Bishop Gruss: We are at a critical moment in the history of the State of Michigan

This is what will happen. Voters will be asked if the state constitution should be amended to create a right to abortion throughout pregnancy with no regulations, no opportunity for the legislature to change the law, and no limitations on who can obtain an abortion from any person, at any time, without consequences. It would also affect parental rights regarding an abortion involving their children.

This is the most extreme abortion proposal in the country, similar to what is allowed in China and North Korea. Catholic engagement is necessary to defeat this proposal and its grave consequences.  To change the Michigan Constitution is very serious in and of itself. We should reject this proposal on that basis alone.

The devil is in the details

Not to mention, the language on the ballot itself says it will “invalidate state laws conflicting with this amendment.”  Neither the amendment nor the summary text, however, details what state laws will be invalidated. The devil is in the details.

Over the next five weeks, I have asked the pastors to join me with all hands on deck in getting the word out regarding what exactly is in this ballot proposal and why this is horrific for the State of Michigan. Every diocese throughout the State of Michigan will be engaging our Catholics as to why we should vote No to this proposal.

By virtue of our baptism, we are called to speak in a united voice in charity, truth, and justice. This is not a political issue. It is a moral issue and, more importantly, a human rights issue. We believe that abortion is wrong, not because we are Catholic. We think abortion is unjust because it is the killing of an innocent human being. This doesn’t come from the Catechism; it comes from science and medicine.

Because abortion is the most important issue for the pro-abortion lobby, they have already spent an estimated $10 million collecting the needed signatures to get this on the ballot. I don’t know if you were asked to sign the petition to get this on the ballot, but the language the canvassers used was very deceptive.

And significantly more money will be spent during the campaign with pro-abortion elected officials and advocacy groups across the country ready to barrage Michigan voters with their propaganda in the weeks to come. We are already seeing the ads on television.

The pro-abortion lobby will do everything it can between now and November 8 to hide the extreme elements of this proposal. This is also why it is important for all of us to get the word out – telling our family, our friends and our neighbors – the truth about this ballot initiative. At present time, most Michiganders don’t know about the Reproductive Freedom for All initiative – Proposal 3, but when they do know about it, how could anyone in good conscience vote for it?

Briefly what does it allow? The devil is in the details.

• Legalize abortion at any time in pregnancy for any reason – all the way to up to birth. This is unreasonable no matter what side of the abortion issue you are on.
   
• Allow abortions to be performed by anyone, even those without a medical license.
   
• Allow any person to help teens obtain abortions or undergo sterilizing transgender procedures without their parents knowing – no parental consent and notification. Parental rights are being taken away.
   
• This amendment changes the definition of fetal viability to no longer mean when the baby can survive outside the womb, instead defining viability as when a baby can survive outside of the womb without “extraordinary medical measures.” This means that a prematurely born infant who needs intensive medical treatment could be considered not viable in the eyes of the mother and the “healthcare professional,” who does not have to be a licensed physician under the amendment language.
   
• Protect abortion providers from penalties for killing or injuring a woman during an abortion.
   
• Revoke state law that requires abortion facilities to be licensed and inspected.
   
• Require taxpayers to pay for abortions
   
• Laws to protect conscience rights of persons who refuse to participate in abortion such as doctors and nurses will be taken away.

These are just some of the things that, if this proposal goes through, would be enshrined into the Michigan Constitution. If this proposal were to pass, Michigan would immediately become one of the most permissive, anything goes abortion jurisdictions in the country. Other states are watching!

'Fight Like Heaven'

What can we do? Let’s ban together across the seven dioceses of Michigan and “Fight Like Heaven” to defeat this radically, extreme abortion proposal. This moment is an invitation and opportunity for all of us to bring this proposal into the spiritual realm of our lives through prayer and fasting.

It’s not too late to pray the "Fight Like Heaven 54-Day Rosary Novena." Secondly, engage your circle of influence regarding this Proposal. Thirdly, register to vote and then vote NO.

For more information about this novena and our Vote NO to Proposal 3 campaign, go to our diocesan website – www.saginaw.org or the Michigan Catholic Conference website – www.micatholic.org

MCC has co-partnered with Right to Life of Michigan to defeat the proposal. The group is called Citizens to Support MI Women and Children. Their website is www.supportmiwomenandchildren.org.

To live our faith is to put our money and time where we can protect the most defenseless among God’s most vulnerable of creation, the unborn. Our willingness to love, give and sacrifice reflect the way in which we embrace our call to hold life sacred from the moment of conception until the natural end.  Let us all follow the example of Jesus and care for the most vulnerable among us, both mothers and babies, born and unborn.