Montini: Arizona’s anti-abortion backers turn fanatics

To my mind, the difference between a believer and a fanatic is that a fanatic is willing to harm innocents on behalf of a cause.

In that sense, Arizona’s most powerful anti-abortion lobby, and its surrogates in the Legislature, and the governor, have become fanatics. Last week a law was passed and signed by the governor that most definitely will do harm to innocent, grieving couples who have nothing to do with the abortion battle, and whose pain will only be exacerbated by this law.

It was called Senate Bill 1367.

MORE: Mothers who oppose abortion bill: 'Not only unethical, but cruel'

The purpose is to make it more difficult for women seeking late-term abortions and for the medical facilities who might perform them. Making Arizona one of the most restrictive states in the nation. (Which we were already.)

I understand and respect those who hold such beliefs.

But at what cost do you pursue them?

New law hurts the innocent

This new law will lump together those seeking abortions with those who are terminating a pregnancy (most often at a doctor’s suggestion) after learning of a fatal fetal anomaly or because something has gone wrong with the fetus or the pregnancy, endangering the woman.

In most cases like that, physicians provide only “comfort care” after delivery, which allows for parents to spend as much peaceful time as possible prior to the baby’s death.

As Dr. Peter Stevenson, an Arizonan neonatologist, said in a letter to legislators: “It is standard of care in the state of Arizona as well as the entire United States to provide comfort measures only for fetuses delivered at prior to 22 weeks gestation.”

MONTINI: Abortion bill punishes grieving parents

Now, physicians will be required to perform unnecessary medical procedures on a baby with no chance of survival. And there will be additional requirements for clinics (which lawmakers would like to close down.)

There aren’t a lot of these abortions or a lot of the late-term medical pregnancy terminations. There was no urgent need for this law. And no need at all for the collateral damage to those going through difficulties because of problems with the fetus or the mom.

A good day for babies? Or fanatics?

The proponents of the bill tried to lessen the blow, slightly, by making the procedures a little less severe in some cases, but not enough to prevent the process from further agonizing couples who already are suffering. A doctor still must examine the baby after birth and confirm the fatal condition, and inform the woman prior to the abortion that care must be provided to the fetus, and then perform rapid neonatal resuscitation. And then confirm that additional treatment will only prolong the act of dying.

After all that is done, the mother and father can have their moment of peace. If it exists by then.

MORE: What Arizona's latest abortion bill really does

The primary proponent of the bill, Cathi Herrod, president of the Center for Arizona Policy, said, “It’s a great day for babies in Arizona.”

No. It was a great day for fanatics.

Shame on them.

Shame on them all.