Pro-life advocates step up campaign vs. abortion

Church leaders and pro-life advocates yesterday gave members of the House of Representatives a showing of a video documentary tackling abortion as part of their campaign to drum up support against the controversial issue.

The group, called the Christians for Life, brought to the House chamber the half-hour documentary “Eclipse of Reason” in which a doctor, who used to performed abortions in his private clinic, spoke of his conversion.

Pastor Ray Kinsella of the Grace Christian Church said the video showing is a way to send a message to the community that abortion “is violence.”

“The Christians for Life will encourage any form of legislation that will protect human life to be able to stop abortions here,” he told reporters in an interview after the viewing.

“Our goals are not moral or spiritual, it is life and abortion is not good for any community,” added Mr. Kinsella.

The group organized last May amid the debate on the legality of abortion in the CNMI which resurfaced again after some quarters demanded the island government comply with the Roe vs Wade ruling in the U.S. Supreme Court that allows abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy.

The CNMI Constitution bans abortion on the islands unless lawmakers pass a law to legalize it. The Legislature has yet to approve any bill despite two measures introduced in the last four years that failed to get the votes.

Abortion has become a thorny issue in this predominantly Roman Catholic island community. Religious leaders from various church denominations have launched the campaign in a bid to counter renewed debate on the controversial issue.

“If we can do something to guard the law in the CNMI that prevents or curbs abortion, then we want to be there and be part of the good,” said Mr. Kinsella.

The group is expected to meet with Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio and other island leaders to come up with a “positive effort, such as proclaiming January as the month to celebrate life, he said.

Speaker Benigno R. Fitial last week put his foot down to any proposal that will change the constitutional ban on abortion, saying the only legislation acceptable to the House leadership is one that will provide penalties against violation of that mandate.

House Floor Leader Oscar M. Babauta echoed his sentiment as he noted a policy change on abortion by lawmakers should follow the teachings of the church.

“We will support definitely penalty provisions violating the prohibition,” he told in an interview after the video showing.

He said that while the House has yet a draw a proposal, it expects the Christians for Life to come up with recommendations on imposing penalties against violators.

Bishop Tomas A. Camacho has expressed dismay over reports that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recently approved an abortion pill which he described as an “assault on the sanctity of life and on individual unborn children.”

He objected to the sale and distribution of RU-486 or the mifepristone, noting the legalize abortion drug curtails the growth of innocent lives.