Texas House Passes Late-Term Abortion Bill; Christians Rally National Support

By Lauren Leigh Noske 10 Jul, 2013 09:06 EDT

Texas State Representative Jason Villalba holds a sonogram of his thirteen-week-old son taken last week as he offers closing remarks during a meeting of the state legislature to consider legislation restricting abortion rights in Austin, Texas July 9, 2013. The Texas House of Representatives approved the bill on Tuesday that would mandate sweeping abortion restrictions, including a ban on most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy and tougher standards for abortion clinics. REUTERS/Mike Stone

The Texas House passed a bill this morning that will make late-term abortions illegal in Texas if successfully passed in the Senate. The bill will also require that abortion clinics raise health care standards to better protect women’s health.

Governor Rick Perry called a second Special Session of Congress after the bill was delayed by a filibuster in the Texas Senate two weeks ago. If passed, the proposed legislation would ban abortions after a baby has been alive for 20 weeks and would require for abortion clinics to become surgical centers with admitting privileges in nearby hospitals.

The bill was passed in the Texas House with a 96-49 vote this morning, after having been debated over for ten hours on Tuesday. During the deliberation, conservatives did not acquiesce to their opponents’ requests to amend the bill. The House gallery was “overflowing” with pro-life supporters dressed in blue, according to the Texas Right to Life Facebook page.

The Republican-dominated Senate, which voted to pass the bill two weeks ago after Senator Wendy Davis’ filibuster came to an end, is thought likely to pass the bill banning late-term abortions. If it does pass, however, opponents hope that the legislation will be blocked by federal lawsuits and declared unconstitutional.

Christians across America have expressed their support for unborn children’s right to life. John Piper tweeted this morning, “If she WANTS the baby, to kill it is homicide. If she doesn’t, it’s abortion.” In a tweet last night referring to Tuesday’s provisional vote, presiding officer of the Texas Senate Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said, “Glad to see #HB2 passed in the House tonight! In Texas, we strongly #stand4life!”

The Texas Alliance for Life website encourages pro-life supporters to persist in their efforts - “We need to continue to show overwhelming pro-life support for this bill as it advances into the next stage and moves closer toward becoming law,” it says. The bill could come to a vote in the Texas Senate as early as Friday.

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Texas House Passes Late-Term Abortion Bill; Christians Rally National Support

Survey: Hong Kong teens generally identify with traditional Chinese cultural values

Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues American churchgoers are looking for more than biblical explanation from their pastor each week. Many expect the sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues.

Survey: Hong Kong teens generally identify with traditional Chinese cultural values

Global Lutherans celebrate Reformation Day, ‘trusting in the power of grace in a merciless time’.

Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues

2.1M Korean Christians estimated at joint worship service to affirm family, oppose gay marriage, pray for nation

Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues
American churchgoers are looking for more than biblical explanation from their pastor each week. Many expect the sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues.