Bishops speak on abortion ballot measures in days leading up to election

The St. Louis Arch. / Credit: Jonah McKeown/CNA

CNA Staff, Nov 1, 2024 / 16:05 pm (CNA).

Here is a roundup of the latest pro-life and abortion-related news in the U.S.:

Bishops speak on abortion ballot measures 

Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski will lead the Archdiocese of St. Louis in prayer on Nov. 3 to “defeat Missouri Amendment 3,” a ballot measure that would create a “fundamental right to reproductive freedom.” The archbishop is set to celebrate a special Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis at noon on Sunday, followed by a Holy Hour. He encouraged Catholics to pray and fast in the days leading up to the election, and the archdiocese is offering other prayer opportunities for the week.

In Nebraska, the only state with competing pro-life and pro-abortion ballot measures, Archbishop George Lucas of Omaha urged Catholics on Wednesday to vote for pro-life measures. He recently gave an Oct. 30 video statement urging Catholics to vote against Initiative 439 and in favor of 434. 

Lucas called Initiative 434 “an important step towards ensuring the health and safety of women and their babies.” He encouraged Catholic parishes to ensure that any woman facing an unexpected pregnancy “can be connected with the resources she requires” regardless of the outcome of the election. 

Louisiana sued over abortion pill controlled substance law

A group of health care providers is suing Louisiana over its recent law classifying abortion pills as “controlled dangerous substances” and requiring them to be stored in a secure area within hospitals. In the state court lawsuit on Thursday by Birthmark Doula Collective, a physician, a pharmacist, and two women argued that the classification creates delays during medical emergencies.

The two drugs used in the abortion pill regiment, mifepristone and misoprostol, are often used in non-abortion medical treatments, the lawsuit noted. For instance, misoprostol treats miscarriages and postpartum hemorrhage, while mifepristone is often used in miscarriage treatment and for Cushing’s syndrome, the lawsuit noted. Controlled substances are required to be stored in secure areas within the hospital, which, according to the lawsuit, delays access to the drug. Louisiana has among the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation, the lawsuit pointed out.

Three states recently sued the U.S. Food and Drug Administration after it rolled back its safety regulations. Louisiana state law protects unborn babies from abortion except in cases of threats to the life of the mother or fetal anomaly.

Catholic hospital in California agrees to provide abortions

A Catholic hospital in California agreed to provide emergency abortions in cases of health risk for the mother following a lawsuit against the hospital by California Attorney General Rob Bonta. The lawsuit alleged that Providence St. Joseph Hospital refused emergency care to a pregnant woman whose water broke prematurely at 15 weeks, a violation of several California state laws, according to Bonta.

While Providence St. Joseph has not admitted fault in the lawsuit, the hospital agreed to temporarily allow physicians to perform abortions in cases of serious threats to the health of the mother in accordance with California law. According to a statement by Bonta, California’s Emergency Services Law (ESL) requires California hospitals to provide emergency abortions when necessary for a patient’s health.

Catholic hospitals are “never permitted” to perform abortions, according to the U.S. bishop’s Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services. 

The U.S. bishops’ directive does permit non-abortive treatment that may endanger the unborn child indirectly in certain grave circumstances, such as treatments that are intended to cure a woman of an illness that may unintentionally harm the child. The directive also permits other treatments such as inducing labor after the fetus is viable “for a proportionate reason.” 

The bishop of the Diocese of Santa Rosa, Bishop Robert Vasa, referred CNA to the hospital for comment. Providence did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication.