1997 G.A. opposes partial birth abortions
In the mid-1990s late term abortions made headlines when particularly repulsive procedures for performing them were uncovered. Those performing the procedures gave them clinical titles like D&X and intact D&E abortions, but the U.S. Congress brought them all together under an aptly-descriptive title of partial birth abortion. The procedures were used on babies, usually in the last half of their prenatal development. The babies were partially delivered, so that only the head remained in the mother's body, then killed and delivered dead.

Congress voted three times to outlaw this method of abortion--which most people regarded as tantamount to infanticide--and each time the law was vetoed by then-President Clinton.

Our General Assembly received an overture in 1997 asking that it go on record opposing partial birth abortions. The assembly responded by offering "a word of counsel to the church and our culture that the procedure known as intact dilation and extraction (commonly called 'partial birth abortion') of a baby who could live outside the womb is of grave moral concern that should be considered only if the mothers physical life is endangered by the pregnancy."

PCUSA lobbying for partial birth abortion halted, at least temporarily
General Assembly offices--the Washington Office and the Stated Clerk's office--had been lobbying Congress in favor of partial birth abortion until this action by the General Assembly. Following 1997, Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick reported the General Assembly's action to Congress and the Washington Office fell silent on this issue.

In the year 2000, challenge to a law against partial birth abortions in Nebraska reached the Supreme Court. The PC(USA) Advisory Committee on Litigation (ACL) recommended that our Stated Clerk file an amicus brief in favor of striking down that law--so our denomination would be taking a position supporting partial birth abortion. Baltimore Presbytery officials sought to have their presbytery join the Clerk's brief. However, strong opposition in the presbytery defeated the attempt and the brief was withdrawn altogether.

Reconsideration of policy sought
The ACL then asked the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy, which is a social policy initiating group, to take up the matter. Several members of the ACSWP opposed the idea. The following summer, the ACL asked a committee of the General Assembly to refer their interest in late term abortion to the ACSWP and ask them to report back to the General Assembly of 2002. The General Assembly acted to put late term abortion policy on the ACSWP agenda.

Patricia Lee June, M.D., pediatrician and PPL board member, wrote a comprehensive report to the ACL on the medical aspects of post-viability abortions. Dr. Junes report is on the PPL website.

Presbyterians may use the overture process provided for in our form of government to ask the General Assembly to defend the lives of viable unborn babies. Contact PPL for help.

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