Catholic Conference of Illinois Opposition to HB 4664, Senate Amendment #3
January 10, 2023 | Illinois
The Catholic Conference of Illinois opposes House Bill 4664, Senate Amendment #3, legislation that proposes a number of changes to Illinois abortion law. The bill does the following:
• Allows Advanced Practice Registered Nurses and Physician Assistants to perform aspiration abortions not requiring general anesthesia.
• Provides there is no cause of action against a health care professional, medical institution, or pregnant person for the wrongful death of a person caused by an abortion
where abortion is permitted by law and consent was given.
• Birth centers, which have been places where mothers can give birth, would now be able to also provide abortions under this bill.
• For insurance plans not otherwise exempt from state insurance law mandates, it requires abortifacients and hormonal therapy medication to be covered at no-cost.
• Protects information about abortion from subpoenas and orders for testimony issued in other states.
This bill also would allow for certain out of state health care professionals to apply for temporary permits to come here to provide abortions and also prevent the state from taking disciplinary action against health care professionals if solely based on if they violated other states’ laws on abortion if otherwise legal in Illinois or were disciplined in those other states for providing abortion-related services.
The Catholic Church in Illinois, through its Project Rachel, Elizabeth Ministries and Walking with Moms in Need program as well as through Catholic Charities and Catholic hospitals, provides care to help pregnant women in need. Because of this, we know the stories of the women who come to us for assistance. While it is unfortunately true that not every unplanned pregnancy is welcomed with joy, there are better policies for women and their unborn child than what is being put forth with this legislation.
Most women “choose” abortion because they believe they have no other choice. We know that abortion is a symptom of – it is never a solution to – the problems faced by women… (Excerpt from The Catholic Conference of Illinois)
