The religious right is making a desperate all-out effort to roll back women’s reproductive rights, and a bizarre fetus-worshipping circus took place today in Congress as the fundamentalist loons put on an emotional ultrasound show for the right wingers about to vote on the falsely named “Protect Life Act:” A Womb With a View.

Members of Congress hear from lobbyists of all stripes on any given day in Washington. But on Thursday, anti-abortion groups decided to bring a new lobby to the Hill: the fetus. Voices from the Womb—sponsored by a trio of anti-abortion groups—was promoted as offering the first live ultrasounds in the Capitol building. Over the course of two hours, half a dozen women had public ultrasounds, several anti-abortion members of Congress cried on stage, and ministers prayed for the passage of new legislation to end abortion.

“There’s one person who has not come to DC yet to testify,” said Rev. Patrick Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition. “That is, until today: That’s the millions of pre-born children.”

The ultrasounds happened against the backdrop of the House considering a controversial anti-abortion bill, the Protect Life Act. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Joseph Pitts (R-Pa.), would allow federally funded hospitals to refuse to provide abortion services, even if the life of the mother is at risk. The hospitals wouldn’t even be required to transfer the woman to another hospital that would provide the abortion. It would also prevent people who receive tax credits for health care from purchasing insurance that covers abortion services. Many health care experts believe this would lead most private health insurance companies to stop covering abortion. The bill would also allow states to pass their own laws to opt out of the new federal rule requiring insurers to offer no-cost birth control. The House is slated to vote on Pitt’s bill Thursday evening.

This strange ceremony goes along with the GOP’s efforts in many states to force women to undergo unnecessary invasive ultrasound procedures before abortions: Supreme Court Blocks Texas Neanderthal Sonogram Law.

The GOP’s embryo inspection device in action