Several abortion providers and
pro-abortion entities, including Falls Church Medical Center, LLC and Virginia
League Planned Parenthood, have sued the commonwealth for regulations that
“pose a substantial obstacle to the availability of abortion services for
Virginia women, in violation of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.” The
case, Falls Church Medical Center, LCC v. Oliver, began May 20. The trial is
expected to last for three weeks.
Last week, Judge Henry Hudson reversed
his May 6 pre-trial summary judgment decision that would have allowed
non-doctors to perform abortions. A full trial will now rule on that issue among
others.
“(This case) is a challenge to almost
every pro-life law in Virginia because if the state is not allowed to pass a
law that so clearly is designed for a women's safety, then every other law
regarding the practice of abortion could be challenged and overturned,” said
Olivia Gans-Turner, president of the Virginia Society for Human Life. “The U.S.
Supreme Court has recognized the rights of the states to pass protective laws
and Virginia's laws fall clearly under these rulings.”
In a May 15 statement, the Virginia
Catholic Conference, lobbying arm of the Virginia bishops, wrote, “We continue
to hope that the common-sense health and safety regulations enacted by the
Virginia General Assembly to protect women in our state will not be struck
down. We urge Catholics and all people of good will to remain prayerful and
engaged in the face of the extreme abortion agenda being imposed on our
commonwealth.”
© Arlington Catholic Herald 2019