FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- House leaders postponed a Good Friday vote on a bill that would require physicians to perform ultrasounds and present the images to pregnant women before performing abortions.

The move disappointed supporters who had hoped the measure would be approved by the House Judiciary Committee on the Christian holy day that commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus.

“This happening on Good Friday just underscores the disappointment that we feel,” said state Rep. Tom Riner, a Louisville minister who believes women who see ultrasound images would reconsider undergoing abortions.

Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Kathy Stein announced Thursday that the vote was coming up. That plan was scuttled Friday morning in “a joint decision” with House leaders.

“We determined that it needed more study,” Stein said Friday. “Rather than kill it, we decided to study it.”

Stein said the bill, if passed into law, would make it more difficult for women to undergo safe and legal abortions.

The Senate approved the legislation on Feb. 7. It has been languishing in Stein’s committee since Feb. 12.

The bill contains provisions that would require doctors to consult with women 24 hours before performing abortions and to adopt a federal ban on the late-term procedures that opponents refer to as partial-birth abortions.

State Sen. Jack Westwood, R-Crescent Springs, said the bill deserves to be voted on.

“A lot of abortions could be avoided if women just had an opportunity to see the ultrasound images,” Westwood said. “We know that is an effective deterrent to abortions.”

The Rev. Patrick Delahanty, a priest who lobbies on behalf of the Catholic Conference of Kentucky, said he believes the measure would be approved by members of the Judiciary Committee if it comes up for a vote. Delahanty said he’s not sure why House leaders have delayed a vote.

“It’s just a mystery to me,” he said.

Riner said he’s certain the measure will pass if it makes it to the House floor.

“Many of us who support the legislation have met repeatedly with leadership, and it was our clear understanding that this bill would be brought to the House floor where we could vote on it,” Riner said.

David Edmunds, a policy analyst for The Family Foundation, said he believes Stein doesn’t want to put pro-abortion lawmakers on the Judiciary Committee in a position to vote against legislation that has widespread support across Kentucky.

The legislation is Senate Bill 40.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)