As Bishop Michael F. Burbidge and Richmond Bishop Barry C. Knestout observed in their recent pre-election letter to Virginia Catholics, “In Virginia, every year is an election year. However, the contents on the ballot this fall are anything but ordinary.”
Between Sept. 18 and Nov. 3, Virginia voters will decide three proposed constitutional amendments. Ballot Question 1 and Ballot Question 2, the bishops emphasize, “concern fundamental matters of right and wrong” on which “we have a sacred duty to form our consciences prayerfully and correctly, and to vote NO.”
Ballot Question 1: Vote NO
Ballot Question 1 would amend Virginia’s constitution to establish a so-called “fundamental right” to abortion for “every individual,” including minors. This could remove parents from any involvement in life-changing and irreversible decisions for their minor daughters. If you don’t believe me, consider this: When debating the language of the proposed constitutional amendment, legislators rejected proposed language that would have required Virginia’s parental consent law to remain in effect. If you still don’t believe me, consider this as well: the Montana Supreme Court blocked a parental consent law there, due to its interpretation of a minors’ “rights” in Montana’s constitution.
Ballot Question 1 would even shield “any individual” who assists in an abortion from legal consequences. This endangers women’s health and safety.
While providing virtually unlimited protections for abortion — even for minors — and protecting those who assist with abortions, Ballot Question 1 provides no protections whatsoever for unborn children. In their joint letter, Bishop Burbidge and Bishop Knestout call Ballot Question 1 exactly what it is: “extreme, dangerous, radical and horrific.”
The Virginia Catholic Conference is helping to educate Catholics about the severe dangers of Ballot Question 1 and is also an active participant in Virginians for Safe Reproductive Policy — a statewide coalition organized to defeat this extreme ballot proposal. For more information, go to virginiansforsafereproductivepolicy.com.
Ballot Question 2: Vote NO
Ballot Question 2 would remove the definition of marriage as the “union between one man and one woman” from Virginia’s constitution and would replace it with “any lawful marriage between two adult persons.”
Twenty years ago, the one-man, one-woman definition of marriage was added to our state constitution with the strong support of the VCC and many of you who are now reading this article. Now, Virginia voters face the exact opposite question — namely, whether to strip this provision out of the constitution. Though the question facing voters this year has changed drastically from the one 20 years ago, the truth about marriage has not — and never will. As Bishop Burbidge and Bishop Knestout emphasize in their joint letter, “(M)arriage — created by God — is and will always be the union of a man and a woman. God’s design for marriage — woven into the fabric of our being — was established before any nation, religion or law. We are called to honor and preserve it.”
Ballot Question 3: Vote YES
Ballot Question 3 would restore voting rights to individuals who have completed their time of incarceration. The bishops support this measure and note in their letter: “This issue is a matter of prudential judgment upon which people of goodwill can disagree.” Indeed, individuals who believe what the Catholic Church teaches may arrive at differing judgments about what Virginia’s law about restoring voting rights should say.
The position of the bishops and the VCC in support of Ballot Question 3 is informed by the church’s teaching on participation in the political process. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “It is necessary that all participate… in promoting the common good . … As far as possible, citizens should take an active part in public life” (1913-15). Restoring voting rights fosters the participation called for by the church’s teaching on faithful citizenship. It is good and important for people to take part in decisions that affect them, their families, their communities and the common good.
This position also reflects the importance of second chances in our faith tradition. We have all experienced “second chances” many times over through God’s mercy and forgiveness, especially in the sacrament of Reconciliation. In addition, we have all witnessed times when a fresh opportunity has enabled someone to become the person he or she was called to be. In the lives of the saints, extraordinary examples abound. Without dramatic second chances, there would be no St. Paul or St. Augustine.
Early voting begins Sept. 18. Election Day is Nov. 3.
Pray, form your conscience, gather information and vote.
Caruso is executive director of the Virginia Catholic Conference.
Find out more
For more information on the three ballot measures go to vacatholic.org.
What God sees