States including Rhode Island and Virginia have pledged to pass similar legislation to New York, which allows mothers to choose abortion up to birth.
A new Virginia bill would require only one doctor to determine if an abortion is necessary for a mother’s health, whereas the current law declares third-trimester abortions need the approval of a doctor and two consulting physicians who would determine if continued pregnancy would likely result in the woman’s death or “substantially and irremediably” impair her mental or physical health.
“If a mother is in labor … the infant would be delivered. The infant would be kept comfortable. The infant would be resuscitated, if that’s what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and mother,” Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam says.
Alaska, Colorado, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon and Vermont, along with Washington, D.C., allow abortion up to birth.
That other states would follow this murderous lead horrifies faith leaders.
“Like most Americans would be, I was absolutely appalled upon hearing Virginia Governor Ralph Northam allude to the idea that an infant could be left to die as a potential policy in his state. What he said is the most horrifying statement I’ve ever heard from a politician in my lifetime. The radical left has been using euphemisms to sugarcoat abortion and all that it entails for decades now, but they cannot escape what Governor Northam said with any sort of finely crafted medical explanation. He is clearly describing infanticide,” says Jentezen Franklin, senior pastor of Free Chapel.
“I never thought I’d see the day when anyone, Republican or Democrat, would ever suggest anything remotely close to what he has outlined. Children are a precious gift from our Creator. Why some folks suggest that we need more ways to eliminate them is beyond my comprehension. May God protect us from any further steps down this barbaric and evil path that abortion supporters continue to advocate for in this country,” Franklin says.
Ken Harrison, chairman and president of Promise Keepers, agrees with Franklin.
“Today we are drawing a line in the sand. Make no mistake—Promise Keepers is not political. Politics won’t bring peace and joy to the world. Only the grace and love of Jesus will do that,” Harrison says. “But Abortion isn’t politics—it’s murder plain and simple. What the state of New York did in following seven other states and the District of Columbia by passing a law that would allow the killing of a baby that could easily live outside the womb is an evil that is unfathomable. That the signing of the bill would be accompanied by a standing ovation is appalling. A man of God has the responsibility to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Because of that, this is what we as Promise Keepers stand for:
“First, Promise Keepers don’t cause unwanted pregnancies because we understand that sex is confined to marriage only.
“Second, if we sin and cause an unplanned pregnancy outside of marriage, we commit to helping raise that child and support her or him with our time, our money and our love. There would be substantially fewer women choosing to have abortions if the men who fathered the babies lived up to their responsibilities.
“Third, we never condemn a woman who is considering an abortion. She needs our support and our help. Perhaps through love and the gospel of Jesus Christ, she will understand that she carries the greatest gift a person can give another: life.
“Fourth, we commit to fighting against any politician who promotes abortion and to supporting leaders who stand for life. This is not politics—it’s life. We are the men of God, and we will defend the defenseless, and we call on men of faith across the nation to stand with us,” Harrison says.
Several men and women of faith posted their outcry on social media:
Governor Northam is a “moderate” Democrat, we were told. So we are apparently reaching the point where the moderate squishes of the Democrat Party advocate for the summary execution of newborns. What will the radicals support in that case? Carpet bombing daycare centers?
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) January 30, 2019
This is what happens when you accept abortion. First, you are okay with it in the first 3 mos, then someone asks you what makes the difference at 13 weeks, then you are okay for the 2nd trimester. Then someone asks you about birth, I mean does birth really change the baby? Nope.. https://t.co/ZpDsFls7z4
— Kristan Hawkins (@KristanHawkins) January 30, 2019
Abortion is NEVER medically necessary to save a mother’s life.
770 OBGYNs & doctors
89 Midwives
57 Neonatalogists
Have signed the Dublin Declaration, affirming this fact.
— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) January 29, 2019
Pray and fast. https://t.co/zTZLZUeShy
— 40 Days for Life (@40daysforlife) January 30, 2019
Murder! https://t.co/Afq40KKtQH
— Lisa Smiley (@LisaSSmiley) January 30, 2019
“Make no mistake about it, elections have consequences and sometimes those consequences can be deadly. We must stand up for the unborn.” #WashingtonUpdate #abortion #prolife #prochoice #abortionuptobirthhttps://t.co/sAelklBq10
— FRC (@FRCdc) January 31, 2019
Democrat bills in Virginia and NY allow abortions up to moment of birth. That’s not only wrong, it’s barbaric! Dems have become a “godless” party. Thank God for President @realdonaldtrump—the most pro-life president in history!
— Dr. Robert Jeffress (@robertjeffress) January 31, 2019
Democrats are becoming the Party of late term abortion, high taxes, Open Borders and Crime!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 31, 2019
“We’ve got more legislation to protect the lab rats than we do the children who we’re electively terminating!” –Dr. Ingrid Skop #AbortionLaw #prolife #prochoice #abortion
Read more: https://t.co/sAelklBq10 pic.twitter.com/6BQ1FuCC5W— FRC (@FRCdc) January 31, 2019
Oh the depths of depravity to which fallen man stoops. Seems murder of children (abortion) has overtaken gender issues in the news. Reminds of the world in Noah’s day: “every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” Genesis 6:5
https://t.co/qGbVfTwqNz— Ken Ham (@aigkenham) January 31, 2019
Seems like there’s a race on right now to see which State can protect the murder of the most children. “O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth! Rise up, O judge of the earth; repay to the proud what they deserve” . Psalm 94:1–2
https://t.co/MEViX1jRr9— Ken Ham (@aigkenham) January 31, 2019
