The following is a Virginia Catholic Conference (VCC) statement regarding the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.

February 25, 2019

We are deeply dismayed and astounded that the U.S. Senate has failed to pass the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (S. 311). It is a matter of common sense and basic human decency to require, as S. 311 would have, that any health care practitioner present when a child is born alive following an abortion give the same degree of care to preserve the life and health of the child as would be given to any other newborn. That this bill did not pass unanimously – let alone even pass at all – is appalling and beyond comprehension. We are dismayed and outraged that Virginia’s U.S. Senators Warner and Kaine voted against this critical lifesaving legislation.

We urge the Senate to reconsider its decision as soon as possible.

This joint statement has been issued by Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of Arlington, and Most Reverend Barry C. Knestout, Bishop of Richmond.

The VCC statement is available here.

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Estamos profundamente consternados y atónitos que el Senado haya fallado en contra de la ley de Protección a los Sobrevivientes del Aborto Nacidos Vivos (S. 311). Requerir esto es una cuestión de sentido común y dignidad humana tal como el S. 311 lo habría hecho, que cualquier profesional de salud que esta presente cuando el infante nace vivo depuse del aborto, este proporcionaría la misma atención que haría a cualquier recién nacido para preservar la vida y la salud. Que el fallo de esta ley no fue unánime – y peor aun que hayan fallado a favor – es terrible e incomprensible. Nos quedamos consternados e indignados que los Senadores de Virginia, Warner y Kaine, votaran en contra de esta legislación critica de salvaguardar la vida.

Instamos al Senado a reconsiderar esta decisión lo antes posible.