WASHINGTON (November 5, 2003)-— President George W. Bush today signed into law the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003. The Chairman of the Committee for Pro-Life Activities of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Charles Chaput, issued the following statement on this historic event:

"Today I want to express my deep gratitude, and that of all the U. S. Catholic bishops, to President George W. Bush for signing into law a ban on one of the most inhumane procedures ever inflicted on a human child—partial-birth abortion.

"For 30 years, abortion has been legal at any time during pregnancy, for any reason or none at all, and by any method one wanted to employ to kill an unborn child. President Bush's signing of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act marks the first time in three decades that our nation has placed any restriction on an abortion procedure. This is a vital step in the right direction for our nation--and for the women who have suffered and the children who have died because of this uniquely intimate form of violence.

"We commend the President for his action, and we pledge our prayers and support to see that this brutal procedure remains prohibited by law and intolerable to the American people.

"We also thank the millions of our fellow-Catholics and other people of good will throughout the country who have worked for many years to see this achievement. Their hard work and their prayers are responsible in large measure for this day of celebration."

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