Arlington bishop urges Catholics to vote no on Virginia abortion and marriage amendments

Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of the Diocese of Arlington has asked his priests to read a pastoral letter calling on Catholics to vote "No" on two measures on the November ballot. One would expand access to abortion and the other would redefine marriage in the Virginia Constitution. Burbidge said he had never before made such a request of the priests of his diocese.

The letter will be read in the 70 churches serving more than 430,000 Catholics in northern Virginia. It warns of "two dangerous ballot initiatives" that go to a vote on November 3. Early voting begins September 18. Published September 12 in the Arlington Catholic Herald, the letter says Virginians "will soon face serious legal threats to the sacredness of human life and the sanctity of marriage."

The first ballot question, Burbidge wrote, "proposes an extreme and vague change to the Constitution that would create a legal right to unregulated abortions, performed by unlicensed practitioners, at any time during pregnancy." The measure "threatens the health and safety of mothers and would allow abortions targeting healthy babies up to the moment of birth," he said. It also "extends this supposed right even to minors" and "would eliminate the role of parents in life-altering decisions."

Burbidge said "abortion is already legal in Virginia," but that the ballot measure "would expand abortion beyond what most citizens recognize as reasonable limits." He called the amendment "extreme, unnecessary and wrong."

Proposal to redefine marriage

On the second question, Burbidge said it "would remove from our state constitution the truth, as Jesus taught, that marriage is between one man and one woman." The proposal would also "enshrine gender ideology by falsely separating the reality of sex and gender, obscuring the truth that we are created in the image and likeness of God," he said.

The Church and politics

Burbidge, who was appointed by Pope St. John Paul II in 2003, said that "the Church is not partisan. The Church never advocates for or against specific candidates or parties." But "the Church, in fidelity to the Gospel and her mission, always speaks clearly, faithfully and truthfully on matters of faith and morals in public life," he said.

"A matter of fundamental moral justice confronts each of us," Burbidge said, adding that "the Church boldly proclaims her 'Yes' to the protection of the unborn and the sanctity of all human life." To be able to say that "Yes," he urged Catholics to proclaim a "No" to these "radically unjust" ballot initiatives, "in fidelity to God and for the good of all."

Burbidge asked Catholics to do three things: pledge to vote at CatholicsVoteNo.com; register and plan to vote, preferably from September 18; and "speak with family, friends and colleagues, in truth and love" to turn out those most likely to protect life and marriage. "With God's grace, there is always hope!" he wrote. The diocese closes the letter with an appeal to the duty of the baptized, saying Catholics should "participate in public life with an informed, prayerful and fact-based conscience."