Catholics Protest Nonexistent Abortion Bill

Catholics are pulling out all the stops to quash the Freedom of Choice Act, peppering Congress and the White House with postcards and letters. There’s just one problem: There is no Freedom of Choice Act. The bill has been introduced in years past, but it isn’t before Congress now, won’t be anytime soon, and wouldn’t pass if it were, Time reports.

“FOCA is the next sick chapter in the book of abortion,” reads a widely circulated chain email, and it’s “about to be signed.” But FOCA was designed to protect abortion rights if then-President Bush appointed another Supreme Court justice. With President Obama in office, it’s off the agenda. One progressive Catholic activist says right-wing organizations are purposely fueling a misinformation campaign, “and unfortunately some of these groups have the ear of certain bishops.” (More abortion rights stories.)