Catholic leaders in California are asking Gov. Gavin Newsom to veto a bill that would require state universities to offer medication abortions.
“We urge him to veto this unprecedented and unnecessary legislation because it purposely narrows a young woman’s choices and puts the state’s prestigious academic institutions in a position of actually promoting, facilitating, and potentially funding only abortions,” Andrew Rivas said in a statement released Monday.
Rivas, who is the executive director of the California Catholic Conference, the church’s public policy arm in the state, said the legislation should offer pro-life counseling to truly give a choice to female students.
“This bill will promote only abortion-inducing drugs on college campuses,” said Rivas. “No government-funded institution, medical or counseling center, should ever provide only one set of services. If this bill is truly about providing choices for female students, the state should then also require and fund life-affirming services on campus.”
California legislators overwhelmingly supported the bill, which would require all public universities in California to provide medication abortions through the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. Funding would come from a College Student Health Center Sexual and Reproductive Health Preparation Fund that would be established by the legislation. Most health centers now offer gynecological and contraceptive services.
“SB 24 reaffirms the right of every college student to access abortion,” said state senator Connie Leyva. “By ensuring that abortion care is available on campus, college students will not have to choose between delaying important medical care or having to travel long distances or miss classes or work.”
Rivas asserted the Catholic view that life should be protected at every stage.
“The life and dignity of every person is due respect and protection at every stage and in every condition. The right to life is the first and most fundamental principle of human rights. As Catholics, we recognize the sacredness and primacy of human life and we oppose any legislation or attempt to deny the basic human right to life,” he said.
Los Angeles archbishop José H. Gómez opposed the legislation in July.
“If we are going to be the people God calls us to be, if we are going to restore and renew the Church and rebuild society, then we need a new dedication to living our Catholic identity and communicating that identity in everything we do, from our schools and religious education programs to the way we live our faith in society,” said Gomez.
