WASHINGTON (October 10, 1997) -- The President's veto of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act "will only ensure a renewed grassroots effort by Catholics and other people of good will to win the congressional support needed to override his veto," said Helen Alvare of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops' Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities.

"By his veto of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act today, President Clinton has ignored an overwhelming consensus of legislators, religious leaders, medical professionals and the American people: The violent killing of children in the very process of being born disgraces our nation.

"Today's action by the President has by no means resolved this debate," Ms. Alvare continued. "It will only ensure a renewed grassroots effort by Catholics and other people of good will to win the congressional support needed to override his veto. We will not rest until everything possible has been done to end the horror of partial-birth abortion."

President Clinton's latest veto of the legislation came two days after the House again overwhelmingly approved, with bipartisan support, the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, this time by a vote of 296 to 132. The President of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, Most Reverend Anthony M. Pilla of Cleveland, had written to the President October 8 urging him to sign the legislation.

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