Michigan Catholic bishops warned families this month about the power and lies of the abortion industry as pro-abortion groups work to repeal state laws that protect unborn babies and mothers from abortion.
Responding to the pro-abortion campaign, which was announced last week, Rebecca Mastee, policy advocate for the Michigan Catholic Conference, said women deserve compassion and support, not abortion, the Catholic News Agency reports.
“More than anything, women considering an abortion deserve support, love and compassion,” Mastee said. “For decades, abortion has been touted as the only option, harmless and easy, yet we know this is a lie. Abortion hurts women.”
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Last week, the American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood and other pro-abortion groups filed a ballot initiative to amend the Michigan Constitution to “explicitly affirm” the right to abortion, according to a statement from the groups. If they succeed, killing unborn babies in abortions without restriction would become legal in Michigan even if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade.
Mastee said doing so would cause more harm to women and children.
“Today’s news that some are looking to enshrine abortion in the state constitution is a sad commentary on the outsized and harmful role the abortion industry plays in our politics and our society,” she said. “We look forward to standing with women through a potential statewide ballot campaign to promote a culture of life and good health for both moms and unborn children.”
The pro-abortion groups need to collect more than 425,000 valid signatures from state residents in order for the proposed amendment to be placed on the November ballot for voters’ consideration, the AP reports.
The groups anticipate that the Supreme Court may overturn Roe v. Wade as soon as this summer. If that happens, a 1931 Michigan law that protects unborn babies by banning abortions would go back into effect. Their proposed constitutional amendment would invalidate that law and others that protect unborn babies and mothers from abortion.
“If a majority of voters vote yes, all of Michigan’s pro-life laws could be repealed,” Christen Pollo, executive director of Protect Life Michigan, warned in an email to supporters. “Every pro-life law in Michigan would be undone. Every unborn life would be left unprotected.”
Pro-life groups promised to work hard to stop the radical pro-abortion amendment from being ratified.
“We cannot allow the vulnerable to be killed in the name of convenience,” said Barbara Listing, president of Right to Life of Michigan. “The humanity of unborn children cannot be denied, as technology and science have proven, without a doubt, that they are human and deserve legal protection.”
According to the Catholic News Agency, abortion numbers increased in 2020 in Michigan, and nearly 30,000 unborn babies were aborted.
Pro-life Republicans control the state legislature, but pro-abortion Democrat Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has vetoed several pro-life bills, including $16 million in the state budget for a program that helps mothers who choose life for their unborn babies.
“Governor Whitmer’s vetoes amplify the disappointing reality of this administration that the abortion industry is more important than vulnerable mothers and their unborn children,” Michigan Catholic Conference spokesman David Maluchnik said at the time.
