CNA staff, August 14, 2024 / 6:01 p.m.

Pro-life leaders in Missouri are urging voters to reject a proposed “reproductive freedom” constitutional amendment that would enshrine a so-called “right to abortion at any point in pregnancy” – a change in the law that would mark a significant shift after years of pro-life successes in the Midwestern state.

Amendment 3, which was signed by thousands of people on Tuesday and is eligible to appear on the November ballot, would, according to the Secretary of State’s office, “prohibit all abortion regulations, including regulations designed to protect women during an abortion. It would also prohibit civil and criminal penalties against anyone who performs an abortion and injures or kills the pregnant woman.”

Missouri law currently protects unborn babies throughout pregnancy, with the only exception being in cases of a “medical emergency.” Missouri is now one of eight states with at least one abortion bill on the ballot. Election Day is November 5.

The Missouri Catholic Conference, which is advocating for the measure on behalf of the state’s Catholic bishops, called the measure “an extreme constitutional amendment that legalizes abortion at any stage of pregnancy without protecting the unborn child, even if it is still capable of feeling pain.”

“The Missouri Catholic Conference will work to educate the public about this misleadingly worded amendment. We urge all Missourians of goodwill to stand up for the health and safety of women and their unborn children and oppose Amendment 3,” the MCC said in a statement provided to CNA.

Susan Klein, executive director of Missouri Right to Life (MRL), told CNA on Wednesday that the group has been “preparing for two years” to fight the proposed amendment should it appear on the ballot. She said MRL has formed a coalition of pro-life groups and religious faith groups across the state to educate voters about the amendment.

Klein said Missouri voters should be aware that the amendment would override several of Missouri’s current strong pro-life protections, including laws against late-term abortions, parental notification and the ability of women to sue abortion doctors for malpractice.

While the amendment mentions that laws could be passed to restrict abortions beyond the point of “fetal viability,” it also prohibits any intervention in an abortion that a doctor deems necessary to “protect the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant person.”

“If this amendment passes, we will no longer be able to regulate abortion. We will no longer be able to regulate safety in any way – not that abortion is safe at all – but we will also not be able to set safety limits for a woman who has an abortion,” Klein said.

“This is an extreme measure that I think people should think about and vote no on. If they want to talk about other cases or exceptions, this is not the amendment for that. This amendment is about abortion, no limits, all nine months of pregnancy.”

In addition, abortion advocates argue that Missouri’s pro-life laws prevent care for women with ectopic pregnancies and miscarriages. Klein reiterated that Missouri law provides exceptions for the life of the mother and ensures that women with ectopic pregnancies and miscarriages receive the care they need. (As CNA has previously reported, treatments for ectopic pregnancies and miscarriages are not abortions.)

Missouri Right to Life is running a campaign called “Vote No on Amendment 3” and is urging all voters to reject the amendment, Klein said. The campaign includes educational outreach, community outreach and voter mobilization activities such as home visits, phone canvassing and presence at polling places. MRL is also providing election posters and informational materials for distribution.

Klein encouraged anyone interested in getting involved in MRL’s efforts to contact their Jefferson City office.

“Once something is put in the Constitution, it’s hard to take it away. It’s not impossible, but it’s difficult. When it comes to putting in our state constitution the right to kill babies without limits, I hope (voters) stop and think about it,” she said.

Deacon Sam Lee, a deacon of the Archdiocese of St. Louis and a longtime pro-life lobbyist in Jefferson City, told CNA he has been involved in a “vigorous signature suppression campaign” organized by various religious and pro-life groups, including the Missouri Catholic Conference and other religious denominations in the state, to oppose the amendment. He said he has heard from Catholic parishes that are involved in voter registration efforts and are in the process of informing voters about the amendment.

(The story continues below)

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Lee said similar abortion reform efforts in other states, most recently in Ohio, have made clear that the broad concept of “reproductive freedom” can encompass far more than just abortion. In other states, for example, advocates have warned that “reproductive freedom” reforms could enshrine a “right” for minors to undergo permanent sex reassignment surgery.

“The scope of this amendment is unprecedented. That’s one of the things we want to explain to voters,” Lee said of the Missouri proposal.

“It’s not just about abortion. It’s about a whole range of things that fall under the scope of reproductive health care. But it’s not even defined (in the amendment) in a way that lets you know what ‘reproductive health care’ includes.”

Lee said his advocacy work for the pro-life movement is not limited to opposing abortion, but also includes promoting child care and other services that support women before and after birth. He mentioned that a group he works with, Missouri Stands with Women, actively advocates for alternatives to abortion and ensures that women have access to the resources they need to lead successful lives.

He suggested that some Catholics are confused about or disagree with the church’s stance on abortion, perhaps believing Missouri’s current pro-life laws are too strict without realizing that the sweeping abortion amendment represents what he called a “wrong decision.”

Against this background, Lee stressed that it is important for lay people to spread pro-life messages in their circles and in the wider community, rather than relying solely on bishops.

“The church cannot shy away from teaching the truth or moral teachings. This applies to many areas,” Lee said.

“(The Church) relies on the lay faithful to spread the message to their family members, colleagues and neighbors, whether those people are Catholic or not.”