
Virginia ERA proponents
using new tactics
February 19, 2019
Proponents of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) are now using procedural efforts
to circumvent the House Privileges and Elections subcommittee that voted not to
pass the ERA after a full and fair hearing. Please encourage your
member to oppose the ERA and any procedural efforts to revive it.
There is no denying the ERA poses a threat to the unborn. Last month,
Planned Parenthood and other groups filed a lawsuit
arguing that the Pennsylvania Constitution’s ERA language, which is consistent
with the federal ERA, must be construed to require taxpayer funding of abortion
through Medicaid. The suit also requests that the court “declare that
abortion is a fundamental right under the Pennsylvania
Constitution.” Additionally, in New Mexico, the ERA arguments of NARAL and
Planned Parenthood already succeeded. The New Mexico Supreme Court unanimously
ruled, on the basis of its state ERA, that denial of taxpayer funding for
abortions is “sex discrimination” thereby requiring taxpayer funded abortions.
In order to avoid these types of efforts on the federal level, opposition to
the ERA is critical.
Your help is needed to strongly urge your member to
stop the efforts to enshrine “abortion rights” in the U.S. Constitution and to
educate others on the reality of the ERA.
Please spread the word and get involved. Your witness
is vital to educating your neighbors and legislators about the dangers behind
the ERA!
If you would like to come to Richmond to oppose the ERA efforts please contact office@vacatholic.org. The vote is
expected to happen this week.
Thank you for standing with us.
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In prayer and in public, your voices are urgently needed to bring Gospel values
to bear on vital decisions being made by those who represent you.
~~~
The
Virginia Catholic Conference is the public policy agency representing
Virginia’s Catholic bishops and their two dioceses.
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