New York State’s New Abortion Law Withholds Liberty and Justice from the Most Vulnerable

Last updated on: February 28, 2019 at 8:30 am by Randy Alcorn

New York State’s New Abortion Law Withholds Liberty and Justice from the Most Vulnerable 2019-02-13T14:13:53-08:00 Randy Alcorn

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

On January 22, 2019, on the 46th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the New York Senate passed the Reproductive Health Act, which allows abortions “after 24 weeks if a fetus is no longer viable, or if a woman’s life or health is at risk. Abortion also would be regulated in New York under public health law, instead of the existing penal law,” reports Syracuse.com. As Russell Moore explains, in effect, it “removes any protections as persons from unborn children at any stage of pregnancy.” This means a baby can be aborted any time before birth, for any reason.

Footage from the New York State chamber showed loud clapping and cheering when the bill was passed. Benjamin Watson, a friend and brother who stands for justice in every area with every person, not just some, wrote this in response:

@BenjaminSWatson

It is a sad and evil day when the murder of our most innocent and vulnerable is celebrated with such overwhelming exuberance.
We SHOULD be supporting and encouraging the building of families which are fundamental to any society.
By not doing so, we invite consequences untold.

I stand with Ben and everyone else who decries the celebrating of literally cutting to pieces precious and innocent babies created in God’s image. I read some of the pushback against Ben Watson’s words that people expressed on his Twitter account. I weep at the blindness of those who profess to believe in justice, yet withhold it from the most vulnerable children. God help us.

More than ever, we must show the men and women indoctrinated to believe abortion is the best choice, that while the alternatives are challenging, only abortion kills an innocent person. It has by far the most negative consequences in a woman’s life, and in society as a whole.

The New York bill mentions abortion in cases where “a woman’s life or health is at risk.” Greg Gilbert writes, “In abortion discussions, ‘health [of the mother]’ always includes everything. Physical health, mental health, financial health, social health. It’s anything you want it to be.”

He’s right—and in fact, in an adjoining case to Roe v. Wade, Doe v. Bolton, health was defined to embrace almost any consideration. Abortions were legal “in the light of all factors—physical, emotional, psychological, familial, and the woman’s age—relevant to the well-being of the patient. All these factors may relate to health.” [1]

In my book ProLife Answers to ProChoice Arguments, I further address the question of “What About a Woman Whose Life Is Threatened by Pregnancy or Childbirth?” We never want to send the message that the women are less important than babies. But it is an extremely rare case when abortion is actually required to save the mother’s life. Abortion for the mother’s life and abortion for the mother’s “health” are usually not the same issue.

It’s never in anyone’s best interests to kill a child. It’s not just the child who suffers, it’s her mother. Precisely because the unborn is a child, the consequences of killing him are severe. It’s the identity of the first victim, the child, that brings harm to the second victim, the mother.

That’s still true in New York. And it’s certainly true everywhere else, too, including where you and I live. So may God help us to reach out in compassion and love to both the unborn and their moms. I encourage everyone to especially pray for prolife ministries and outreaches in New York, who more than ever need our support and encouragement in helping the vulnerable and speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Browse more prolife articles and resources, as well as see Randy’s books Why ProLife? and ProLife Answers to ProChoice Arguments.

[1] Doe v. Bolton, U.S. Supreme Court, January 1973, No. 70-40, IV, 11.

Reproductive Health Act

Response

unborn

Previous Post

February 25, 2019

An Introduction to god, with a Lowercase g

Next Post

March 4, 2019 Don’t Look Up at the Clouds to Get a Picture of the Eternal Heaven

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category About Me Animals Books Books and Resources Christ Christian Life Christians Past and Present Church Creation Culture and Worldview Doctrine and Theology Eternal Perspective Ministries Fun Grace and Truth Grief Happiness Heaven Marriage and Family Missions Money and Giving Persecuted Church Politics Prayer Prolife Salvation Sexual Purity Sovereignty and Free Will Suffering and Evil Uncategorized Writing

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz