Massachusetts bishops condemn governor’s move to enact unrestricted abortion law despite 113,000 petition signatures

Archbishop Richard Henning of Boston and the three other Catholic bishops of Massachusetts issued a strong condemnation Nov. 7 of Democratic Gov. Maura Healey's decision to use emergency executive authority to immediately implement one of the nation's most permissive abortion laws, preventing a successful pro-life signature campaign from suspending the legislation until voters can decide its fate in 2028.

In a joint statement, the bishops challenged both the governor's characterization of abortion as health care and her justification for declaring an emergency, after pro-life organizations submitted more than 113,000 signatures seeking to halt the law's implementation.

"We respectfully and passionately disagree that abortion, the taking of human life, may be considered health care," the bishops declared in their statement. "We also disagree that there is an emergency requiring the further expansion of the existing and already radically permissive law."

The statement was signed by Archbishop Henning, Bishop William Byrne of Springfield, Bishop Robert McManus of Worcester and Bishop Edgar da Cunha of Fall River.

On Nov. 6, Healey signed an emergency preamble putting into immediate effect the Prioritizing Patient Access to Care Act, legislation passed by the Democratic-controlled Massachusetts Legislature in July and signed into law in August.

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The measure eliminates previous statutory restrictions on abortions performed at or beyond 24 weeks of pregnancy, replacing them with a standard that leaves the decision to the professional judgment of a physician. Under the new law, abortions can be legally performed at any stage of pregnancy with a physician's approval.

The governor's intervention came as the Compassionate Care Coalition, led by Massachusetts Citizens for Life and Massachusetts Family Action, submitted 113,477 signatures certified by local election officials as part of its Repeal188 campaign.

Under Massachusetts law, opponents needed 49,719 valid signatures to temporarily suspend the legislation pending a statewide referendum, and 37,289 to place the repeal question before voters in November 2028.

The coalition's submitted signatures exceeded both thresholds by substantial margins, although final statewide certification remained pending.

However, Healey's emergency preamble prevented the suspension from taking effect, allowing the law to remain in force while the referendum process continues.

In defending her decision, Healey argued that existing restrictions had forced some women facing serious pregnancy complications to travel outside Massachusetts for abortions.

"The repeal campaign can continue its work, and Massachusetts voters will have their say," Healey wrote Nov. 6. "If they choose to repeal the law, we will respect their decision."

Pro-life leaders accused Healey of circumventing a constitutional mechanism that allows citizens to challenge legislation through a statewide vote.

Sam Miele, chairman of the Compassionate Care Coalition, questioned why expanding access to late-term abortions constituted an emergency requiring immediate executive intervention.

The bishops placed their statement about the controversy within the broader context of the Catholic Church's defense of human life, invoking remarks made by Pope Leo XIV during his visit to Uruguay.

In an address Nov. 7, the Pope had reminded political leaders that "the unborn already belong to the human family," emphasizing that the defense of unborn children must go hand in hand with support for mothers, fathers and families.

The Massachusetts bishops said the Pope's message applied directly to their state's situation.

They called upon legislators to "reconsider the troubling state of our culture and its utilitarian and merciless approach to the elderly, the sick, the vulnerable, and the unborn."

The bishops also recalled Pope Leo's affirmation that "the right to life is the indispensable foundation of every other human right."

Beyond their rejection of the governor's decision, the bishops expressed gratitude to the organizations, volunteers, and voters who participated in the signature campaign, particularly given the limited time available to gather the required signatures.

They urged Catholics to continue supporting mothers and fathers facing difficult pregnancies and to promote a culture in which both mother and child receive appropriate medical care and support from their families and communities.

The bishops concluded by reaffirming their commitment to defending human life at every stage and calling for prayers for the governor and state legislators.

"Our work continues as we heed the call of the Gospel to defend life at all stages," they stated.

Despite the governor's emergency intervention, the Repeal188 campaign can still seek to place the law before Massachusetts voters in November 2028, provided election authorities certify the necessary signatures.