A California Judiciary Committee passed a bill on Tuesday, which Christians, pro-life agencies, and legal analysts in the state warn will legalize the killing of babies up to six days after birth.
The bill, A.B. 2223, which was passed in a 6-3 vote down party lines, will now move to the California Assembly Health Committee to be heard on April 19th.
California pastor, Jack Hibbs, the founder and senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, described the bill as “unprecedented” and insisted that the reprehensible crime of infanticide should have no place in the state.
“A.B. 2223 goes beyond any other pro-abortion bill to completely undermine the value of life and legalize murder,” the pastor warned. “Killing born babies is an incomprehensible heinous crime that has no place in California legislation.”
According to Life News, the bill would “prohibit authorities from charging a mother for ‘actions or omissions’ related to her pregnancy, ‘including miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion, or perinatal death.’ Anyone who ‘aids or assists a pregnant person’ also would be exempt from prosecution. Additionally, the bill would allow the woman to sue police and other authorities who arrest or charge her in such cases.”
As Pastor Hibbs noted, the word “perinatal” in the text is of particular concern because it “can be defined as a number of weeks after birth.”
As Life News further reported, “while more than a hundred individuals opposed AB 2223 in committee — in person or by phone — no individuals spoke in support of the bill. The only supporters of the legislation were pro-abortion groups like Planned Parenthood, NARAL, and the ACLU.”
California-based Right to Life League attorney Susan Arnall describe the extreme nature of the current text of the bill, stating:
“In California under AB 2223, former Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell, who murdered three infants born alive after botched abortions, could not be prosecuted. And incredibly, someone like Gosnell who helped a California mother kill her newborn after birth will actually have a cause of action to sue police for investigating the matter if AB 2223 becomes law.”
President of California Family Council, Jonathan Keller, called the bill “open season on unwanted newborns.”
“For years, pro-life advocates have argued there is no moral difference between ending a child’s life days before birth or days after birth. California’s pro-abortion legislators now seemingly agree,” he lamented. “A political culture that justifies killing millions of children in the womb is now declaring open season on unwanted newborns. Every Californian must oppose this heinous bill.”
In a video published to Facebook shortly following the Tuesday vote, Pastor Jack Hibbs further condemned the bill and the assembly member who introduced it, Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland).
“She thinks that it’s a good idea that a baby can be murdered after birth if that child is not wanted or for other reasons. Buffy’s doctrine would make Adolf Hitler very happy,” he asserted.
“Am I upset? I am very upset. Our state leaders are taking us down a course of infanticide, which is the killing of human beings post-birth. That is exactly what happened with the idols of Molech and Remphan in Israel’s paganism. We cannot let that happen, people,” he emphasized. “If it passes, then you can expect the hand of God to finally fall upon California for really doing what the scriptures warned. We have made a covenant with hell, and with death we are in agreement.”
Ken Ham, Founder and CEO of Answers in Genesis, tweeted on the issue of abortion:
“The world hates God and demands the sacrifice of children to the “god of self.” Yes, like the Psalmist cried out, ‘they poured out innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters…and the land was polluted with blood’ (Psalm 106:38). The world hides the truth to justify their evil ways.“
Pastor Hibbs has called pro-life Californians of all stripes to join him in taking action to oppose the radical bill.
“I am going to testify inside the capitol,” Hibbs said. “I am going to ask you to join me on April 19th at the state capitol to stand for life and stand for God, to make a decision.”
“I don’t care what your woke pastor says about it. You need to stand for what’s right. This is the end of the road for California, or it could be the turning point where the state turns around and comes back. This is it,” he stressed. “I am looking for men in the pulpits who are fearless and are committed to the truth, that are not concerned about their reputation or popularity. We have got to stand and stand for righteousness in Jesus’ Name.”
“If I made a lot of enemies… I am in good company because Jesus said in the last days these things are going to happen,” he explained. “We are called to speak the truth and not hide behind some bushel or bury our witnesses underground.”
Addressing Americans outside of California, Hibbs warned that similar legislation could soon be introduced in other states as “liberalism and progressivism” seeks to “destroy our country.”
“What happens in California tragically doesn’t stay in California,” he underscored, “it goes straight to your capital.”
“Please pray, please get ready to take a stand,” he earnestly requested. “This could be our last stand.”
Christians are called in Scripture to stand up for Biblical Truth and be a restraining force in an ever increasingly wicked and godless world. Scripture says we are to be Salt and Light (Matthew 5:13-16). If Believers in Jesus Christ refuse to speak up on issues like abortion, there will be nothing to hold back this atrocity from becoming even more widespread.
