"If men strive, and hurt a women with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life" (Ex.21:22-23).

Freedom of Choice Act

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The Freedom of Choice Act (H.R. 1964/S. 1173) was a bill in the 110th United States Congress which "declares that it is the policy of the United States that every woman has the fundamental right to choose to bear a child; terminate a pregnancy prior to fetal viability; or terminate a pregnancy after viability when necessary to protect her life or her health."

It prohibits a federal, state, or local governmental entity from denying or interfering with a woman's right to exercise such choices; or discriminating against the exercise of those rights in the regulation or provision of benefits, facilities, services, or information. Provides that such prohibition shall apply retroactively.

It also authorizes an individual aggrieved by a violation of this Act to obtain appropriate relief, including relief against a governmental entity, in a civil action."

Debate

Two days after Barack Obama's inauguration, a protester in the March for Life holds a "No FOCA" sign.

Then-senator Barack Obama became a co-sponsor of the 2007 Senate version of the bill (S. 1173). Responding to a question regarding how he would preserve reproductive rights in a speech given to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund on July 17, 2007, he declared "The first thing I'd do, as president, is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. That's the first thing that I'd do."^[6] Those who oppose the Act have interpreted it as an attempt to obligate religious hospitals to either "do abortions or close",^[7] supporters point to conscience clause laws^[8] that would protect religious hospitals.^[9] Opponents counter that such conscience clauses are weak and easily reinterpreted, and do not explicitly allow religious hospitals to ban the abortion procedure within the hospital.^[10]

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has been strongly opposed to the Freedom of Choice Act. According to the USCCB's Secretariat for Pro-Life Activites, FOCA would not only "codify the Supreme Court's 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade" but "in allowing and promoting abortion, FOCA goes far beyond even Roe."^[11]

The pro-life organization Americans United for Life (AUL) began a petition called Fight FOCA which it plans to send to Congress when the act is reintroduced to the 111th Congress.^[12]

FightFOCA.com is a project of AUL Action , the legislative arm of Americans United for Life (AUL) . The first national pro-life organization in America, AUL has been committed to defending human life through vigorous judicial, legislative, and educational efforts at both the federal and state levels since 1971. In addition, AUL has been involved in every pro-life case before the Supreme Court since Roe v. Wade.

Fight FOCA Petition

I oppose the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), because:

--FOCA is a radical attempt to enshrine abortion-on-demand into American law;

--FOCA seeks to sweep aside existing, protective laws that I and the majority of Americans support;

--FOCA will prevent states from enacting protective measures in the future.