NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      MADISON, Wisconsin (CWNews.com) - A federal judge's refusal to issue an injunction against a new state law banning partial-birth abortions had the unintended side-effect of stopping all abortions in the state, at least for a few days.

      Planned Parenthood said the six abortion clinics in the state canceled all appointments indefinitely and are turning women away at the door because they say the law is too vague and the abortionists are afraid they could face life imprisonment. On Wednesday, US District Judge John Shabaz refused to issue a temporary injunction against the law while Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin and the six abortionists pursue their challenge of the law in court. The abortion group has said it will appeal Shabaz's ruling.

      In denying the motion, Shabaz said there was no "irreparable harm" to the doctors or patients that would require a restraining order against the law. Instead, he said, the order could cause more harm to the "parents of those perhaps several hundred living post-first trimester children who may be unnecessarily killed" if the laws were enjoined.

      Pro-life groups said the closure by the clinics is a cynical attempt to scare the courts into believing the partial-birth abortion ban could cut into the availability of other abortions. "It is such a smoke-screen because the law couldn't be clearer as to what's a partial-birth abortion," said Susan Armacost, executive director of Wisconsin Right to Life.