Nearly 100,000 signatures collected to challenge Massachusetts late-term abortion law

A pro-life coalition backed by Massachusetts’ four Catholic bishops has collected nearly 100,000 signatures to challenge a law signed in August that expands late-term abortion in the state, advancing an effort to suspend the measure and put its future before voters in 2028. 

The Compassionate Care Coalition announced Oct. 29 at the Massachusetts State House that its referendum campaign had gathered 97,276 signatures, nearly double the 49,716 required to suspend the law while voters consider its repeal. 

The secretary of the commonwealth’s office must certify enough valid signatures before the law’s suspension takes effect. According to Boston public radio station WBUR, a spokesperson for the office said the review typically takes one to two weeks and begins after all petitions have been filed. The filing deadline is Nov. 6. 

Massachusetts Democratic Gov. Maura Healey signed the pro-abortion law Aug. 10. The measure eliminates the state’s previous framework limiting most abortions after 24 weeks and instead allows abortions at any point in pregnancy “based upon the professional judgment of the physician.” It is scheduled to take effect Nov. 8 unless the referendum effort suspends it. 

Many Catholic voices, including CatholicVote President and CEO Kelsey Reinhardt, have spoken out against the law.

>> Springfield bishop condemns Massachusetts pro-abortion law as ‘morally evil’ overreach <<

Archbishop Richard Henning of Boston and Bishops Robert McManus of Worcester, Edgar da Cunha of Fall River, and William Byrne of Springfield supported the effort. In a Sept. 24 joint message, the bishops encouraged Catholics to participate in the effort to pause and potentially overturn the law.

According to an Oct. 29 report from the Diocese of Springfield, Catholic parishes helped gather signatures, including through petition drives after Mass in the Springfield diocese throughout October.

Bishop Byrne welcomed the coalition’s announcement, saying he was “very excited and not surprised that we succeeded beyond people’s expectations.”

“We collected so many signatures all across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, but the people of western Massachusetts and the Diocese of Springfield really came out to support life,” he said in the diocese’s report. “I am so grateful to God for this invitation that people responded to, to protect life, especially the unborn.”

Father Daniel Pacholec, director of the diocese’s Respect Life Office and pastor of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish in Westfield, led the western Massachusetts effort. His parish served as a central location for parishes to pick up and drop off petitions.

“Though we sometimes feel that our voice for the unborn falls on deaf ears, we are reminded by today’s presentation of almost double the number of signatures needed to repeal the recent abortion law in Massachusetts that we do have a strong pro-life representation here in the Commonwealth,” Father Pacholec said, according to the diocese. 

The coalition challenging the law includes Massachusetts Citizens for Life, Massachusetts Family Action, Massachusetts Family Institute, Democrats for Life of America, and Cape Cod Pro-Life Alliance.

Massachusetts Citizens for Life is also urging Healey not to add an emergency preamble, which could prevent or reverse the law’s suspension while the referendum proceeds. Healey’s office told WBUR Oct. 29 that she “continues to monitor the referendum process and evaluate options.”