In Brief

Over Catholic protests, Minnesota lawmakers pass right to abortion law, send to governor

ST. PAUL, Minn. — In a party line vote, Democrats in the Minnesota Senate passed a bill 34-33 in the early morning hours of Jan. 28 to place a right to abortion for any reason and without a limit on viability into state law. The House approved the measure Jan. 19 and Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, was expected to sign the bill into law. Pro-life and pro-abortion advocates gathered in large numbers outside the Senate chambers at the State Capitol in St. Paul shortly before the debate began about noon Jan. 27. In that debate, which stretched over 15 hours, Democrats rejected multiple Republican amendments to the Protect Reproductive Options, or PRO Act, before the final vote on Jan. 28.

Washington state bishops condemn ‘extreme’ abortion constitution proposal

SEATTLE — A proposed amendment to Washington’s constitution that would allow the “right” for an abortion to be performed “at any point” up to the birth of a baby is an “extreme proposal” that lawmakers must reject, said the state’s five Catholic bishops. The Senate-House

Joint Resolution ignores the right to life of an unborn baby, they said in a Jan. 24 statement. The proposal goes far beyond what current state law allows on abortion: It is legal only until the point of viability of the unborn child.

“As Catholics we must take this opportunity to speak up for the unborn and in support of life,” the bishops said, encouraging Catholics to contact the governor and state legislators.

“We must state what we believe is the heart of God on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves.”

With national March for Life behind them, pro-life advocates plan for state marches, rallies

WASHINGTON, D.C. — With the national March for Life in the nation’s capital marking the Roe v. Wade anniversary behind them, pro-life advocates are gearing up for March for Life events in a number of states in the months ahead. With its Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling June 24, the U.S. Supreme Court returned the issue of abortion to the states in overturning its 1973 Roe ruling that legalized abortion nationwide. Roe “was an act of judicial activism – stealing the rights of the states to democratically decide the issue of abortion,” the March for Life organization in Washington said in a statement. “With the end of Roe, comes a return of power to the states.

By marching in our states, we show our local leaders that we the people want protective, life-affirming laws for both the unborn and their mothers.” To date, marches have been planned in these state capitals: Richmond, Virginia, Feb. 1; Phoenix, Feb. 23; Sacramento, California, March 6; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Oct. 16; and Lansing, Michigan, Nov. 8.