Montana governor urged to sign fetal anesthesia bill despite Democrats' track record

Priests for Life

Publication Date: April 20, 2015

NEW YORK – Fr. Frank Pavone today praised the Montana legislature for approving and urged Governor Steve Bullock to sign legislation that would offer women the opportunity to have their late-term babies anesthetized prior to an abortion.

“To rip off the arm or leg of a 20-week-old-or-more unborn baby is barbaric; to do it without at least giving the child an anesthetic beforehand is just plain sadistic,” said Fr. Pavone. “I strongly urge Governor Bullock to sign this legislation so that at least some babies may not feel the excruciating pain of being dismembered.”

The Montana Senate last week approved a measure that would, prior to the abortion of an unborn baby of 20 weeks or more gestation, have an abortionist offer the mother the option of having her child anesthetized prior to the procedure. The bill is based on scientific evidence that unborn babies can feel pain at 20 weeks.

“It will be interesting to see how far the Governor is willing to let his own views on abortion, and the extreme position of his party, interfere with decency and commonsense,” added Fr. Pavone. "We have laws protecting cattle from unnecessary pain when being slaughtered. Hopefully, Democrats can see that we should at least do the same for our children."

Priests for Life is the nation's largest Catholic pro-life organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia. For more information, visit www.priestsforlife.org.

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9 Comments

Larry McCall says:
5/13/2015 3:17:37 PM
Horrific....this is what we have become as a society! Ripping the arms and legs from a living baby and justifying this behavior by...." Well, the baby couldn't really feel any pain." #Puking

JSM says:
4/24/2015 2:48:43 PM
To the person who spoke of limbo as being the teaching of the Catholic church...Limbo was never a definitive teaching, it was the thinking of some theologians. From the Catechism: "As regards children who have died without Baptism, the Church can only entrust them to the mercy of God, as she does in her funeral rites for them. Indeed, the great mercy of God who desires that all men should be saved, and Jesus' tenderness toward children which caused him to say: "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them,"63 allow us to hope that there is a way of salvation for children who have died without Baptism. All the more urgent is the Church's call not to prevent little children coming to Christ through the gift of holy Baptism." As to this particular issue, Fr. Pavone is clearly not advocating abortion. I agree with some others that this bill could make some people less reluctant to abort their babies, but it is also possible that, in treating them like babies already born, people will understand that they are entitled to all rights (including right to life) of the rest of us. It's a tricky issue.

SANDRA BELL says:
4/24/2015 11:37:53 AM
THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE IN MURDERING A SEDATED BABY THAN MURDERING A SEDATED 30 YEAR OLD MAN. THE BIBLE SAYS NO MURDERER SHALL ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

Larry De Cristo says:
4/23/2015 9:44:37 AM
This priest should talk about after they kill this baby with no pain and no Baptism the soul will not enter into Heaven that is the bottom line. Catholic teaching is Limbo without Baptism.This priest must speak out about this

brian says:
4/23/2015 6:42:06 AM
How many souls have you lead astray with this nonsense? Abortion is abortion to make a fallacious argument that a baby should be given an anaesthetic before they are aborted is both irresponsible as a priest and promotes a mortal sin! Your only argument should be for the end abortion to save all those countless souls from limbo. Of course This will fall on deaf ears for most, but as Christ said by their fruits you shall know them. NFP is no different either another fallacious argument.

Gricelda says:
4/21/2015 5:07:57 PM
I agree with previous comments re: comparison of cattle & babies in the womb. Also it creates confusion & division instead of attacking the real enemy "abortion industry". Please take the necessary steps to clear all this issue. Thank you!h

Jay Rogers says:
4/21/2015 3:53:21 PM
We have laws protecting cattle from unnecessary pain when being slaughtered. Hopefully, Democrats can see that we should at least do the same for our children." Does anyone else find this a deeply disturbing statement?

miguel valentin says:
4/21/2015 3:16:49 PM
Quite frankly, for the first time, I would have to pass on this request from Fr. Pavone. I know his intentions are to alleviate the suffering of the little ones getting killed during an abortion but we need to analyze this from a deeper perspective. There will be unintended consequences of this bill namely: many women who perhaps would have otherwise thought twice before aborting might decide to abort since now they will be able to do it in a 'humane' way. There is NOTHING humane about abortion as Fr. Pavone would agree of course. Worse yet, abortion supporters WILL use this bill to attach an appearance of 'compassion' to the horrendous crime of abortion. That is NOT a step in the right direction to eliminate abortion. Last thing we need is for abortion supporters to tell us something like 'what is your problem with abortion, we are making it more 'humane' and 'safe' for children as well as their moms. That would strengthen their argument that abortion is 'safe' as well. This reminds me of Adolf Eichmann when, in his trial for crimes against humanity, he tried to defend or make it look less offensive his crime of sending millions of children to the gas chambers by claiming that he gave them candies before executing them. No one in their right senses would have approved of that course of action of course. Either way this bill is NOT helping in our effort against abortion. For that reason, I pass on supporting the governor signing that Bill.

Paula J Hass says:
4/21/2015 2:35:37 AM
It is truly sickening that we need such legislation.