illinois parental notification

Enforcement of Illinois parental notification law delayed once again; A Montana resident challenges definition of "pro-life;" Robert P. Kennedy banned from receiving communion; Atlanta Journal Constitution columnist argues against Stupak.

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Quite the contentious issue, the Illinois Parental Notice of Abortion Act has never been enacted due to a court injunction -- until now. The law, scheduled to go into effect yesterday, now remains in political limbo pending a lawsuit and considerations from a regulation department.

A hotline set up by the ACLU in Illinois is intended to help teens in need exercise their due process rights to a judicial bypass option in case they need an abortion but do not want to notify their parents. These and other efforts seek to protect the rights of pregnant young women who cannot inform their parents of their pregnancy and abortion, often because of concern for their physical safety or abandonment, or because their parents are inaccessible. In such cases, a young woman seeking an abortion can bring her case to a judge, who in turn can permit the medical procedure without the required notification or consent.