A recent TV ad from the side favoring the enshrining of abortion as a constitutional right in Ohio briefly shows an image of a person kneeling with the Divine Mercy image in the background. 

The ad states, “When we face personal medical decisions, we depend on our doctors, our faith, our family, and the last thing we want is the government making those decisions for us.” As a statement, most of us would probably agree with it. So, where’s the problem?

Much time, money and energy have been spent during the past 50 years trying to convince us that abortion is primarily a medical decision. But the decision whether to abort a developing child is first and foremost a moral decision that involves taking the life of another, even if it is sometimes made in a situation involving doctors, nurses and a surgical facility.

The ad, as deeply flawed as it is, was correct in pointing out the importance of faith when approaching questions of life and death especially in the context of pregnancy. Reason and revelation remind us that every human life (yours, mine, unborn children, political opponents) begins in the mind of God, enveloped by His love and destined as gift to the world.  

As stated in Jeremiah, “Before you were formed in the womb, I knew you.” God Himself is the author of life and has lovingly given us a role in that creation. Every life is so precious to God that He sent His only begotten Son to justify and save us by His death. And God would have done that for every person, even if he or she was the only person God created.  

Through the prophets, we were given a charge to defend the weak and the vulnerable. And both a pregnant mother beset by uncertainties about her capacity to parent as well as her developing child are vulnerable.  

The Catholic Church is a reliable partner in helping that mother through her pregnancy, meeting her material and spiritual needs and walking with that mother and her child after birth. The Church is also a source of hope and healing for women and men who made the unfortunate decision to abort their child.  

Faith gives us the wisdom and courage to act when it intersects with a proposal to change our laws or constitution.

Because of the language used in Issue 1 and also because it seeks to be inserted in the Ohio Constitution, this proposed amendment is a serious threat to human life, to freedom of conscience, to parental rights, to current health and safety regulations and to the common good.   

If passed and inserted in Ohio’s Constitution, no existing legislation could contradict it, no future legislation could repeal it and no court could ignore it. Only another Ohio Constitutional amendment could overturn it.

To better understand what Issue 1 would do, go to https://www.ohiocathconf.org/protect-ohio where you will find resources that explain the ballot language and answer frequently asked questions.  

To learn more about the Church’s response to the needs of pregnant women and their children, and to find resources for healing after abortion, talk with your pastor about your parish’s Walking With Moms in Need program or contact diocesan coordinator Erin Cordle at [email protected].  

There are three actions that you can take to defeat this dangerous proposed constitutional amendment: pray, fast and vote! To participate in the 54-day rosary novena (it’s not too late to begin) go to www.pray54ohio.org where you can sign up to receive daily reminders.  

Consider fasting from a meal or an entertainment daily as an offering to defeat Issue 1. 

If you are not registered to vote, you can do so online at https://olvr.ohiosos.gov through Tuesday, Oct.10. And don’t forget to vote. You can do so in person, early, at your county board of elections early voting site from Wednesday, Oct. 11 through 5 p.m. Nov. 6 , or at the polls on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 7.