Arlington diocese urges Catholics to vote ‘no’ on pro-abortion, same-sex ‘marriage’ amendments
Bishop Michael Burbidge urged Catholics to reject two proposed state constitutional amendments, arguing that they threaten unborn human life, parental rights, and the Church’s understanding of marriage between a man and a woman.
The Catholic Diocese of Arlington is calling on voters to reject two proposed constitutional amendments this November that it says threaten core principles concerning the sanctity of human life and marriage between one man and one woman.
In an Aug. 18 X post, the diocese directed Catholics to catholicsvoteno.com and urged them to “learn what’s at stake, pledge to vote, and spread the word.”
Ballot Question 1, the “Virginia Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment,” would amend the state constitution to “protect the freedom to make personal decisions” about abortion and contraception and to “protect doctors, nurses, and patients from being punished for these decisions.”
On its “Catholics Vote No” campaign website, the diocese called the ballot wording “blatantly misleading.” It argued that the amendment would weaken existing health and safety regulations, allow unlicensed providers to perform abortions throughout all nine months of pregnancy, and reduce parental involvement in minors’ medical decisions.
“In truth, the amendment expands abortion up to the moment of birth, endangers women’s health and safety, and pushes parents out of life-changing and irreversible decisions for their minor daughters and creates strife in families,” the diocese said.
The diocese noted that Virginia law already allows late-term abortion in some circumstances and said a “no” vote would leave current statutes unchanged while preserving existing safety and licensing regulations. Bishop Michael Burbidge of Arlington said in a video statement that even some people who support abortion oppose the amendment because of its sweeping scope.
Question 2, the “Virginia Remove Constitutional Same-Sex Marriage Ban Amendment,” would remove the provision defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman from the state constitution and prohibit the state from denying a marriage license to two adults “on the basis of the sex, gender, or race of such persons.”
The diocese argued that Virginia lawmakers want to enshrine into the state’s constitution the “false legal definition of marriage” that was “unjustly” established by the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 Obergefell decision “as a way to perpetuate these injustices” if Obergefell is eventually overturned.
The diocese also argued that the high court’s decision has contributed to a growing commercial surrogacy industry in which couples can now effectively “purchase human beings, violate the natural rights of children, and exploit vulnerable mothers.”
“The ballot language also falsely separates the reality of one’s sex and gender as distinct categories. Our human nature is grounded in the truth that we are either male or female, not in changing concepts of identity,” the website states. “Voting ‘no’ on this amendment is a vote recognizing the truth of marriage as a natural institution between one man and one woman.”
Although the Church does not identify with a political party, the diocese said it must speak clearly about matters of faith and morals in public life.
In a video statement shared on the website, Bishop Burbidge urged Catholics to ensure that they are registered to vote and to cast “no” votes on the two proposed amendments.
“Our baptismal call to support the common good includes our sacred duty to vote with a prayerfully and factually informed conscience,” Bishop Burbidge said. “Together, with God’s grace, we can protect life, liberty, and the future of our Virginia home.”
Early voting in Virginia begins Sept. 18, ahead of Election Day on Nov. 3.
