Today the Catholic Bishops of Texas applaud the decision of the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to allow the state to enforce the sonogram law giving mothers access to the ultrasound images of their unborn children’s hearts beating.

The ruling overturned a lower court's temporary order against enforcing the measure that requires doctors who perform abortions to show sonograms to patients, and describe the images and fetal heartbeat.  The Fifth Circuit's ruling leaves the original case to proceed in the lower court.

The sonogram law was a high priority for the Bishops during 82nd Texas Legislature, because they believe it helps mothers recognize the humanity of their unborn children and choose life.  Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, was an ardent supporter of the legislation and today expressed gratitude for the court's ruling.

"Providing mothers access to sonograms informs them about the risks and complications associated with abortion. These consultations save lives by educating mothers who may not realize that the child in their womb is exactly that – a unique, irreplaceable human life," DiNardo said.

Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller of the Archdiocese of San Antonio  was particularly impressed by Chief Judge Edith H. Jones’ recognition of the state's legitimate interests in protecting life.

“The court today acted to protect the smallest voices of those whom God already knows, alive in their mothers’ wombs,” the Archbishop said.

Texas' Catholic bishops are disappointed at the federal district court's recent  ruling that the state's sonogram law is unconstitutional.

Especially troubling was the ruling's apparent pitting of a doctor's claims to free speech against a woman's right to comprehensive medical information before consenting to an irrevocable medical procedure affecting her and her unborn child.  The Sonogram Law accords with common standards of informed medical consent for even minor medical procedures.  Prior to the Sonogram Law, mothers seldom underwent a thorough medical consultation with a doctor--much less made use of the benefits of the latest sonogram technologies--before making the painful decision to abort their child.  The intent of the Sonogram Law continues to be to inform a mother completely about the life in her womb in order to reconsider her decision to end that life.

The TCC applauds state officials' intent to appeal the ruling, and fully anticipates that the decision will be overturned by the appellate court.

The Texas Catholic Conference is the official public policy voice of the Catholic Bishops of Texas. The primary purpose of the Conference is to encourage and foster cooperation and communication among the dioceses and the ministries of the Catholic Church in Texas.