This month, a pivotal vote will take place in the Senate regarding the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, a piece of legislation designed to protect babies who survive abortions. The bill, spearheaded by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, aims to ensure that babies who survive an attempted abortion receive immediate medical care rather than being abandoned to die.
Despite existing federal law requiring that babies who survive abortions be given medical treatment, the law lacks strong criminal enforcement mechanisms to hold individuals accountable who allow such children to die. This legislative gap has led to the introduction of the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which seeks to close this loophole and provide both legal protections and consequences for those who fail to provide lifesaving care to these vulnerable infants.
The vote is set to take place on Friday, January 24th, coinciding with the March for Life, where hundreds of thousands of pro-life Americans will gather in support of the sanctity of life. As Senator Thune stated, this vote will force a critical question: Should babies born alive after an attempted abortion be provided with medical care or left to die?
Frank Pavone, the head of Priests for Life, expressed gratitude for the vote and highlighted the significance of the legislation. He noted that while the bill passed the House in the previous session of Congress, Senate Democrats blocked it last year. Despite the bill’s clear purpose of protecting survivors of abortion, many Democrats have consistently opposed it, largely due to their unwavering stance on abortion access. Pavone rightly pointed out that this bill is not about limiting abortion access, but rather about protecting the most vulnerable—the babies who survive attempted abortion procedures.
At the heart of this debate is a profound ethical question: Where do we draw the line between the right to choose and the sanctity of life? As Christians, we believe in the inherent dignity of all human life, from conception to natural death. The defense of babies who survive abortion attempts is not just a political issue; it is a moral imperative.
The vote on January 24th offers Catholics and all people of faith an opportunity to stand in defense of life at its most fragile moment. By supporting this legislation, we affirm that every life, no matter how small or vulnerable, deserves to be treated with the love, respect, and care that all children deserve. Let us pray that our elected leaders will choose life and ensure that these babies, who have already been given a second chance at life, will be given the care and protection they deserve.
