Missouri lawmakers forced an extension of the state’s abortion waiting period into law this week after Republicans used a rare parliamentary tactic to kill a Democratic filibuster in the Senate. The House took the first step the same day to force a 72 hour waiting period into law and after the Senate debated the measure it passed. Thanks be to God that Governor Jay Nixon’s veto was overturned. This makes obtaining an abortion more difficult in Missouri, which has only one clinic that performs abortions, located in St. Louis. Nixon vetoed the bill because its lack of an exemption for rape and incest victims. Bill sponsor Rep. Kevin Elmer acknowledged that rape is tragic, but said that life begins at conception. Catholics would see this as a victory as we uphold life in a culture of death.

Daryl Charron, C.PP.S.