Abortion compromise? New Abortion Common Ground Bill

Steven Walman, of Beliefnet, reported on July 23rd about the "common ground" abortion bill being re-introduced, the "Ryan-DeLauro" bill. What the bill sponsors have done is to focus on what unites, not divides, those working to reduce the need for abortion. It was developed by Third Way, who focused many years efforts on bridge building and discussions between pro-life and pro-choice groups.

Pro-lifers like it because it features, amongst other things:

A National Information Campaign to "promote accurate and positive information and messages on adoption and the benefits it can bring to children and families."

An increase in the adoption tax credit from $10,000 to $15,000.

Money to increase the availability of ultrasound equipment. Pro-lifers believe if a woman hears the sound of a heart beat she will be more willing to carry the fetus to full term.

It focuses on an all encompassing approach: comprehensive sex education with an emphasis on abstinence, better access to contraception for low-income women, and better enlistment of parents in preventing teen pregnacies. It also increases awareness about adoption and ensures that pregnant young women and new families have the support they need; to finish school, put food on the table and feel confident that their new family will thrive.

Planned Parenthood signed on this time, citing increased support for comprehensive sex education and family planning.

The bill has an impressive list of pro-life and and pro-choice endorsers including many religious based groups; Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Jewish and groups like; Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, Catholics for Choice, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Jewish Council for Public Affairs, NARAL, and many, many others.

For more details, see Beliefnet's July 23rd issue at: http://blog.beliefnet.com/stevenwaldman

What I found appealling is the emphasis on finding common ground on what Americans can agree on, and not focuses on what divides us. Maybe, at last, some light at the end of the tunnel?