It has been 30 years since the landmark Roe v. Wade decision legalized abortion. Yet, abortion is still an emotional and confrontational issue dividing many on religious and ethical grounds. Recently, attempts have been made to give embryos and fetuses legal protection that some see as the ultimate threat to Wade. With unborn victims laws now existing in 26 states and a current pro-life bill just introduced in the Senate that would apply the law to federal crimes, Betty Rollin explores the future of abortion and how such legislation could also impact the progress of medical research.

Susanne Martinez with Planned Parenthood fears that "If they can shift the dialogue to believing that a fetus is a person, they will have set the groundwork for overturning Roe v. Wade." But, anti-abortion proponent Helen Alvare with Catholic University Law School believes, "The love and protection extended to the embryo ought to be no different extended to any other fellow human beings."

For more on the abortion debate, see the Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly September Cover Story segment at: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week603/cover.html

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week620/cover.html