
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 9, 1993                   TAG: 9306090298
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

FALSE CLAIMS ABOUT THE `CHOICE' BILL

NUMEROUS letters to the editor claim that the Freedom of Choice Act is an extreme and radical measure that goes well beyond the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision, and that it would allow abortion on demand for any reason at any time during pregnancy.

In reality, the proposed legislation would simply write Roe vs. Wade into federal law. It would grant women the right to abortion prior to fetal viability. It would give states the right to restrict abortions after fetal viability, unless abortion is necessary "to preserve the life or health of the woman."

Abortion opponents also claim that it would force taxpayers to finance unrestricted abortions and forbid parental notification when a young girl seeks an abortion. The measure states just the opposite. It states that "nothing in the Act shall be construed to:

Prevent a state from protecting unwilling individuals or private health-care institutions from having to participate in the performance of abortions to which they are conscientiously opposed;

Prevent a state from declining to pay for the performance of abortions; or

Prevent a state from requiring a minor to involve a parent, guardian or other responsible adult before terminating a pregnancy."

Truth is that passage would have no effect on current Virginia law regarding abortion. It simply ensures that women in all states are able to exercise the rights that were granted to them, as a constitutional matter, under the guidelines of Roe vs. Wade.

SINGLETON GARRETT

ROANOKE

by CNB