VIRGINIA BISHOP URGES CATHOLICS TO OPPOSE AMENDMENTS ON MARRIAGE AND ABORTION | SG News
Catholic Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Arlington has taken an unusually direct step ahead of Virginia’s November election, urging Catholics across his diocese to oppose two proposed constitutional amendments involving abortion and marriage. In a letter communicated across the Diocese of Arlington’s 70 parishes, which serve more than 430,000 Catholics in Northern Virginia, Bishop Burbidge described the proposals as “two dangerous ballot initiatives.” The first, Ballot Question 1, is the Virginia Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment. The proposed constitutional amendment would establish a fundamental right to make decisions concerning pregnancy, including abortion, contraception, miscarriage management and fertility care. It would allow Virginia to regulate abortion during the third trimester, but would prohibit the state from banning an abortion when, in a physician’s professional judgment, it is medically indicated to protect the patient’s life or physical or mental health, or when the pregnancy is not viable. Bishop Burbidge strongly opposes the proposal. He argues that its wording could dramatically expand abortion access, weaken protections for unborn children and undermine the rights of parents in medical decisions involving minors. The second proposal would remove Virginia’s existing constitutional prohibition on same-sex marriage. It would affirm that two adults may marry regardless of sex, gender or race and require lawful marriages to receive equal treatment under state law. Bishop Burbidge argues that the amendment contradicts the Catholic understanding of marriage as the lifelong union of one man and one woman and could create wider concerns involving religious liberty and gender ideology. In his message, the bishop said the Church has a responsibility to speak clearly on questions of faith and morals in public life. “Our baptismal promises call us to fulfill our sacred duty to participate in public life,” he said. The Diocese of Arlington has launched its Catholics Vote No campaign, encouraging Catholics to study the proposals, form their consciences and oppose Ballot Questions 1 and 2. The bishop also led a Holy Hour at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More on September 15, praying for the Commonwealth and for guidance during the election season. Virginia voters will decide the constitutional amendments on November 3. For Bishop Burbidge, the debate is ultimately about two foundational Catholic convictions: the protection of human life and the nature of marriage and the family. Stay Updated with @SGNEWS-SG – Faith, Society & Global Christian Perspective