Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops encouraged by passage of SB 25

New bill prevents “wrongful birth” lawsuits and respects all human life

AUSTIN — The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops is encouraged by passage of Senate Bill 25 from the Senate today.

“The Texas Senate’s passage of SB 25 is a great step toward the State of Texas ensuring that parents can no longer file a lawsuit based on the hurtful premise that their child with disabilities should not have been born,” said Jennifer Carr Allmon, executive director of the Texas Conference of Catholic Bishops. We are grateful for the Senate’s quick action to pass this bill and look forward to House passage next.”

Under current law, based on legal precedent, doctors could be liable for monetary damages if they recognized abnormalities during pregnancy and yet fail to advocate for termination. Under Texas law, this situation is termed "wrongful birth." Senate Bill 25 protects doctors from the legal pressure to recommend abortion and also maintains a patient's right to hold doctors responsible in any situation of negligence.

The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops is the association of the Roman Catholic bishops of Texas. Through the TCCB, the bishops provide a moral and social public policy voice that includes monitoring all legislation pertaining to Catholic moral and social teaching; accredit the state's Catholic schools; and maintain records that reflect the work and the history of the Catholic Church in Texas.