The Right to Murder

10-08-2023Letter from the PastorFr. Don Kline, V.F.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

For those who practice the faith, who seek to grow in holiness, who have a desire to go to heaven, seeing and experiencing the presence of evil is a common occurrence. Not so unlike other times in history, evil has become much more obvious in the efforts of those who desire to murder children in the womb.

One such group that is causing so much pain and suffering is Arizona for Abortion Access. The organization claims on their website that there are “many reasons why someone may decide to have an abortion” and “every person should be able to make their own decisions” with their healthcare provider “free from government interference.” Their reckless and misguided intent to provide a choice for pregnant mothers is extreme and hurtful. Their efforts, if successful, will lead to the death of many unborn children.

Arizona for Abortion Access offers tired and irresponsible manipulation statements which propose that killing a child is “reproductive health” and that the decision to end your child’s life is the mother’s decision and “the government should not interfere”. In their desire to free us from “government interference,” they are working on a ballot initiative that will enable Arizonans to vote on an amendment which will enable parents to murder their child or children in the womb. Arizona for Abortion Access launched a signature-gathering campaign on September 21, 2023. Their motive is to have the amendment and the government (which they claim should not interfere) “protect abortion access in Arizona and ensure every person can make this deeply personal decision with dignity.” To enshrine their evil amendment, the Arizona for Abortion Access group is pushing a signature drive for the state constitutional amendment to be on the November 2024 ballot.

The Arizona for Abortion Access ballot committee is supported by the ACLU of Arizona, Affirm Sexual and Reproductive Health, Arizona List, Healthcare Rising Arizona, NARAL Arizona, and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona. Their website claims that these organizations represent hundreds of thousands of Arizonans in every community and from every walk of life who have worked “extensively together protecting and expanding abortion access over the years.”

The ballot initiative, if successful, would appear on the ballot in November of 2024. An anti-life vote would then establish a state constitutional right to abortion before the point of fetal viability (defined as the point of pregnancy when there is a significant chance of the survival of the fetus outside of the uterus without the application of extraordinary medical measures).

Currently, abortion is legal in Arizona for up to 15 weeks. Prior to the 15-week ban signed into law in 2022, abortions were legal in Arizona up to the point of the child’s ability to survive outside the womb. The campaign must submit 383,923 valid signatures by July 4, 2024. The Arizona for Abortion Access campaign is hoping to get 600,000 signatures, which is twice the number of signatures needed for the initiative to be put on the ballot.

A similar initiative was done in Ohio a few months ago and now Ohio will decide on Issue 1 at the November 3, 2023 elections. Voters will decide whether to establish a state constitutional right to “make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions,” including decisions about abortion, contraception, and other reproductive matters.

This is not the first time Arizonans for Reproductive Freedom filed an initiative to create a state constitutional right to murder children in the womb. Their last effort to promote anti-life laws failed in 2022. The campaign reported that it received only 175,000 signatures of the 356,467 valid signatures that were required for the proposal and the signature deadline. We must pray and promote the dignity of every human life, born and unborn.

The battle for life is far from over in Arizona. To give you some historical perspective. From 1970 to November 2022, there were 53 abortion-related ballot measures, and 43 (81%) of these had the support of organizations that described themselves as pro-life. Voters approved 11 (26%) and rejected 32 (74%) of these 43 ballot measures. That is not a good track record if you are an infant in the womb. The other 10 abortion-related ballot measures had the support of organizations that described themselves as pro-choice or pro-reproductive rights. Voters approved seven (70%) and rejected three (30%).

Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Bernadette, pray for us!

God Bless,

Fr. Don Kline, V.F.