Senate Vote on Pro-Abortion Pick Kathleen Sebelius Blocked, Now Tuesday
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, a pro-life senator from Kentucky, on Thursday objected to a vote on Kathleen Sebelius, the abortion advocate President Barack Obama nominated to become health secretary. Senate Democrats had requested a unanimous consent to allow a vote on Sebelius' nomination, but McConnell's objections makes it to Democrats will need 60 votes to overcome a potential filibuster to allow a vote on the nomination to proceed. McConnell said he blocked the vote because of Sebelius' long pro-abortion record and the hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign donations she has received directly or indirectly from late-term abortion practitioner George Tiller. Following the news that Sebelius' nomination would be blocked, the Senate agreed to schedule a confirmation vote for Tuesday. Then, the Senate will engage in 10 hours of debate and Senate Democrats will follow by calling for a 60-vote supermajority to break the pro-life filibuster and allow a vote on Sebelius' confirmation to proceed. The Senate Finance Committee previously approved Sebelius' nomination on a 15-8 vote, with the baking of two Republicans. It is unclear how many lawmakers will side with the filibuster, but Sebelius' nomination is expected to move ahead given that she has the support of the handful of pro-abortion Republicans in the chamber and the two Republican senators from Kansas, her home state.
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, a pro-life senator from Kentucky, on Thursday objected to a vote on Kathleen Sebelius, the abortion advocate President Barack Obama nominated to become health secretary. Senate Democrats had requested a unanimous consent to allow a vote on Sebelius' nomination, but McConnell's objections makes it to Democrats will need 60 votes to overcome a potential filibuster to allow a vote on the nomination to proceed. McConnell said he blocked the vote because of Sebelius' long pro-abortion record and the hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign donations she has received directly or indirectly from late-term abortion practitioner George Tiller. Following the news that Sebelius' nomination would be blocked, the Senate agreed to schedule a confirmation vote for Tuesday. Then, the Senate will engage in 10 hours of debate and Senate Democrats will follow by calling for a 60-vote supermajority to break the pro-life filibuster and allow a vote on Sebelius' confirmation to proceed. The Senate Finance Committee previously approved Sebelius' nomination on a 15-8 vote, with the baking of two Republicans. It is unclear how many lawmakers will side with the filibuster, but Sebelius' nomination is expected to move ahead given that she has the support of the handful of pro-abortion Republicans in the chamber and the two Republican senators from Kansas, her home state.
FDA Allows 17-Year-Olds to Purchase Morning After Pill Over the Counter
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The FDA on Wednesday made the final decision to allow 17-year-old teenage girls to purchase the morning after pill over the counter instead of having to obtain it via a doctor's prescription. The decision comes after a court ruling last month ordering that Plan B be made available over the counter to those 17 and up. The FDA said in a statement that it would not appeal the court's decision. In the order, U.S. District Judge Edward Korman also asked the agency to consider whether the pill should be available to women of all ages without a prescription, saying that such a determination is best left to the expertise of the FDA rather than a federal district judge. He also criticized the FDA for departing from its normal standards by having different standards for the drug for different ages. In August 2006, the FDA approved the sale of Plan B without a prescription to those 18 and older, but those 17 and under needed a prescription to obtain it. While Planned Parenthood hailed the decision, Concerned Women for America was disappointed by it. "Plan B is a high dose of birth control pills. ... The FDA violated its standards when it made the high-dose Plan B available nonprescription to adults. But now the FDA is making the drug available to minors without parental consent," the group said. "Parents should be furious that the FDA is putting their minor daughters at risk." Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, the FDA's acting commissioner at the time the decision was made, said the agency did not approve the drug for sales to teenagers because Barr, its manufacturer, had not provided enough information about how the morning after pill affects them. CWA says selling the morning after pill over the counter will make it easier for men who abuse young women to cover up their crimes. "Any adult male who is having sex with a minor could walk into a pharmacy, buy the drug, and coax the girl into taking the pill," she said.
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The FDA on Wednesday made the final decision to allow 17-year-old teenage girls to purchase the morning after pill over the counter instead of having to obtain it via a doctor's prescription. The decision comes after a court ruling last month ordering that Plan B be made available over the counter to those 17 and up. The FDA said in a statement that it would not appeal the court's decision. In the order, U.S. District Judge Edward Korman also asked the agency to consider whether the pill should be available to women of all ages without a prescription, saying that such a determination is best left to the expertise of the FDA rather than a federal district judge. He also criticized the FDA for departing from its normal standards by having different standards for the drug for different ages. In August 2006, the FDA approved the sale of Plan B without a prescription to those 18 and older, but those 17 and under needed a prescription to obtain it. While Planned Parenthood hailed the decision, Concerned Women for America was disappointed by it. "Plan B is a high dose of birth control pills. ... The FDA violated its standards when it made the high-dose Plan B available nonprescription to adults. But now the FDA is making the drug available to minors without parental consent," the group said. "Parents should be furious that the FDA is putting their minor daughters at risk." Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, the FDA's acting commissioner at the time the decision was made, said the agency did not approve the drug for sales to teenagers because Barr, its manufacturer, had not provided enough information about how the morning after pill affects them. CWA says selling the morning after pill over the counter will make it easier for men who abuse young women to cover up their crimes. "Any adult male who is having sex with a minor could walk into a pharmacy, buy the drug, and coax the girl into taking the pill," she said.
Pro-Life Congressman Responds to Hillary Clinton's Abortion Rights Admission
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- This week, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton admitted that the term "reproductive rights" includes abortion. Her statement confirms what pro-life organizations have said for years about how abortion advocates want to include seemingly-innocuous terms like "reproductive rights" and "reproductive health" in international documents and legislation and define those terms later as covering abortions. Rep. Chris Smith, whose question prompted Clinton's answer. "We happen to think that family planning is an important part of women's health," Clinton told Smith. "And reproductive health includes access to abortion that I believe should be safe, legal, and rare." In a statement sent to LifeNews.com, Smith said Clinton's testimony shows how the Obama administration is planning to promote abortion as an international right and to do so at taxpayer expense. 'It is evident that Mrs. Clinton and President Obama want to force the tragedy of abortion upon women around the world especially and including in countries where democratically elected leaders want to continue to protect their unborn children," Smith said. "There are other ways in which both mother and baby are protected, cared for and helped-- with food, nutrition, clean water and life-affirming healthcare. Secretary Clinton's inability to see this will mean more babies will die and more women will suffer the consequence of abortion as a result of U.S. foreign policy overseas."
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- This week, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton admitted that the term "reproductive rights" includes abortion. Her statement confirms what pro-life organizations have said for years about how abortion advocates want to include seemingly-innocuous terms like "reproductive rights" and "reproductive health" in international documents and legislation and define those terms later as covering abortions. Rep. Chris Smith, whose question prompted Clinton's answer. "We happen to think that family planning is an important part of women's health," Clinton told Smith. "And reproductive health includes access to abortion that I believe should be safe, legal, and rare." In a statement sent to LifeNews.com, Smith said Clinton's testimony shows how the Obama administration is planning to promote abortion as an international right and to do so at taxpayer expense. 'It is evident that Mrs. Clinton and President Obama want to force the tragedy of abortion upon women around the world especially and including in countries where democratically elected leaders want to continue to protect their unborn children," Smith said. "There are other ways in which both mother and baby are protected, cared for and helped-- with food, nutrition, clean water and life-affirming healthcare. Secretary Clinton's inability to see this will mean more babies will die and more women will suffer the consequence of abortion as a result of U.S. foreign policy overseas."
Senate Pro-Life Advocates Block Vote on Pro-Abortion Legal Pick Dawn Johnsen
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Senate pro-life advocates have placed a block on the nomination of former NARAL lawyer Dawn Johnsen to become an assistant attorney general overseeing the Office of Legal Counsel. President Barack Obama selected the ex-lawyer for the leading pro-abortion group to the position that provides legal advice for his administration. Johnsen has drawn strong opposition from pro-life groups because of her pro-abortion views but also for outlandish comments comparing pregnancy to slavery and calling women "fetal containers." Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid has not yet scheduled a vote on Johnsen and Sen. Jon Kyl, a leading pro-life Republican, tells CQ that "there may not be enough votes" to cut off a filibuster of her nomination, as Reid and his pro-abortion allies would need 60 votes to allow a vote on the nomination itself. Obama's efforts to get a vote on his nominee are complicated by opposition from pro-life Sen. Ben Nelson, the only consistent pro-life Democrat in the Senate. "Senator Nelson is very concerned about the nomination of Dawn Johnsen, based on her previous position as Counsel for NARAL. He believes that the Office of Legal Counsel is a position in which personal views can have an impact and is concerned about her outspoken pro-choice views on abortion," spokesman Clay Westrope told CQ. Meanwhile, unrelated political issues surrounding the release of Bush administration memos are also prompting some Republican lawmakers to object to Johnsen's nomination and it appears likely that Reid will have to secure a supermajority for Johnsen's nomination to survive.
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Senate pro-life advocates have placed a block on the nomination of former NARAL lawyer Dawn Johnsen to become an assistant attorney general overseeing the Office of Legal Counsel. President Barack Obama selected the ex-lawyer for the leading pro-abortion group to the position that provides legal advice for his administration. Johnsen has drawn strong opposition from pro-life groups because of her pro-abortion views but also for outlandish comments comparing pregnancy to slavery and calling women "fetal containers." Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid has not yet scheduled a vote on Johnsen and Sen. Jon Kyl, a leading pro-life Republican, tells CQ that "there may not be enough votes" to cut off a filibuster of her nomination, as Reid and his pro-abortion allies would need 60 votes to allow a vote on the nomination itself. Obama's efforts to get a vote on his nominee are complicated by opposition from pro-life Sen. Ben Nelson, the only consistent pro-life Democrat in the Senate. "Senator Nelson is very concerned about the nomination of Dawn Johnsen, based on her previous position as Counsel for NARAL. He believes that the Office of Legal Counsel is a position in which personal views can have an impact and is concerned about her outspoken pro-choice views on abortion," spokesman Clay Westrope told CQ. Meanwhile, unrelated political issues surrounding the release of Bush administration memos are also prompting some Republican lawmakers to object to Johnsen's nomination and it appears likely that Reid will have to secure a supermajority for Johnsen's nomination to survive.
President Barack Obama's Approval Ratings See New Low as 100 Days Comes
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The approval ratings for pro-abortion President Barack Obama have tumbled to new lows and have declined steadily since he took office nearly 100 days ago. A new poll out last week shows that, as Obama approaches the symbolic mark, the percentage of Americans who disapprove of his job performance has reached a new high. Rasmussen's daily tracking poll shows Obama with only a 54-46 percentage point approving rating. The approval and disapproval numbers represent record low approval and record high disapproval for the president since the respected polling firm began chronicling his presidency in January. The public appears to have a love-hate relationship with Obama that is similar to the one the public had with President Bush -- as 34 percent strongly approve of Obama's performance while 32 percent strongly disapprove. Rasmussen's results coincide with numbers from the Pew research center, which showed Obama had the most polarized poll results of any president in the last 40 years with 88 percent of Democrats saying they approved of his performance thus far and only 27 percent of Republicans agreeing. Meanwhile, pro-abortion Vice President is less popular than Dick Cheney. A slim 51 percent of Americans have a favorable view of Biden, according to the recent Pew poll, while Cheney was at 58 percent several months into his tenure. Biden's favorable numbers have dropped 12 percent since January -- with Democrats and independents showing drops as well as Republican voters.
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The approval ratings for pro-abortion President Barack Obama have tumbled to new lows and have declined steadily since he took office nearly 100 days ago. A new poll out last week shows that, as Obama approaches the symbolic mark, the percentage of Americans who disapprove of his job performance has reached a new high. Rasmussen's daily tracking poll shows Obama with only a 54-46 percentage point approving rating. The approval and disapproval numbers represent record low approval and record high disapproval for the president since the respected polling firm began chronicling his presidency in January. The public appears to have a love-hate relationship with Obama that is similar to the one the public had with President Bush -- as 34 percent strongly approve of Obama's performance while 32 percent strongly disapprove. Rasmussen's results coincide with numbers from the Pew research center, which showed Obama had the most polarized poll results of any president in the last 40 years with 88 percent of Democrats saying they approved of his performance thus far and only 27 percent of Republicans agreeing. Meanwhile, pro-abortion Vice President is less popular than Dick Cheney. A slim 51 percent of Americans have a favorable view of Biden, according to the recent Pew poll, while Cheney was at 58 percent several months into his tenure. Biden's favorable numbers have dropped 12 percent since January -- with Democrats and independents showing drops as well as Republican voters.
House Republicans Want Napolitano to Resign After Memo Targeting Pro-Lifers
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Republicans in the House of Representatives are calling on Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to step down or for President Obama to fire her. They are upset by a memo Napolitano's department recently released saying people who oppose abortion are likely to engage in terrorism and right-wing extremism. Rep. John Carter, a Texas Republican, says, "Singling out the political opponents for working against the ruling party is precisely the tactic of every tyrannical government from Red China to Venezuela. The first step in the process is creating unfounded public suspicion of political opponents, followed by arresting and jailing any who continue speaking against the regime." Carter organized an hour of speeches on the House floor on Wednesday to protest the memo, in which the Obama administration said people who "oppose abortion" are among those who are potential members of extremist groups or potential terrorists.
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Republicans in the House of Representatives are calling on Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to step down or for President Obama to fire her. They are upset by a memo Napolitano's department recently released saying people who oppose abortion are likely to engage in terrorism and right-wing extremism. Rep. John Carter, a Texas Republican, says, "Singling out the political opponents for working against the ruling party is precisely the tactic of every tyrannical government from Red China to Venezuela. The first step in the process is creating unfounded public suspicion of political opponents, followed by arresting and jailing any who continue speaking against the regime." Carter organized an hour of speeches on the House floor on Wednesday to protest the memo, in which the Obama administration said people who "oppose abortion" are among those who are potential members of extremist groups or potential terrorists.
Pro-Life Advocates Disappointed Obama Admin Oks Morning After Pill for Girls
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Top pro-life groups are upset that the Obama administration, through the Food and Drug Administration, has allowed 17-year-old girls the ability to purchase the morning after pill over the counter. The decision came on the heels of a federal court decision, but Family Research Council says "without so much as a whimper, it seems the Obama administration will acquiesce to the ruling and allow 17-year-olds to buy the morning-after pill without a prescription or their parents' consent." The Obama administration refused to appeal the ruling to a higher court, which disappoints Perkins. "The Department of Justice should be called in to defend the FDA guidelines on Plan B. In this case, however, the Obama administration has decided to roll over and accept the court decision without a single appeal," he said. "Essentially, the President is allowing a lone federal district judge to make a scientific decision that affects the health and safety of women across America. For the young administration, it shows an incredible disinclination to fight for good policy." Meanwhile, Deirdre McQuade, a spokeswoman for the pro-life office of the nation's Catholic bishops, told LifeNews.com that the Obama administration's decision will result in more abortions, because the drug can sometimes cause them, and hurt parental rights. "Wider access to Plan B could endanger the lives of newly-conceived children, and will put minors at risk for unnecessary side effects, undermine parental rights, and contribute to higher STD rates," she said. "Although Plan B can prevent fertilization, the manufacturer admits it may also prevent an embryo from implanting in the womb, which is essential to his or her continued survival. Since it takes several days for the growing embryo to reach the uterine lining and implant in the mother's womb, the child in his or her second week of life could die as a direct result of Plan B. This is properly understood as an early abortion." She says teens will likely not know then unless pointed out to them by a physician.
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Top pro-life groups are upset that the Obama administration, through the Food and Drug Administration, has allowed 17-year-old girls the ability to purchase the morning after pill over the counter. The decision came on the heels of a federal court decision, but Family Research Council says "without so much as a whimper, it seems the Obama administration will acquiesce to the ruling and allow 17-year-olds to buy the morning-after pill without a prescription or their parents' consent." The Obama administration refused to appeal the ruling to a higher court, which disappoints Perkins. "The Department of Justice should be called in to defend the FDA guidelines on Plan B. In this case, however, the Obama administration has decided to roll over and accept the court decision without a single appeal," he said. "Essentially, the President is allowing a lone federal district judge to make a scientific decision that affects the health and safety of women across America. For the young administration, it shows an incredible disinclination to fight for good policy." Meanwhile, Deirdre McQuade, a spokeswoman for the pro-life office of the nation's Catholic bishops, told LifeNews.com that the Obama administration's decision will result in more abortions, because the drug can sometimes cause them, and hurt parental rights. "Wider access to Plan B could endanger the lives of newly-conceived children, and will put minors at risk for unnecessary side effects, undermine parental rights, and contribute to higher STD rates," she said. "Although Plan B can prevent fertilization, the manufacturer admits it may also prevent an embryo from implanting in the womb, which is essential to his or her continued survival. Since it takes several days for the growing embryo to reach the uterine lining and implant in the mother's womb, the child in his or her second week of life could die as a direct result of Plan B. This is properly understood as an early abortion." She says teens will likely not know then unless pointed out to them by a physician.
Topeka, KS (LifeNews.com) -- In yet another move to add to her lengthy pro-abortion record, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has vetoed a bill the legislature approved that-term would place more limits and late-term abortions. Sebelius has received a nomination from President Barack Obama to become the Secretary of the Health and Human Services Department and pro-life advocates cite her record vetoing numerous pro-life bills and her close relationship with late-term abortion practitioner George Tiller as reasons to reject the nomination. Kansans for Life director Mary Kay Culp told LifeNews.com she is not surprised that Sebelius vetoed the bill, saying she is "extremely liberal, but especially so on late-term abortion." Culp says the veto is another move by Sebelius for her abortion practitioner buddy. "If this confirmation goes forward, George Tiller will have a friend not only in the highest office in Kansas, as he likes to brag, but heading the highest health office in the land," she said. Kansans for Life is urging the state legislature to override the veto of a bill it says conforms to decisions handed down by the Supreme Court and would have required Tiller and other abortion practitioners to state the reasons for a late-term abortion instead of merely citing state law as the valid reason. The group says the bill would have stopped some abortions done late in pregnancy for supposed mental health considerations. "The number of post-viability abortion rose 14% in Kansas last year because Tiller ignores the law and Sebelius keeps trying to ignore her role as administering and enforcing the law," Culp says. Kansas has become notorious as the late-term abortion capitol of the nation.
Tennessee Legislators Target Planned Parenthood Funding After Video Expose'
Nashville, TN (LifeNews.com) -- State lawmakers in Tennessee say that a new video exposing Planned Parenthood staff in Memphis ignoring potential sexual abuse of a minor is prompting them to work harder to shelve taxpayer funding for the abortion business. The video could derail the agency's $721,000 state contract to provide family planning services in Shelby County. The contract, paid for under the federal government's "Title 10" family planning program, does not pay for abortions but lawmakers say taxpayers shouldn't be forced to have their money go to a group that does. Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey joined colleagues Wednesday expressing outrage over actions depicted in a hidden-camera video released Monday. Ramsey and sponsors of a bill to yank Planned Parenthood's funding say the state should give preference to public institutions like The Med over private agencies like Planned Parenthood for contracts for family-planning services. The state Department of Health administers the contracts. The video depicts a 20-year-old California student posing as a 14-year-old girl seeking an abortion at the Memphis clinic. She tells a counselor she was impregnated by her 31-year-old boyfriend. The video also depicts the Planned Parenthood counselor as advising the girl to lie about her boyfriend's age before a judge in a request for a judicial bypass to get an abortion. Tennessee law requires health providers to notify law enforcement upon learning a minor has sex with someone over 18 who is at least four years older, felony statutory rape under state law. Planned Parenthood community services director Joan Carr told a Memphis newspaper Wednesday that her agency takes "any allegation like this very seriously" but said the video "was obviously heavily edited. We've requested the raw video so we can determine what actually happens." She also claimed: "We follow all the laws and requirements regarding reporting sexual abuse or sexual abuse of minors with older partners, and we've already reported several cases so far this year."
Scotland Medical Ethics Panel Objects to Bid to Legalize Assisted Suicide
Glasgow, Scotland (LifeNews.com) -- The Scottish Council on Human Bioethics is panning a bill that would legalize assisted suicide in Scotland, calling it "dangerous and unnecessary." The panel believes the bill would turn disabled and terminally ill people into second class citizens. Independent MSP Margo MacDonald hopes to introduce an assisted suicide bill later this year and needs the backing of 18 MSPs to bring it before the Scotland Parliament. The council said assisted dying was unnecessary because physical suffering can be adequately alleviated in all but the most rare cases. Director of research Dr Callum MacKellar said: "When dying patients realize that they do not need to suffer, they often change their minds about euthanasia." The council also said assisted suicide was "dangerous" because it would change views on death and disability and mean Scottish society accepted - for the first time - that some lives were no longer worth living. "People who are difficult or costly to care for may begin to be seen as burdens to society or second-class citizens," Dr MacKellar added. "In addition, it would fundamentally change the role of doctors and other health care professionals, whose role has always been to cure and care for patients, not to kill them." Under the bill, any doctor asked by a patient for drugs to kill himself would consult with a specialist beforehand and then must provide the patient's records to a medical panel after the patient is dead.
Missouri Judge Dismisses Part of Lawsuit Against Carnahan Over Abortion Funding Measure
Jefferson City, MO (LifeNews.com) -- A Cole County Circuit Court judge has dismissed parts of a lawsuit against Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan and upheld ballot summary language for an initiative petition about prohibiting taxpayer funding for abortion and human cloning in some circumstances. Judge Patricia Joyce wrote in a 12-page ruling Tuesday that Carnahan "prepared a summary statement that is fair and sufficient as it promoted an informed understanding of the probable effect of the proposed initiative petition." Missouri Roundtable for Life, a pro-life group, sued Carnahan and other officials in February saying she politicized its ballot initiative with language that would appear on the ballot that essentially is an argument against the initiative instead of an unbiased presentation of it. The pro-life group alleged that Carnahan conspired to deprive the group of a fair and impartial process for getting the ballot language on the November 2010 ballot. In a statement Wednesday, Carnahan said she "remained confident throughout this process that the language we wrote for the initiative is an impartial and accurate description of the proposal." On Monday, the pro-life group used polling data to make its point. Testing its own language, Missouri Roundtable for Life said 48 percent of those polled indicated they would support an initiative "to make it unlawful to expend, pay, or grant any public funds for abortion services" while 41 percent said they would oppose it. Using the Carnahan language, which says the funding ban also applies to abortions including "those necessary to save the life of the mother," the support dropped to 38 percent and opposition rose to 44 percent.
Northern Ireland Pro-Life Advocates Ask Health Minister to Ax Abortion Guidelines
Belfast, Northern Ireland (LifeNews.com) -- Pro-life advocates in Northern Ireland are calling on Michael McGimpsey MLA, Northern Ireland's health minister, to withdraw the guidelines his department issued last month and to have the abortion guidelines reviewed by the provincial government. The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children tells LifeNews.com that the department's advice to doctors is so seriously flawed that it is in breach of the law and is warning that doctors who approve abortions on the basis outlined in the guidelines could risk prosecution. In a letter setting out its concerns, the pro-life group has told the minister that, if he doesn't act immediately to address the issue, SPUC will have no choice but to seek a judicial review of the guidance. Betty Gibson, SPUC's chairwoman in Northern Ireland, said, "Despite the claims that this guidance won't change the abortion law in Northern Ireland, it will radically alter clinical practice and undermine the statutory protection for children before birth. The approach adopted by the department regards abortion as just another medical service with administrative arrangements in each health trust area for the referral of women to designated hospitals where abortions are carried out as a matter of routine. In reality there is never any medical justification for deliberately killing a child before he or she is born. That's why abortion is a criminal offence in Northern Ireland and not a medical procedure." Gibson added: "We don't believe the Executive has been presented with all the facts of this matter so we are hoping that Mr. McGimpsey will give his fellow ministers the opportunity to examine our concerns and the legal advice we have been given. I hope he will be reasonable and seek to avoid the unnecessary delay and expense of a judicial review. He should, however, be in no doubt of how serious this situation is. Women deserve better than abortion and we will do whatever is necessary to maintain Northern Ireland's legal protection for women and unborn children."
