Daniel
Herbster reporting
The
Freedom of Choice Act may sound like an innovative education bill but it’s
anything but. This legislation if passed
would not only enshrine the infamous Roe vs. Wade opinion into federal law, but
it would also destroy every sensible limitation on abortion which federal,
state, and local governments have ever instituted. Many pro-choice politicians, including one of
the major presidential candidates, support this bill. My friend and colleague Tom McClusky, who is
Vice President at the Family Research Council,
recently prepared
a paper detailing just what the Freedom of Choice Act would mean for our
nation and the pro-life cause. I
recently had the chance to interview Tom about the Freedom of Choice Act and
his work at FRC.
DH: What is the Freedom of Choice Act?
TM: Some
of the supporters of the "Freedom of Choice Act" state that it merely
codifies Roe v. Wade. This
could not be further from the truth. As
the American Civil Liberties Union said in its Reproductive Rights Update from
December 20, 1991, "This [FOCA] bill prohibits such restrictions as
parental notification and consent, as well as the requirement that all
abortions be performed in a hospital, spousal consent, waiting periods ..."
DH: What kinds of effects would it have on
abortion restrictions in our nation?
TM: If
FOCA were to pass both chambers of Congress and be signed by a pro-abortion
President, it would single-handedly overturn countless laws that have passed in
the states in relation to abortion.
DH: If you had to come up with a different name
for this bill (one that more accurately describes its effects and intention),
what would it be?
TM: Federal
Usurpation of Rights and Abortion on Demand Act (FURADA?)
DH: What are some of the most surprising or
important things you learned about the proposed Freedom of Choice Act as you
prepared your research paper?