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Prolife Christians are hailing the first significant abortion restriction in the 30 years since Roe v. Wade. On June 4 the U.S. House of Representatives voted 282 to 189 to ban partial-birth abortion. The Senate voted 64 to 33 in March to ban the procedure.

Both Houses passed similar bills twice before. Former President Clinton vetoed them. President Bush has promised to sign a bill as soon as it reaches his desk. The partial-birth ban has been in conference committee since June 5.

"Passage of this important legislation is a shared priority that will help build a culture of life in America," Bush said.

H.R. 760 imposes fines and possible imprisonment for doctors who kill a "partially delivered fetus" except when necessary to save a mother's life. In the procedure, abortionists deliver all but a baby's head. They then crush the skull before removing the dead child from the birth canal.

Three years ago, the Supreme Court struck down a similar ban in Nebraska. Family Research Council's Ken Connor said the new bill—with a tighter definition of the procedure—is a "constitutionally sound" way to ban a "barbaric procedure."

NARAL Pro-Choice America's Kate Michelman said the move is significant: "President Bush and antichoice leaders in the Congress have crossed the Rubicon towards rolling back Roe."

Jay Sekulow of the American Center for Law and Justice said prolife attorneys "stand ready to defend it in the courts."

—Stan Guthrie

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Recent CT articles on the partial-birth abortion ban include:

Weblog: House Votes to Ban Partial-Birth Abortion | Congress enacts first abortion restriction since Roe v. Wade. (June 5, 2003)

Prolife Advocates Herald Partial-Birth Abortion Ban | President Bush promises to sign May 13 Senate bill. (April 23, 2003)

Weblog: Senate Bans Partial-Birth Abortion | After a 64-33 vote, the measure moves to the House. (March 13, 2003)

Weblog: Senate Likely to Pass Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Thursday (March 11, 2003)

The New Partial-Birth Abortion Bill and Old Myths | Unconstitutional? Rare? Dangerous? Don't believe the disinformation campaign. (Feb. 24, 2003)

New Congress, New Agenda | Abortion, judgeships, cloning ban are top priorities for conservative Christians. (Dec. 11, 2002)

Weblog: House Passes Partial-Birth Abortion Ban. Again. (June 26, 2002)

Partial Birth: What Next? | Louisiana's special assistant attorney general questions well-intentioned lawmakers. (August 16, 2000)

More Christianity Today abortion stories can be found at our life ethics archive. Previous articles about abortion in the U.S. include:

Saved by Sonogram | Ultrasounds help crisis pregnancy centers reduce abortion. (Feb. 24, 2003)

New Life for Prolife | Abortion is no longer the ghastly growth industry it was in the 1970s and 1980s. (Feb. 24, 2003)

Prolife as Mafia? | Supreme Court to decide if racketeering laws apply to anti-abortion activities. (Jan. 15, 2003)

Saving Black Babies | Abortion has cost 13 million African American lives. (Jan. 19, 2003)

Abortion and the Court | The Roe v. Wade decision runs counter to the moral sense of the American people.

Reversing Roe v. Wade | It may take more than a single court decision to counter abortion on demand.

You Say Choice, I Say Murder | Before prolife arguments can reach the undecided American, we have got to look at the language we use.

FDA Candidate Irks Abortion Pill Advocates | The Christian Medical Association says critics fear David Hager's "well-grounded" opposition. (Nov. 26, 2002)

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August 2003, Vol. 47, No. 8