A popular anti-abortion bill that religious conservatives expected Congress to pass was abruptly withdrawn by the law-making body, angering proponents all around the United States.
On Thursday, the House of Representatives voted to drop the popular "Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act." The bill was immensely supported by religious personalities, including Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, and was considered a done deal.
The Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act sought to ban abortions of babies that are at least five months of age, on the grounds that the baby was capable of feeling pain at that age.
However, according to Religion News, the House voted not to pass the Act allegedly because of "restrictive language on rape exceptions and a potential backlash from women and younger voters." Leading the opposition was roughly two dozen Republican representatives, majority of which was composed by Congresswomen.
Religious personalities took to the media and the Internet to air their disappointment over the decision.
Southern Baptist Convention spokesperson Russell Moore told the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of his disgust at the bill's rejection, which he viewed as "moral cowardice." He also wondered what the House could achieve if they could not move to ban the abortion of a five-month old baby that is already capable of feeling pain.
Various personalities also used social media platform Twitter to air their grievances. Eric Metaxas, a popular author and speaker, asked if it takes too much for the House to "take a stand against infanticide" while Christian radio host Steve Deace used his Twitter account to criticise the Republican Party.
"Honestly, what is the point of even having a Republican Party? I mean, seriously, what do we gain from it?" Deace's Tweet asked.
Bobby Jindal, governor of Louisiana, described the U-turn as "outrageous."
"The leadership should seriously reconsider," he said according to the Washington Times.
