WASHINGTON (August 3, 2004) -– This week the U.S. Department of Justice filed an appeal of a June ruling by a federal judge in the Northern District of California declaring the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act in violation of Roe v. Wade.

"The American Medical Association says that partial-birth abortion is never medically necessary," said Gail Quinn, Executive Director of the Catholic bishops' Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities. "To say that it is a fundamental constitutional right, as the federal judge in California did," said Quinn, "makes a mockery of the Constitution."

"We commend the U.S. Department of Justice for appealing this dreadful decision. There is no place in a civilized society for this cruel and dangerous practice," said Quinn.

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