by Lawrence F. Roberge

About the author: Lawrence F. Roberge is a biotechnology consultant, college instructor, bioethicist, and biomedical researcher. He is also the author of the book The Cost of Abortion.

Is the emotional and political reaction to President Bill Clinton’s 1996 veto of the partial birth abortion ban a surprise to anyone? Probably not. What is surprising is the scope of the emotional opposition to partial birth abortion as seen against the flimsy backdrop of political and social apathy that has been the norm during more than 24 years of legalized abortion in the United States.

Why such a reaction from pro-life and Church leaders now? Many of the same leaders never unleashed the same kind of fury or generated the same type of media coverage during the past 24 relentless...