When Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed the Human Life Protection Act last week, it became one of the most expansive pro-life bills in the country, which by default also made it one of the most divisive. The legislation makes abortions illegal in nearly all cases, including no exceptions for rape and incest, and, if charged, individuals could face up to 10 to 99 years or life in prison.
Abortion advocates are outraged, noting that male lawmakers in Alabama have no right to try and control women's bodies, while celebrities, production companies, and secretaries of state are urging boycotts and travel bans of the state.
With tensions being as high as they are, there's also been plenty of misinformation out there. For instance, some concerned citizens think the bill will punish women who have miscarriages.
So let's recap:
— Rose Eveleth ?? (@roseveleth) May 15, 2019
? sex ed is discouraged
? birth control is impossible to access
? abortion and miscarriage are considered felonies
? felons can't vote
These bullet points are not the bill's intent, supporters have tried to explain. Catherine Hadro, the host of EWTN's "Pro-life Weekly," appeared on CNN this weekend to try and clear up some of these misconceptions.
Host of "Pro-Life Weekly" @CatSzeltner says many in mainstream media are "misreading" Alabama's abortion bill. "Maybe not reading it at all... Women will not be incriminated, it will only be abortionists." https://t.co/QD2xIIiZho pic.twitter.com/Ex5ZO0teGH
— CNN Newsroom (@CNNnewsroom) May 19, 2019
"There’s this egregious mistake that Alabama would incriminate women and that is just not true at all," Hadro told Brian Stelter.
"I think they’re misreading the bill,” she said. “Or they’re not reading it at all."
She urged people to, considering it's only three pages.
"Women will not be incriminated," she said. "It will only be abortionists.”
Think of the other result of the legislation, Gov. Ivey urged.
"This legislation stands as a powerful testament to Alabamians’ deeply held belief that every life is precious and that every life is a sacred gift from God," she said upon its signing.