Ohio pastors urge lawmakers to override governor's veto of 'heartbeat bill'

A group of pastors representing 2,500 churches has called on members of the Ohio House on Thursday to override Gov. John Kasich's veto of a bill that would have banned abortions once an unborn baby's heartbeat is detected.

"We're asking the Speaker of the House to call for a vote to override this decision that the governor has made, because we're here to promote and advocate for life," said J.C. Church, senior pastor of Victory in Truth Ministries, at a press conference at the Statehouse.

Kasich vetoed the "heartbeat bill" last Tuesday due to concerns that it might be challenged in court and result in a waste of taxpayer money. However, he signed the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act into law, which would ban abortions from about 20 weeks gestation.

The governor said in a statement that he is working hard "to strengthen Ohio's protections for the sanctity of human life."

According to The News Leader, Ohio currently bans abortion after 24 weeks, when a fetus is viable outside the womb. Ohio Right to Life and other pro-life groups have supported the 20-week ban and opposed the heartbeat bill.

Pastors said that they intend to pursue the passage of the heartbeat bill via a veto override or future legislation.

"The lives of 60 million aborted babies compel as we consider the weight of this bill and what it can accomplish and the lives that it can save," said Tim Throckmorton, senior pastor at Crossroads Church in Circleville.

"Let me suggest that the millions of unborn whose lives are in the balance plead with us that we continue to stand for life, that we continue to stand together." he added.

State Rep. Christina Hagan (R-Alliance), the primary sponsor of the proposal, also said that she intends to keep working towards the passage of the bill.

The heartbeat bill was approved 56–39 in the House and 21–10 in the Senate. It would require at least 60 votes in the House and 20 in the Senate in order to override Kasich's veto.