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TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida’s Catholic bishops have released a joint statement in somber recognition of the 47th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. In Catholic dioceses in the U.S., January 22 is designated a Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children.

On December 10, SB 404 (Stargel) was taken up a second time by the Senate Health Policy Committee and passed (6-3). Last month, time expired before a vote due to stall tactics by lawmakers who oppose the underlying measure. At this week's meeting, committee members were able to hear testimony from members of the community, with several testifying in support of the right of parents to be involved in a life-altering decision made by their minor daughters. When a minor is pregnant the support of her family is crucial, regardless of whether she has an abortion, she chooses to parent that child, or she places that child for adoption.

On November 12, SB 404 (Stargel) was taken up by the Senate Health Policy Committee. In an effort to stall final consideration of the bill, fifteen amendments were filed by lawmakers who oppose the underlying measure. None of the amendments passed; however, the amendatory process and questions on the bill consumed the entire 90 minutes scheduled for the meeting. With time expiring, a vote on the bill could not be taken, and the bill was temporarily postponed. We expect the bill to be rescheduled for a future meeting of the committee.

On October 22, HB 265 (Grall) passed the House Health & Human Services Committee (12-6). The bill will be heard by the full House during the 2020 Legislative Session that begins in January. HB 265 and its Senate companion, SB 404 (Stargel), require parents to provide written consent before a minor receives an abortion.

A parent must consent to medical and surgical treatments for minors, including ear piercing and dispensing aspirin at school. However, this is not the case when a minor seeks an abortion.

Florida's First District Court of Appeal has sent a ruling that found a 24-hour reflection period prior to an abortion unconstitutional back to the circuit court for further consideration. Though plaintiffs may appeal the decision, it is expected the case will go to trial. The lower court suspended the 2015 law after a Gainesville abortion clinic challenged the required reflection period as a violation of privacy rights under Florida's constitution. 

HB 1335 (Grall) would require that a parent or legal guardian provide consent before a minor can undergo an abortion. Parental consent is required for medical and surgical interventions for minors including ear piercing and dispensing aspirin at school. However, this is not the case when a minor seeks an abortion. The bill contains a provision that would allow the minor to petition the court for a waiver when parental abuse may be of concern.

HB 1335 (Grall) and SB 1774 (Stargel) would require that a parent or legal guardian provide consent before a minor can undergo an abortion. The bills contain a provision that would allow the minor to petition the court for a waiver in certain circumstances.

HB 1335, which requires that a parent shall provide consent before a minor can terminate her pregnancy, passed its first committee of reference, Health Quality Subcommittee (10-4). FCCB indicated its support for the bill during the meeting.

A video is now available as a companion resource to our Culture of Life brochure addressing our state constitution's privacy clause. Due to an interpretation of this right to privacy, the Florida Supreme Court found in 1989 that a law requiring parental consent prior to a minor's abortion was unconstitutional, even though similar laws have been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.  

The bishops of Florida join with Catholics and others of goodwill in reacting in horror and disgust to the recently passed law in New York State that legalizes abortion essentially for any reason through all nine months of pregnancy and removes any protection for children born alive after abortion. Sadly, similar bills were proposed in Virginia and elsewhere. As Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, Chairman of the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities, stated, "This legislation is evil, pure and simple."

TALLAHASSEE, FL – In their annual statement marking the January 22 anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade, the bishops of Florida acknowledged that the Church's teaching on abortion is continuously proving to be prophetic. "Our nation is increasingly rejecting abortion and Roe v. Wade as states continue to adopt more limitations on abortion and expand alternatives to abortion," said the bishops.

On March 19, Governor Scott signed HB 41, codifying the Florida Pregnancy Support Services Program (FPSSP) in statute. Through a network of 106 pregnancy support centers across the state, FPSSP provides resources and services to pregnant mothers as they prepare to parent or place their babies for adoption.

Dismemberment Abortion On Thursday, March 1, HB 1429 (Grall) passed the House (72-42). This FCCB-supported measure would prohibit physicians from knowingly performing a dismemberment abortion, a procedure conducted in the second-trimester that removes the body parts of an unborn child while the child is still alive. The companion bill in the Senate, SB 1890 (Mayfield), has not been heard in its committees of reference.

The State of Florida has appealed a January 9 ruling by Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis that found a 2015 law requiring a 24-hour reflection period prior to an abortion unconstitutional. Judge Lewis' decision made permanent a temporary injunction granted by the Florida Supreme Court last year after a Gainesville abortion clinic challenged the law as a violation of privacy rights under the state's Constitution. The FCCB supported a reflection period prior to abortion through the legislative process.

On Thursday, February 8, the Senate voted (21-12) to codify the Florida Pregnancy Support Services Program (FPSSP) in Florida statutes. The full House passed the measure earlier this session (73-29) and the bill will go next to Governor Scott for his signature.

On February 1, the Judicial Committee of the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) defeated (2-4) an FCCB supported proposal that sought to restore the privacy clause in Florida's constitution to its original intent. Proposal 22, sponsored by Commissioner John Stemberger, specifies a person has the right of privacy from governmental intrusion "with respect to privacy of information and the disclosure thereof."

The Constitutional Revision Commission (CRC) convenes once every 20 years to examine the Florida Constitution and propose changes for voter consideration. Two CRC committees took action this week on proposals supported by the FCCB:

SB 444 (Bean), which formalizes the Florida Pregnancy Support Services Program (FPSSP) in Florida statutes, passed its final committee of reference, Appropriations (12-6). The bill will now go to the full Senate.

In their annual statement marking the January 22 anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade, the bishops of Florida lament that a mother's womb has become a place of vulnerability for the developing child rather than a place of safety and security.