On April 9, the Illinois House passed HB 4839, which amends the Hospital Licensing Act as it pertains to the disposal of human fetal remains.

Sponsored by State Representative Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) and State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago), this bill deletes a portion in the Hospital Licensing Act that provides for the disposal of the remains of a fetus 20 weeks or less.

HB 4839 removes the section that stipulates that the death of a fetus 20 weeks or less is subject to the same laws that applies to all stages of fetal development.

HB 4839 removes the requirement for a fetal death certificate and replaces it with a permit, whether the death was the result of miscarriage or abortion, in order for disposal of the human fetal remains. A death certificate is a formal recognition that a human being has died. It allows regulatory oversight in the handling of the body. That’s being eliminated.

Fully recognizing that this is when most abortions occur, HB 4839 eliminates the sanctity of human life and assigns it to the trash heap.

In effect, HB4839 says babies under 20 weeks who die are not “human” to warrant formal death certificates; not “important” for regulatory oversight; and “not significant” to proactively provide the parents the option for burial or cremation.

During a short floor debate, Cassidy described HB 4839 as allowing for “a dignified disposition of remains.” Instead, HB 4839 further dehumanizes unborn humans and does the exact opposite of what Representative Cassidy claims.

Confusion is a Feature

It’s yet another example of the mental gymnastics necessary for a progressive to be a progressive.

It’s what it takes to hold the viewpoints seen in HB 4839.

A complete departure from logic and ethics, they embrace the narrative that casts people as oppressor and oppressed, and only those of their choosing being worthy of dignity and value. Their worldview is only too happy to dehumanize and diminish human life if it does not serve their political ends. How exhausting.

Join us in praying that this legislation would become a pebble in the proverbial shoe of Cassidy, Villanueva and other lawmakers who hold these viewpoints. Pray that they would come under conviction, recognize the confusion they have embraced, and come to a saving knowledge of the God who made every precious life.

Pray also for the parents who are considering abortion, that they would be confronted with the unmistakable worth of their preborn child and choose life

Take ACTION: Click HERE to send a message to your state senator to urge him or her to vote against HB 4839. Christians must not ignore this moment.

Please PRAY: Ask God to use this legislation to awaken the conscience of lawmakers like Kelly Cassidy and Celina Villanueva—that they would recognize the value of every preborn child and turn away from abortion advocacy and to champion the right to life for preborn babies at every stage of development.