House joins fight against abortion

In a strong statement advocating pro-life, the House of Representatives is set to adopt a resolution supporting a month-long campaign by various church organizations on the islands against abortion.

The House leadership will be part of the efforts to raise awareness in the community on the need to safeguard the life on a mother’s womb, according to House Floor Leader Oscar M. Babauta.

Different church groups have joined hands to mark January as “Celebration of Life Month” with various activities, including a prayer vigil and a march to be held next weekend.

The resolution will be adopted tomorrow at the start of the House regular session, Mr. Babauta said, adding it will endorse the campaign initiated by the church coalition.

“This is a strong statement for the community that we are one with them, that we are behind the group’s efforts in educating our people that abortion is not a way of life here,” he told in an interview.

It comes as lawmakers are being confronted with the controversial issue on abortion since some quarters in the island community have pressed the government to comply with the Roe vs. Wade ruling allowing abortion on the first trimester of pregnancy.

Last November, House members watched a showing of a video documentary tackling abortion as part of the campaign to drum up support against the issue.

Church leaders and pro-life advocates forming “Christians for Life” showed the documentary “Eclipse of Reason” in which a doctor, who used to performed abortions in his private clinic, spoke of his conversion.

The group organized last May amid the debate on the legality of abortion in the CNMI. The 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 its 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.

House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial has 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.