As petitioners approach Missouri voters, we want our supporters to be fully informed. We believe there are numerous startling implications hidden in the proposed Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment. Missouri Right to Life has published a number of resources that identify the deceptive language that supporters of this initiative are using to procure more votes in favor of this amendment. We share their concerns and want to expound upon some of them here. Below you'll find a graphic of the text that will potentially appear on November's ballot with some additional information that we think voters need to know. Abortion through all nine months of pregnancyBy emphasizing potential restrictions or bans after Fetal Viability, abortion advocates are insinuating that late-term abortions will not occur under Missouri law. In reality, this proposed amendment will enshrine a right to abortion through all nine months of pregnancy. Upon approval, this amendment states the government has no power to restrict an abortion that a health care professional decides is “needed to protect the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant person.” The ability for a medical professional to overrule Fetal Viability restrictions based on the physical or mental health of the mother means that the right to abortion is protected from conception until live birth. The implications of this should be deeply alarming to both prolife and prochoice voters. When Ohio Issue 1 was approved in November, a number of abortion advocates spoke out with their concerns. An editorial published in the Toledo Blade stated, “The Blade has always supported women’s right to an abortion. This amendment to the state constitution goes too far and should be defeated.” (Read more HERE.) Removing Missouri's 52+ Prolife LawsRemoving Missouri’s ban on abortion means that Missouri’s 52+ prolife laws will be eliminated. Among others, these laws include requirements for parental consent, health and safety standards for abortion clinics, and a requirement for the abortion clinic to show a mother her baby’s ultrasound. Missouri law currently requires health and safety standards for abortion clinics. With these laws removed, the “safe abortions” that abortion advocates describe will no longer be safe and women will lose the ability to sue for malpractice. A woman will have the right to seek out an abortion from any individual, whether medically licensed or not. If there are complications, this amendment protects any person assisting a woman in seeking out an abortion from penalty, prosecution, or adverse action, meaning there will be no right to sue an abortionist for malpractice. With parental consent eliminated, performing abortions on pregnant minors without notice to or consent from the minor’s parents will be protected. This contradicts the protections we have for children right now, involving mandatory reporting of sexual activity. Responding with truth & convictionAt the heart of the work that we do at My Life Clinic is our deep conviction that the life of every preborn baby and the life of every woman have inherent value. Abortion ends the life of a child and forever alters the life of the mother. Our organization rejoiced when Roe v Wade was overturned and as a result, we started to see more abortion-minded clients. These women and families encountered a safe space and the majority of them chose life after visiting My Life Clinic. As abortion advocates continue to fight for these “rights” to undermine the protection of preborn babies and their mothers, we’ll continue to respond with truth and conviction. We believe that when the broader implications of this amendment are identified, both prolife and prochoice voters will be opposed to the Missouri Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment. Some action steps:
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At My Life Clinic, we seek to inform, empower, and equip our clients to make life-affirming decisions. We don't tell them what to do. In this space, we want to do the same for you.
On January 18, 2024, abortion-advocates began petitioning throughout Missouri to place the Missouri Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative on the November 4 ballot. There’s a good chance you’ve already been approached by one or more petitioners. Most of our staff and board members have been asked to sign in the past few weeks. Outside the Daniel Boone Regional Library last weekend, a petitioner asked library patrons, "Will you sign this petition to lift Missouri's ban on abortion?" As our team discussed the petition and proposed amendment, we felt a unified responsibility to be one of the voices in the conversation our community will be having over the next eight months. As pro-life and pro-woman advocates, we're deeply concerned by the potential implications of this amendment. Over the next few months, we'll be responding to the current petition and proposed amendment. We’ll be sharing in our newsletter, social media, and blog, and we encourage you to share your thoughts with us as well. Our team will also connect you with helpful articles and resources as they become available, and to start, we encourage you to read the full text of the amendment. As we discuss this petition and potential upcoming November vote, we'll do our best to inform, empower, and equip you as we all navigate the months ahead. |
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October 2024
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