that the Freedom of Choice Act stood much of a chance being introduced into Congress. I thought the preventative actions already taken would be a serious deterrent.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler and Sen. Barbara Boxer, however, may have other plans:

Leading pro-life advocates have been criticized by the mainstream media for organizing an active opposition to the radical Freedom of Choice Act because the bill has yet to be filed in Congress. However, a leading pro-abortion Congressman calls FOCA a top priority and says the bill is coming soon.
A spokesman for Rep. Jerrold Nadler, a New York Democrat who is chairman of a House Judiciary subcommittee that could consider the bill, says the bill is forthcoming.
FOCA "is among the congressman's priorities. We expect to reintroduce it sooner rather than later," Ilan Kayatsky told the St. Louis Post Dispatch {full article here}.
"We expect it to be more or less the same bill with some minor tweaks," Kayatsky said. He indicated he expects pro-abortion Sen. Barbara Boxer to introduce a companion bill shortly. (LifeNews)

I hate last-minute Friday news bombs.

"What the FOCA?"

Gets your attention, doesn't it?

It got my attention when I saw various people wearing these t-shirts at the March for Life this year. It became a bit of a "thing" for people to mutter the phrase throughout the day, as a way to voice disapproval.

Edgy, effective - excellent: http://www.whatthefoca.com/.

Update: USCCB Rep Corrects Incorrect Novena Email on FOCA

LifeNews:

If you're a pro-life Catholic, chances are you've seen the email that has been widely circulated across the Internet seeking prayers to stop the radical FOCA bill. While the email is accurate concerning how the Freedom of Choice Act will make abortion on demand the national law, there is one big error.

I pointed out that one big error a couple days ago.

Bishop on FOCA: "You can go take a Flying Leap"

Bishop Paul Loverde of Arlington, VA, when asked about FOCA and Catholic hospital closures:

Bishop Paul Loverde of the Roman Catholic diocese of Arlington, Va., said last week that if the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) should become law and a Catholic hospital in his diocese is forced to provide abortions, he would refuse to let the hospital comply, but he would also not close the institution.

Though there are no Catholic hospitals in his diocese, the bishop nevertheless was defiant: "I would say, 'Yeah, I'm not going to close the hospital, you're going to arrest me, go right ahead. You'll have to drag me out, go right ahead. I'm not closing this hospital, we will not perform abortions, and you can go take a flying leap." (CNS)

Ph/t: Margaret Cabaniss of Inside Catholic.

On Fighting Foca

Almost a dozen people have recommended this link to me since November 5th:

http://www.fightfoca.com/

They've collected almost 70,000 signatures against FOCA. What is FOCA?

"The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) would eliminate every restriction on abortion nationwide. Barack Obama believes this legislation will "end the abortion wars." To him, "ending the abortion wars" means eradicating every state and federal law on abortion — laws that the majority of Americans support."

70k is a good start, but honestly, millions would be better.

The Catholic bishops are "completely united and resolute in our teaching and defense of the unborn child from the moment of conception" and have explicitly named FOCA as a preeminent threat to the unborn child in their Baltimore meeting this week. (More details here.)

I'll bracket, for the moment, the obvious observation that we are now in a situation of having to vocally oppose a piece of legislation that it has was long known President-elect Obama has promised to sign. Looking to the past and learning from the lessons it can teach us is important, but should not interfere with us moving, quickly, to do something about FOCA now.