South Dakota Gov. signs Anti-abortion bill, widely acclaimed by Catholic groups

Washington D.C., Mar 5, 2006 / 22:00 pm

The State of South Dakota made history this morning as Gov. Mike Rounds signed a ban on virtually all abortions in his state. This is the first abortion ban passed by a state legislature since the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that decriminalized abortion in all 50 states. The new law is scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2006.

Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer, President of Human Life International (HLI), responds to the Signing of legislation banning most abortions in South Dakota.

“The people of South Dakota have spoken, and they have demanded an end to the killing of preborn babies by groups like Planned Parenthood in their backyard.

“Planned Parenthood along with other abortion profiteers will work to subvert the will of the people of South Dakota through legal challenges, but the inevitable march toward complete legal protection for persons from conception to natural death has been advanced one more step.

“Gov. Rounds is a hero, and all Americans should be proud of his moral courage and integrity. As a Catholic Priest I am delighted to see a Roman Catholic play such an important role in the creation of a culture of life in the United States . . .” concluded the Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer.

The Christian Defense Coalition points out that several states are now considering similar abortion bans and with the Supreme Court agreeing to hear a ban on partial-birth abortion and polls showing that Americans growing uncomfortable with abortion on demand, it appears the foundations of Roe are crumbling.

Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, responds, "We applaud the courage of the Governor Mike Rounds and the South Dakota legislature for banning abortion and putting an end this tragic violence against women and children.  With several states waiting in the wings to ban abortion, momentum is clearly building nationwide to overturn Roe. Polls are showing that more and more Americans are becoming uncomfortable with abortion and the overwhelming majority of our nation's young people feel abortion is 'immoral.'

"Roe is slowly, but surely, being chipped away at. We thank Governor Mike Rounds for signing this bill and hope this will send a clear message to the other states to affirm the dignity of life," concluded Father Mahoney.