January 20, 2003
Peter B. Crary,
Attorney at Law
North Dakota Bar #03028
United States Tax Court # CP0284
1201 12th
Avenue North
Fargo, ND 58102-3530
Dear Mr. Crary,
I was out of the
country at the time you wrote me concerning the proposed house bill
regulating the termination of human life.
Mr. Dodson is correct
in stating that we did have a copy of the bill draft and an
opportunity to discuss it at our December 10, 2002 North Dakota
Catholic Conference Board of Directors meeting. In Mr. Dodson's
response to you he states, "Of particular concern, then and now, is
the punishment of the woman having the abortion. For pastoral, moral,
and prudential reasons, the bishops have stated that they will not
support a bill that penalizes the woman since she is most often the
abortion's second victim." I am in total agreement with his conclusion
that this bill serves no legitimate purpose and can even be
counterproductive to the goals of the Gospel of Life.
I spoke about this
issue with Bishop Sullivan at the last legislative assembly in 2001
and we arrived at the same conclusion. I also brought this matter to
several bishops on the USCCB administrative committee and they do not
see it as being consistent with the work of the bishops on the Pro
Life committee.
As the proposed bill
reads, I could not support it.
Sincerely in Christ,
Most Reverend Paul A.
Zipfel
Bishop of Bismarck
PAZ:bkh
cc. Christopher
Dodson