Denver Catholic

LOCAL NEWS I 5 DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER I SEPTEMBER 11, 2013 Abortion From Page 3 abortions except when necessary to protect the woman's life or health after a certain point in pregnancy, most often fetal viability. "We don't live in 1973 anymore," Kraska said. "Babies can be viable at 20 weeks." "Nine states introduced legislation as a direct result of seeing the Gosnell trial and wanting to make sure that didn't happen in their state." Jenny Kraska Colorado Catholic Conference executive director Normal pregnancy gestation is 40 weeks. Late-term abortions are generally defined as after 24 weeks or the third trimester. Colorado is home to one of only four providers in the country who perform late-term abortions, Dr. Warren Hern. "Patients are seen at any time during pregnancy," according to the clinic's website. In contrast, there are two significant protections when it comes to abortion laws in Colorado in the form of constitutional amendments: one that prevents state tax dollars from being used for abortions except to preserve a woman's life, and another that requires minors under the age of 18 to provide written notice to parents at least 48 hours prior to an abortion. While Colorado prohibits state funding of abortions, the amendment regularly gets called into question because of a lack of transparency. "Money goes to Planned Parenthood … who claims it's used for everything but abortion," Kraska said. "But you can't really know that." Planned Parenthood is the largest provider of abortion in the United States, performing 333,964 abortions in 2011 according to its annual report. Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains at 7155 E. 38th Ave. in Denver is the organization's second largest facility. To relay the seriousness of Colorado's parental consent laws, Lynn Grandon, program director of Respect Life Resources of Catholic Charities, and director of Lighthouse Women's Center, described a scenario. It's one she's seen firsthand in her experience counseling women and girls in crisis pregnancies. "A mother gets a call from a hospital that her signature's needed for emergency surgery for her daughter," she relayed. "'What are you talking about? My child's at school,' the mother responds." The caller then states matter-of-factly: "Your daughter was at an abortion clinic and has to have reparative surgery" following a botched abortion. This is just one consequence of abuse of the law, Grandon said. "We have to make sure the laws that are in place are being followed, upheld and enforced," Kraska said. SUMMARY OF COLORADO'S ABORTION LAWS • No gestational limit on abortions. • Minors under the age of 18 must provide written notice to parents at least 48 hours prior to abortions. • Public funding for abortion is limited to situations involving a woman's life, endangerment, rape and incest. • No state mandated counseling or fetal ultrasound is required prior to abortion. • No waiting period is required prior to abortion. • Abortions must be performed by a licensed physician. cords, as well as killed a patient from a lethal dose of painkillers. Following weeks of gruesome testimony, he was convicted in May on three counts of first-degree murder for killing the babies, and one count of involuntary manslaughter for the woman's death. "Nine states introduced legislation as a direct result of seeing the Gosnell trial and wanting to make sure that didn't happen in their state," Kraska said. Many of the Gosnell atrocities were attributed to a lack of enforcement. According to Mark Salley, communications director for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, no state agency regulates abortion clinics in Colorado. "However abortions may occur in other licensed facility types such as hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers that are regulated (or) inspected by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment," he wrote in an email response. Colorado is one of 39 states that require an abortion be performed by a licensed physician. "The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies that licenses physicians would investigate any complaints against persons who provide abortions," Salley wrote, "if they are a licensed professional." Regulation is a huge issue, Kraska said: "Restaurants, hair salons and nail salons are better regulated. "Women insist on the best healthcare; they push for better healthcare," she continued, "yet have no problem having an invasive medical procedure (at an unregulated facility)." Changing the dialogue can help educate a broader population and encourage people "to think for themselves." "It's not only about being pro-life, it's about being pro-women," Kraska said. "We should look out for the health and safety of all women, it's common sense health care we would demand in any medical procedure." She encouraged people to read and understand abortion laws, and remain vigilant in pro-life efforts. "We didn't get here overnight," she said, "and we can't change it overnight." For more information, contact the Colorado Catholic Conference at 303894-8808, visit Respect Life Resources Industry regulation The trial of abortionist Kermit Gosnell at www.ccdenver.org/respectlife or conin Philadelphia last spring raised aware- tact your parish Respect Life committee. ness about enforcement in the abortion Julie Filby: 303-715-3123; julie.filby industry. Gosnell was charged with eight www.twitter.com/ counts of murder alleging he killed seven @archden.org; babies born alive by severing their spinal DCRegisterJulie to benefit When: October 4, 2013 Doors open at 6:00pm Program begins at 7:00pm Where: Budweiser Event Center 5290 Arena Circle Loveland, CO 80538 Tickets are on sale NOW! Available tickets levels: ◈ $20.00* for a general seat, tickets will be assigned by seat number in the arena's "bowl" area ◈ $50.00* for a floor seat, behind Gold Circle reserved seats ◈ $150.00* for a ticket to the VIP dinner which includes a Gold Circle front row seat at the event (Spaces are limited) (Dinner will be served at 5:30pm in the Budweiser Events Center restaurant) *plus event fees which include your parking Contact the box office directly by phone 1-877-544-8499 or online at LifeMatters.org to purchase tickets. For information on Sponsoring this event contact: Bethany Labbe at 303-651-2050 or events@lifechoices.org

• Cover