Bishop Michael F. Burbidge is urging Catholics to vote “no” on two of the three proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot in Virginia this fall.
Speaking on the July 22 edition of the “Walk Humbly Podcast,” he said that the two proposals to enshrine abortion rights and protection for same-sex marriage in Virginia’s constitution do not deserve Catholics’ support.
“The church never tells the faithful which political party they must support or which politicians to vote for, but when it comes to issues, and especially when those issues pertain to matters of intrinsic right and wrong, the church speaks very clearly,” Bishop Burbidge said.
In late June, Bishop Burbidge announced the diocese launched “Catholics Vote No,” an online campaign at catholicsvoteno.com that he said is intended “to alert, educate, and empower the grassroots faithful concerning these dangerous and deceptive amendments.”
The third constitutional amendment on the ballot, to restore voting rights to all who have completed their prison sentences, has the support of the Virginia Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the commonwealth’s bishops. The VCC also opposes the abortion and same-sex marriage amendments.
