Cardinal Dolan Letter to Senate in Support of Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (2018)

Letter from Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, Chairman, Committee on Pro-Life Activities, to the U.S. Senate in Support of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, January 16, 2018

In a January 16, 2018 letter to U.S. Senators, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, urges support for the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, and asks senators to request a vote on the bill.

The letter advocates passage of the bill as a “common-sense” restriction on abortions after 20 weeks post-fertilization. It argues that the bill represents a practical step toward greater protection for unborn children, reflects public opposition to late-term abortion, and addresses concerns about fetal development and maternal health.

Key points

• Defense of unborn life: Cardinal Dolan reiterates the Catholic Church’s position that human life deserves legal protection from conception onward and that society should support both mothers and their unborn children rather than promote abortion. 
• Opposition to late-term abortions: Cardinal Dolan argues that a large majority of Americans oppose abortions performed later in pregnancy. He cites public controversies involving Planned Parenthood's handling of fetal tissue and the crimes of abortion provider Kermit Gosnell as evidence of public concern about late-term abortion practices. 
• A potential area of consensus: While advocating broader protections for unborn life, the cardinal presents a ban on abortions after 20 weeks post-fertilization as a measure that could attract support from both pro-life and some pro-choice Americans. 
• Challenge to the viability standard: The cardinal contends that legal protections based on fetal viability are increasingly difficult to justify because medical advances continue to improve survival rates for babies born at earlier stages of development. 
• Concerns about women's health: Cardinal Dolan argues that abortions performed after the midpoint of pregnancy carry significant health risks for women, citing reports of serious complications and deaths associated with such procedures. 
• Response to clinic-related arguments: The cardinal rejects the argument that later-term abortions are acceptable if performed in more mainstream facilities, stating that many abortion providers themselves are unwilling to perform abortions at such advanced stages.

Cardinal-Dolan-Letter-Pain-Capable-Unborn-Child-Protection-Act.pdf