Denver Catholic

9 DENVER CATHOLIC | MARCH 7-13, 2015 S tate lawmakers voted down House Bill 1112 March 3 intended to protect infants born after botched abortions, saying the legislation "is not needed." Legislators on a House committee struggled with questions about life while hearing testimony on the Born-Alive Act at the state Capitol before Democrats rejected the legislation by a vote of 6-7. Opponents to the bill and some Dem- ocrats on the committee argued a law protecting infants is already stated in federal law. "It is solving a non-existent problem," Karen Middleton, executive director at NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado, testified to the committee. "The Born-Alive Infant Protection Act of federal law already states this is a situation that should not occur. There is no problem to be solved here. We do not believe this occurs here." Proponents shot back that failed abor- tions do occur, and when it does, infants deserve appropriate medical care if born alive. Sarah Zagorski, executive director of Colorado Citizens for Life, said it would save infants just like her. "If my mother hadn't fought for me, I wouldn't be here today," the 25-year-old testified. Zagorski shared how doctors recom- mended abortion to her mother because of suspected long-term disabilities but after being born alive, her mother requested medical care. "My life matters. I have value and I have since the very beginning. Let's hope and pray my situation isn't being repeated here," she told the committee. Shortly after the bill failed, the Colo- rado Catholic Conference stated in an email that it was disappointed at the lack of bi-partisan support. "It is deeply disappointing that Dem- ocrats on this committee choose to vote against protecting innocent, defenseless human life," the conference stated. "The federal government and a majority of states have adopted Born-Alive Infant Protection legislation; it is a great misfor- tune that Colorado couldn't do the same." Similar protection acts have passed some 30 states' legislatures in the U.S. including at the federal level. In 2002, Democrats and Republicans passed the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act, report- edly drawing the support of Democrats. Opponents said they worried it limited abortion in Colorado where it's legal to get a late-term abortion while supporters wanted assurances that there would be protections for infants at private hospi- tals where the federal protection act did not apply. T he state health department made progress recently in gaining sup- port for a $5 million boost to its free contraceptives program targeted to low-income teenagers and young women. A bill proposing the use of state funds for wider access to long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) and other services, House Bill 1194, is touted as the answer to preventing unplanned pregnancies by advocates. Some dissenters of the bill said rather than an infallible way to prevent preg- nancy—like abstinence—LARCs are risky and undermine the dignity of women. Josephine "Joyce" Dennison, a physi- cian assistant and mother who attends Light of the World Parish, said she sees the impact of inter-uterine devices (IUDs) on women. "At work, I see a lot of psychological and social consequences of casual sex, while using contraception, including LARCs," said Dennison, who works at Alternatives Pregnancy Center and Our Lady of Hope Medical Clinic in Littleton. "Women start very young having sex, they have multi- ple partners, or have sex with someone who has multiple partners. There's unac- countability on both sides, trust issues, manipulation, lack of voice, and most importantly, broken hearts." A study by the University of Colorado at Denver in 2007 revealed teenage girls' chances of earning a high school diploma increased—by almost 18 percent—if they waited for sex until 18 years old. "The reasoning behind this may be when teens become sexually active, they are preoccupied with the present, investing more time and energy on the relationship versus their school work, compared to teens who abstain," Dennison said. Since 2008, the state health depart- ment has provided IUDs and implants at a low cost or free for women ages 15-24 through its clinics. LARC advocates credit the program with increased use of contra- ception—between 5 and 19 percent—and decreased the expected number of unin- tended pregnancies by 29 percent in 2011 for women ages 15-19. But with increased use comes increased risk, advocates say, and the likelihood of impacting a women's health. The Colorado Catholic Conference, the state lobbying arm for the Church, announced it opposes the bill. "The CCC is deeply concerned about the consequences of widespread tempo- rary sterilization of women and girls in Colorado; these forms of contraception do nothing to prevent STDs and there is nothing to suggest that the psychological and medical risks and costs associated with increased sexual activity will be managed or addressed by this legislation," the con- ference stated. During a hearing at the Capitol Feb. 24, Dennison commented to lawmakers that some IUDs, like Mirena and Skyla, have caused medical issues. "IUDs as a whole can migrate, perforate the uterus (and) lodge in other parts of the body, like the fallopian tubes or the bowels. IUDs can also increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy, uterine perforation and pelvic inflammatory disease," Dennison said. Mirena warning labels announce a close to 50 percent chance of an ectopic preg- nancy (a pregnancy in the fallopian tubes) if a user becomes pregnant, which can be life threatening. The so-called short terms costs to the state for aiding young pregnant women could become long-term costs if they expe- rience health issues or resulting emotional, psychological or medical consequences, opponents say. LARCs also cause a loss of respect for women. In the encyclical Humanae Vitae ("Human Life"), Pope Paul VI said "a man who grows accustomed to the use of contraceptive methods may forget the rev- erence due to a woman, and, disregarding her physical and emotional equilibrium, reduce her to being a mere instrument for the satisfaction of his own desires." Fertility, Dennison said, should be seen as a blessing from God not a curse. "In women, a complex interplay of natu- ral hormones bring about fertility. Because LARCs disregards and subdues a woman's fertility, it dishonors women." ONLINE For more information visit www.co catholicconference.org State IUD campaign risky for women, expert says BY NISSA LAPOINT 303-715-3138 | nissa.lapoint@archden.org www.twitter.com/DenCathNissa BY NISSA LAPOINT 303-715-3138 | nissa.lapoint@archden.org www.twitter.com/DenCathNissa Legislative Watch The following is a list of leg- islative bills of interest to the Colorado Catholic Conference that lawmakers are considering this session. Senate Bill 45—Creates income tax credits for private and home-school education. CCC's position: Support History: Assigned to the Senate Appropriations Committee Senate Bill 77—Creates a par- ents' bill of rights related to the education, health care and men- tal health care of minors. CCC's position: Support History: Passed the Senate, assigned to the House Public Health Care and Human Ser- vices Committee House Bill 1162—Bans abortions based on the gender of the baby. CCC's position: Support History: Assigned to the State, Veterans and Military A¤airs Committee House Bill 1171—Restricts a governmental entity from sub- stantially burdening a person's exercise of religion. CCC's position: Support History: Assigned to the House State, Veterans and Military A¤airs Committee House Bill 1194—Requests funding for a program designed to expand access to long-acting reversible contraception, such as IUDs, for low-income women and teenagers. CCC's position: Oppose History: Assigned to the House Appropriations Committee State lawmakers are considering a bill that would expand funding to spread the use of IUDs and implants in low- income teenagers and women. FLICKR PHOTO/MARA Priestly annual which Feb.19-22 Vianney Seminary in Francis left) and Samuel J. right) Lawmakers turn down bill to protect infants

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