Catholic Leader Pavone Urges Pro-Life Votes on Abortion, Assisted Suicide
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
November 3, 2008
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — Largely overshadowed by the enormity of the presidential race, several states have key pro-life issues at play with statewide ballot proposals. They range from abortion measures in California, Colorado and South Dakota to assisted suicide in Washington and embryonic research in Michigan.
Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life urges pro-life advocates to pay attention to those votes and to vote pro-life in each of the five states where the issues are in play.
"There are a number of crucial state initiatives that impact the pro-life cause in the 2008 elections," Pavone told LifeNews.com. "Voters nationwide should talk to those they know in these states, educate them about these initiatives, and urge them to vote appropriately."
Pavone says California could lead the way in helping reduce the number of abortions in the nation with its Proposition 4 measure requiring parental notification before an abortion on a minor girl.
"When you consider that about a quarter of all the nation’s abortions are performed in California, and that studies have shown that parental involvement laws reduce the numbers of abortions, the passage of this measure can do a lot to reduce the abortion numbers in America," Pavone explains.
"Voters in California should vigorously support Proposition 4," he said.
South Dakota voters will try a second time to ban most abortions in their state. The first attempt only included a life of the mother exception and it lost on the 2006 ballot.
Reacting to polls showing more voters would back a ban if rape and incest exceptions were included, pro-life advocates added those and Initiated Measure 11 is the result.
"Attorneys behind this measure believe it can be used to challenge Roe vs. Wade itself. Voters in South Dakota should vigorously support Initiated Measure 11," Pavone tells LifeNews.com.
Pavone also urges a vote in favor of Amendment 48 in Colorado, where voters have a chance to put the state’s constitution in line with science by declaring unborn children as unique human beings from the moment of conception.
Father Pavone, the founder and director of the pro-life Catholic group, says he’s particularly worried about I-1000, the state initiative to make Washington the second to legalize assisted suicide.
He said the measure "would legalize assisted suicide by allowing doctors to order lethal drug overdoses for terminally ill patients."
"Family members do not have to be informed regarding their loved ones. Voters should reject this initiative," he said.
Michigan voters will also consider a vote on Proposition 2, that would promote embryonic research that involves the destruction of days-old human beings in the embryonic state.
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