Texas Senate passes bill green-lighting anti-abortion monument on state grounds
Brady Knox
Video Embed
The Texas Senate passed a bill that would allow the construction of an anti-abortion monument on Capitol grounds.
The eight-foot-tall statue would be a replica of the “Life Monument” from Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz, which was installed last year in the Church of San Marcello al Corso in Rome. It depicts a figure interpreted as Virgin Mary, cradling her womb shaped like the Earth, within which appears to be an unborn Jesus Christ.
TEXAS LAWMAKERS DISCUSSING BILL TO BAN TEXTBOOKS TEACHING LGBT TOPICS TO STUDENTS BELOW NINTH GRADE
Though Senate Continuing Resolution 24, introduced by Republican state Sen. Tan Parker, wouldn’t immediately result in the construction of the monument, it would authorize the State Preservation Board to accept private funding and receive construction plans. To assuage confusion over the bill’s purpose, it is captioned: “Authorizing the State Preservation Board to approve the construction of a replica of the National Life Monument at the State Capitol Complex.”
However, the bill itself doesn’t mention abortion, rather framing the statue as a celebration of women and human life.
The bill says the “National Life Monument celebrates the miracle of life and the women at the center of that miracle” and that it would “provide a communal place for Texans to celebrate the beauty of human life.”
Schmalz himself has described the original monument as intended to be an anti-abortion sculpture, telling Vatican News, “This sculpture, I found, was very, very exciting for me to create … that it might be an interesting project if I could create one of the most beautiful, life-affirming sculptures possible, a pro-life statue, that is all about the hope that beauty can save life.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The bill authorizing the construction of its replica was passed by the Texas Senate in a 20-10 vote on Tuesday. While receiving much praise from Republicans, Democrats objected to its anti-abortion message.
“It’s going to feel to a lot of people like the celebration of a political victory last session of outlawing abortion in Texas,” Democratic state Sen. Nathan Johnson told the Texas Tribune. “And now you’re going to put it in concrete on the Capitol grounds.”