Abortion on the Ballot

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Church Militant (a 501(c)4 corporation) is responsible for the content of this commentary.

Various states are moving to get the upper hand on abortion in our current post-Roe era. In tonight's In-Depth Report, Church Militant's Paul Murano looks at ballot initiatives in several states — pro-life and pro-death.

Mark Maxwell, reporter, KSDK News: "Politicians and doctors are still coming to grips with what post-Roe America looks like in each corner of the country."

Now that Roe v. Wade is history, the next phase in the battle for life is taking shape. At least six states will have ballot initiatives on which voters will decide abortion-related questions — three in favor of life and three for death.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif.: "We will affirm ... the reproductive rights and freedoms in California."

In California in November, voters will decide on Proposition 1. It amends the state Constitution to enshrine the so-called right to contraception and abortion.

Sen. Toni Atkins, D-Calif., state Senate president: "We will not be shoved back into the dark days of desperate decisions. Abortion is health care — plain and simple."

In Vermont, voters will weigh in on Proposal 5. The proposal says killing babies is "central to the liberty and dignity to determine one's own life course."

Mary Beerworth, executive director, Vermont Right to Life Committee: "That is gobbledygook for unlimited, unregulated abortion enshrined in our Constitution. ... The word abortion should be used. And they rejected that consensus. And that's why you will not — it's deceptive."

In Michigan, signatures for a November ballot measure protecting prenatal murder have been sent to the secretary of state for certification. The so-called Reproductive Freedom for All campaign was led in part by Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan.

Shanay Watson-Whittaker, director of strategic partnerships, Michigan Voices: "We will ensure abortion access is protected by law in Michigan. And today is the first major step forward."

On the side of life, in Kansas, voters will decide in August on a pro-life amendment that would render null and void the Kansas Supreme Court's ruling that gives women the right to kill their children under the state's Constitution.

Party of Death governor Laura Kelly is warning the amendment to protect babies' lives will "return the state to the Dark Ages."

Gov. Laura Kelly, D-Kan.: "We cannot let political fights slow us down."

In Kentucky, voters in November will decide on an amendment to their Constitution that includes the language: "To protect human life, nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to secure or protect a right to abortion or require the funding of abortion."

And similarly, in Pennsylvania, a ballot measure will include language that specifies there's no right to abortion or taxpayer funding for it.

Sen. Cris Dush, R-Penn., State District 25: "The right to kill babies in the womb is not there."

As expected, the deep spiritual and cultural divide is now playing out in the states. We'll soon know where more of them stand.

Democratic state senator David Haley claimed the Kansas pro-life amendment, if passed, would assign women to "a certain kind of slavery."

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