Sunshine Sentinel

Catholic Vote President Brian Burch said the Florida legislation that would support parents’ ability to sue for the wrongful death of their child regardless of their viability outside of the mother is the right of the parents and the unborn child. 

"Allowing parents to sue for the wrongful death of an unborn child should not be controversial,” Burch said. “Abortion advocates would have negligence go unpunished in order to avoid any unborn baby being considered a human life with God-given rights."

Florida state Senator Erin Grall, sponsor of legislation to allow parents to sue for the wrongful death of an unborn child, has asked that a vote on the bill be postponed. Most states permit such suits, but most of those states allow it only if the child is able to survive outside the mother's womb with medical help. The bill as currently drafted, allows for damages for wrongful death regardless of viability.

Abortion advocates are concerned that the legislation gives unborn children more rights. Sen. Grall has said that the legislation is not about abortion, but rather about the pain a family suffers when a pregnancy fails due to negligence. An amendment clarifying that such a suit could not be brought in the case of an abortion has been added, and that amendment is being opposed by pro-lifers.

Madison, Wisconsin-based Catholic Vote is an advocacy organization that wants to “inspire every Catholic in America to live out the truths of our faith in public life,” according to the group’s website. Founded in 2008, its president is Brian Burch.