New York City’s One World Trade Center’s spire was lit pink to celebrate the passing of a law that legalises abortion for any reason up to birth.
The law also allows non-doctors to perform abortions and repeals a legislation recognising unborn babies over 24 weeks as potential homicide victims.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Catholic, signed the bill on Jan 22 before ordering that the spire of One World Trade Center, as well as bridges and buildings in the sate capital of Albany be lit pink in celebration.
“In the face of a federal government intent on rolling back Roe v. Wade and women’s reproductive rights, I promised that we would enact this critical legislation within the first 30 days of the new session – and we got it done,” Cuomo said.
New York State’s bishops decried the move, saying the state had become “a more dangerous one for women and their unborn babies”.
“Today, New York state has added a sad chapter to this already solemn date of Jan. 22, the anniversary of Roe v. Wade,” the bishops said in a joint statement.
“Many of the state senators and Assembly members who voted for this abortion expansion are mothers themselves, who felt their child toss, turn and kick in their womb, and delighted in the progress of their pregnancy,” the bishops continued.
“Many others, as well as our governor, are fathers, who held their partner’s hand as they viewed the ultrasound videos, watched their child squirm and rejoiced at the first sound of a heartbeat,” they said. “Many of these same officials were themselves born into less-than-perfect conditions — poverty, health problems, disabilities, broken families.
“All overcame these issues to rise to leadership in our state, because their parents chose life for them,” they added.
The bishops thanked all who allied with the Catholic Church “in the 12-year-long fight to stop this horrendous policy, and all pro-life New Yorkers who made their voices heard in an effort to stop it.”
“Let us all pray for the conversion of heart for those who celebrate this tragic moment in the history of our state,” they said. “And we pray in a special way for the lives that will be lost, and for the women of our state who are made less safe under this law.”