Missouri Senate Approves Pro-life Legislation

SEPTEMBER 12, 2005, JEFFERSON CITY, MO – The Missouri Senate passed by a vote of 26-6 pro-life legislation that will allow parents to file a lawsuit against those who “cause, aid or assist” a minor obtain an abortion without parental consent, excludes adults who have a financial interest in abortion from assisting minors to seek judicial consent to an abortion, and requires doctors who perform abortions to have clinical privileges at a hospital within thirty miles of the abortion clinic.

SB1, sponsored by Sen. John Loudon (R-Ballwin), has strong support in the Senate and the House and will take effect immediately upon the signature of Governor Matt Blunt. However during the senate debate several pro-abortion senators attempted to significantly weaken the bill by offering numerous amendments.

Sen. Charles Wheeler (D-Kansas City) offered an amendment that would require any emergency room physician at a hospital within 30 miles of an abortion clinic to complete a one-month rotation at the abortion facility. Though the amendment failed it would have required doctors at Catholic hospitals within a 30 miles radius of an abortion clinic to work at the clinic.

“The purpose of making sure that abortion doctors have clinical privileges at a hospital within thirty miles of the abortion clinic is the ensure the safety of the woman,” stated Deacon Larry Weber, executive director of the Missouri Catholic Conference. “Too often an abortion doctor comes in to an area, performs abortions and leaves. Senator Wheeler’s amendment made a mockery of Catholic doctors’ and hospitals’ right of conscience not to participate in abortions.”

The other two provisions of SB1 helps promote family unanimity and protect teen girls. The legislation will allow parents to file a lawsuit against those individuals who “cause, aid or assist” a minor obtain an abortion without parental consent. “This will address the concerns of parents whose underage daughters are being solicited by abortion clinics in Illinois for abortions where there are no parental consent laws,” said Weber.

Another issue that is clarified in the bill is the definition of “next friend.” The definition excludes individuals who work or volunteer at an abortion facility from acting as a “next friend” when a minor seeks judicial (rather than parental) consent for an abortion. A “next friend” is an adult who appears in court on behalf of a minor, but is not a party to the lawsuit. Children must be represented in court by their parents or other adults as “next friends.” In addition, the legislation would prohibit the child’s father who might be obligated to pay child support or an adult male who might be charged with statutory rape when the pregnancy becomes known from being the “next friend.”

SB1 will be heard by the House Children and Family Committee on Monday, September 12 and is expected to be debated on the House floor Wednesday, September 14.