Court ruling stirs debate anew

Probably no issue in America arouses more passion or extreme division than abortion. That's why the U.S. Supreme Court's 5-4 decision Wednesday upholding Congress' ban on so-called "partial birth" abortions touched such a nerve with Americans, even as the nation focused on the tragedy at Virginia Tech.
As soon as the court issued its decision in Gonzales v. Carhart, we invited readers to share their reactions to the ruling. At right is a representative sampling of the responses we received, both by e-mail and on our online community discussion board dedicated to the topic. Many of these responses eloquently outline the strong pro-choice and pro-life positions that have dominated this debate. please visit the website guide

The legal issue was whether Congress' specific ban was unconstitutionally vague or overbroad, whether it was an "undue burden" on a woman's right to choose, and whether it was a violation of the exceptions made for the health of the woman. The majority found that it was not. It held that Congress had shown that this procedure's use is extremely limited, that other medical options are available, and that exceptions can be decided on a case-by-case basis.
The ruling will spur both sides to launch various legal challenges on abortion law. But little is likely to change for the forseeable future. Challenges will take years to work their way through the legal system, and any changes they bring could be small ones. Still, for most Americans abortion will continue to be a contentious issue. We hope the debate will be a civil one in which both sides respect the other's right to express its views freely - and in which the many Americans who occupy a "middle ground" of ambivalence on abortion have a voice as well.
This is possible. As we noted in an editorial last week, groups at Northern Kentucky University found a way to set up competing pro-life and pro-choice displays side-by-side on campus, fostering a genuine, respectful dialogue. We can all learn from that.