The marriage between the purported pro-life organizations such as the N.D. Right to Life, N.D. Family Alliance, the North Dakota Catholic Conference and the Catholic Bishops, and the pro-abortion alliance makes a strange consortium. Who can understand it? I feel betrayed by my church hierarchy.

The stance taken by the afore-mentioned purported pro-life groups and individuals who opposed HB 1242 is illogical and untenable. The issue has to do with the moral rightness or wrongness of aborticide.  (And it is aborticide, the unjustifiable destruction of a fetus or unborn child.)  If we stay with the principle that ALL human life is sacred and is to be protected and respected, and that no human has the right to destroy that life created by God in His image and likeness, we can then proceed to the next stage of insuring by law that this is done.

It appears that what is taking place here is a replacement of God's law, which is immutable, with man's capriciousness.  God's law doesn't change with the times.  For centuries, the Catholic Church's Code of Canon Law has recognized the evil of abortion (aborticide).  Canon 2350 of the Code (1917) states very plainly: "Those who procure abortion, not excepting the mother, incur, if the effect is produced, an excommunication reserved to the Ordinary; and if they be clerics, they are moreover to be deposed."

There is no equivocation here.  This is Church law which those in authority ought to follow as well as those under their authority.  The law does not make exceptions or speak of mitigating circumstances.

Does this prevent the Church from showing mercy or forgiveness?  Of course not.  But the law, the standard, remains in place. It is not up to the law to determine the degree of culpability.  That is for the courts to determine.  And there are degrees of culpability.

Christopher Dodson, Executive Director of the North Dakota Catholic Conference states that the legislators cannot vote in favor of this proposed Bill, HB 1242, because they would violate their oaths of office to uphold the Constitution, the Constitution which was misconstrued as supporting the Roe v Wade law legalizing abortion (aborticide).  This law, which is in violation of God's law, is no law and cannot be morally binding on anyone.  Mr. Dodson has in effect placed this immoral law above God's law which forbids that which Roe v Wade endorses, the taking of innocent life and without due process.

The emotional argument that the woman who desires an abortion is a victim and would be doubly victimized by the law assigning a penalty to her is an absurdity.  It taps into the current social mentality that dismisses personal responsibility for our actions.  It correlates with seeing the drunkard as victimized by the bar which sells the liquor, the obese individual as victimized by McDonalds and the other fast food vendors.  And were not Adam and Eve also victimized by the lying serpent?  Should they not also be excused?

To claim that we are pro-life yet against a law or laws that would attempt to protect and preserve life, such as HB 1242 proposed, is an illogical, untenable position.  To have a criminal act without a penalty is likewise untenable and absurd.  One cannot logically be for something and against it at the same time.  "He who is not with me, is against me." And, "I would that you were either hot or cold, but because you are lukewarm, I will vomit you out of my mouth."

The author of life states that our speech should be "yes" or "no".   The "yes, but . . ." position is unacceptable in the eyes of the Creator and lawgiver.