Reuters - South Dakota became the first U.S. state to pass a law banning abortion in virtually all cases, with the intention of forcing the Supreme Court to reconsider its 1973 decision legalizing the procedure.
The Kindred Times: The law, which would punish doctors who perform the operation with a five-year prison term and a $5,000 fine, awaits the signature of Republican Gov. Michael Rounds and people on both sides of the issue say he is unlikely to veto it.
Associated Press: "It is the time for the South Dakota Legislature to deal with this issue and protect the lives and rights of unborn children," said Democratic Sen. Julie Bartling, the bill's main sponsor.
"I'm convinced that the timing is right for this," said State Representative Roger Hunt, a Republican who has sponsored the bill, noting the appointments of Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. to the court."The strong possibility of a third appointee sometime soon makes this all very real and very viable," Mr. Hunt added, a reference to conjecture that Justice John Paul Stevens, 85, might soon retire. "I think it will all culminate at the right time."
Comments: proecclesia, Tim Ellsworth
please join me in prayer
lord, today the legislature of south dakota passed a bill that would effectively ban all abortion except to save the life of the mother. the governor is pro-life, and has vowed to sign this legislation if it does not endanger other abortion restrictions while being battled out in court.
lord, as far as i am concerned abortion is just about the ultimate evil that exists in our physical plane. short of blasphemies against you, i can see nothing as horrendous and un-natural as the murder of one's own child. please, lord, guide this bill with your own hand. be with the governor as he signs and strengthen him against any temptation to veto. protect him from those who love death and those who are simply ignorant of what abortion means. protect all south dakotans against death in this time of struggle, lord. both phyisical death, and spiritual.
please guide this bill and the challenges against it. turn the hearts of the judges, the persecutors of the unborn. fortify our friends and those whose wish is to do your will.
lord, please bring this before the supreme court of our land. fill those nine men with your holy spirit and speak to them. do not allow them to turn to the left or the right. blind them with truth and clarity. do not allow them, lord, to hide their actions from their own sight, and do not allow them to forget the lives held in their very hands.
lord, banish this holocaust from our land forever.
in your son's name. amen.