WASHINGTON, D.C., APR 6 (ZENIT.org).- The U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday passed a bill banning partial-birth abortions. The 287-141 margin guarantees the success of a vote to overturn a Clinton veto. However, the Senate companion bill did not pass with a 2/3 margin, endangering the possibility of overturning a veto.

    The only difference between the House and Senate versions is that the Senate inserted language declaring that the Roe v. Wade decision permitting abortion was "an important constitutional right" and should not be overturned. A conference committee will now work out the final version of the bill to be presented for President Clinton's signature or veto.

    Pro-abortion factions attempted to amend the House ban to permit the procedure in cases involving "serious long-term physical health consequences" to the mother. However, this amendment was rejected 289-140.

    A poll recently commissioned by the Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Knights of Columbus shows that Americans overwhelmingly oppose the use of partial-birth abortion techniques. Of the respondants, 68% support the House bill banning the process, while 19.6% oppose it, and 13.4% indicated no opinion on the matter. The poll was done by MarketFacts, contacting 1,000 citizens between March 31 and April 2, 2000. It has a margin of error of 3.1%. ZE00040620