Des Moines, Iowa, Oct 12, 2017 / 13:23 pm
An Iowa judge upheld the state's three-day waiting period for abortions last week, drawing praise from local pro-life organizations such as the Iowa Catholic Conference, who called the ruling a "positive move."
"We are very pleased by the decision, because we think to allow women to have a reflection time before an abortion means that some of them will take that time to at least think about the decision that they are making," stated Tom Chapman, executive director of the Iowa Catholic Conference, in an interview with CNA.
"Some of those women will decide in favor of life, so we were very pleased to see the judge's decision and hope it will stand up if there are further appeals," Chapman continued.
The act, which was passed last spring, requires a mandatory 72-hour waiting period and two consultations with doctors before receiving an abortion. It would also require the option of viewing an ultrasound and educational materials about risks associated with the procedure.