WASHINGTON (October 21, 1999) -- An official of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) today called on Congress to investigate reports that abortion clinics are committing infanticide and performing abortions in ways calculated to produce the maximum of fresh human body parts for sale.

Helen Alvare, Director of Planning and Information for the NCCB Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities, commended Senator Bob Smith of New Hampshire for bringing these reports to the attention of his Senate colleagues during the debate on partial-birth abortion.

"Senator Smith has produced credible evidence that some U.S. abortion clinics have worked hand-in-glove with wholesalers of fetal body parts," the NCCB official said. "We urge Congress to convene hearings to determine the validity of such reports. No matter if this is going on in one clinic or 500, it would be an intolerable situation, a statement that some children are worthless as persons but valuable as parts. There ought to commence as quickly as possible extensive congressional hearing as well as in-depth investigative reporting on this unthinkable violation of the dignity of the human person."

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