GOVERNOR MAURA HEALEY
SIGNS SHIELD ACT
by CATHOLIC ACTION LEAGUE
On August 7th, Bob Katzen, the Publisher of Beacon Hill Roll Call, contacted the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts, seeking a comment from Executive Director C. J. Doyle regarding Governor Maura Healey— surrounded by representatives of the abortion industry—signing into law the so-called “Shield Bill,” S. 2543—An Act Strengthening Health Care Protections in the Commonwealth.
This measure expands an existing 2022 law to conceal the identity of Massachusetts abortionists, abortion activists, doctors and others, who conduct “telehealth abortions,” and who prescribe or ship abortion drugs and puberty blockers to other states where child killing or gender deformity is illegal.
The new law also mandates the performance of so-called “emergency abortions” by every acute care hospital in the Commonwealth.
Healey’s support for the law was hailed by the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund, Reproductive Equity Now, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders.
Doyle issued the following statement:
“It comes as no surprise that Governor Healey would, unhesitatingly, endorse the expanded Shield Act.
Healey has openly credited one of the leading proponents of the measure, Planned Parenthood—whose representatives attended the signing ceremony—with making her career in Massachusetts politics possible. Following her first election to public office, as Attorney General in 2014, Healey said her endorsement by Planned Parenthood was “a game changer for my campaign.”
In signing this bill into law, Healey is rewarding her donor class in the abortion industry.
As 22 states and the District of Columbia now have shield laws, concealing the identity, obstructing the extradition, and absolving the liability of abortionists who send Mifepristone to states where its use is illegal, there is growing pressure for federal action to correct this overreach.
In a July 29th letter to Congressional leaders, the attorneys general of sixteen states urged Congress to explore the possibility of federal legislation to preempt shield laws.
While the collapse of Steward Health Care marked the final end of what remained of the Catholic hospital system in eastern Massachusetts, Mercy Medical Center, administered by Trinity Health, continues as an acute care facility in Springfield.
Any attempt to invoke the clause of the Shield Law requiring that Catholic institution to perform so-called emergency abortions as part of “stabilizing care,” would be met by a court challenge on First Amendment free exercise grounds.
Given the current composition of the Supreme Court, that part of the law would likely be struck down as unconstitutional.”
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Doyle’s comments were carried by the Franklin Observer on August 10th and by The Lowell Sun on August 11th.
Jim Havens, host of The Simple Truth on Station of the Cross Catholic Media Network, invited Doyle onto his podcast and radio program on August 11th, to discuss Healey’s signing of the law.
The program is carried locally on WQOM 1060 AM.
Doyle’s previous comments on the legislation were quoted in a story by LifeSiteNews, also on August 11th.
