Catholic groups duel over abortion rules

Denouncing abortion as a procedure that doesn't qualify as "health care because it ends lives rather than healing them," the executive director of the Virginia Catholic Conference Wednesday issued a statement in support of draft rules for licensing abortion clinics in the state.

Because the abortion industry exists under the guise of health care, added Jeff Caruso, it should "be required to meet reasonable, commonsense health and safety standards to protect women’s health" and face state regulation.

An opposing viewpoint was offered later Wednesday by Catholics for Choice president Jon O'Brien, who said "it is disingenuous for the Virginia Catholic Conference and their conservative allies to claim that these arbitrary and politically-motivated restrictions are either what’s good for women’s health or what Catholics in Virginia believe is the right thing to do."

O'Brien claimed "there is strong support among Catholics for a woman’s right to reproductive healthcare services, including abortion, on the basis of social justice and respect for a woman’s conscience."

The regulations at issue stem from a law approved by the legislature this year directed state health officials to develop hospital-like standards for abortion clinics where at least five first-trimester terminations are performed monthly.

Passage of that bill was welcomed by abortion foes who have long pushed for tougher regulations.

Those on the other side of the debate argue the new rules unfairly single-out one type of medical practice and could force clinics out of business.

The temporary rules are to be considered by the state Board of Health at a Sept. 15 meeting and could be in place by the end of the year and remain in effect until permanent regulations to replace them are developed.

-- Julian Walker

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