“Our nation is better than infanticide,” the archbishop said. “Babies born alive during the process of abortion deserve the same care and medical assistance as any other newborn.”
The bishops from Illinois' six dioceses March 28 made a decisive stand against state legislators' efforts to remove all abortion restrictions in the state, as well as the right of physicians to object to the practice.
The state of Mississippi has become the latest state to enact a "heartbeat bill" which would prohibit abortions after a fetal heartbeat has been detected. Gov. Phil Bryant signed the bill on March 21, admitting that he did so, "even under threat of legal action" by those who opposed the measure.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit in Cincinnati ruled March 12 that the state of Ohio can stop funding Medicaid services provided by Planned Parenthood and other abortion facilities.