LA JUNTA, Colo. (AP) – Colorado voters will soon decide if life begins at conception. And lots of people hoping to defeat the measure are those you’d think would support it.
The amendment would change the state constitution to say the word “person” is applied to everyone “from the moment of fertilization.” Passage wouldn’t immediately outlaw abortion in Colorado, but would likely spawn several costly legal battles.
Pretty doubtful prognosis as long as Roe V. Wade is the unjust law of the land. If only.
Doctors worry they could face murder charges for helping a couple conceive a child using in-vitro methods that often require disposal of fertilized eggs.
You mean they would actually be held accountable for the murders they commit towards the innocents?
Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, who opposes abortion except in cases of rape, incest or medical emergency, predicts a legal nightmare, with the state piling up legal bills having to defend the amendment.
Yeah a legal nightmare is much worse than a real nightmare of killing the unborn
The executive director of the Colorado Catholic Conference says Catholics fear that the amendment’s passage would ultimately lead to judicial reaffirmation of abortion rights.
No doubt passage of such a law is a prudential matter as to any negative effects that could result. But as long as the judiciary is ruling the country on this matter instead of the legislature, it is a valid concern.
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I want to amend my earlier comment to note that some of our CO judges view life in that way. Didn’t mean to imply that the majority do.
Wait… how would the judiciary strike this down?
It’s an amendment to the state constitution…
They can’t, but they can state that these “persons” do not qualify for protection in the cases of abortion etc. How? I’m not sure, I’m still trying to figure out Roe v Wade.
I find it interesting that in this one article they can work through all of the logic of the meaning of “life begins at conception” but yet there are tons of pro-lifers who can’t find it all that easy to follow the dots to its logical conclusion. I cannot tell you how many people I know who are appalled by abortion but find IVF and other methods perfectly acceptable.
Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, who opposes abortion except in cases of rape, incest or medical emergency, predicts a legal nightmare, with the state piling up legal bills having to defend the amendment.
And then just think of the cost of enforcing the law! Can we really expect the government to fund the enforcement of its own laws? If we do that, what will be left for income redistribution?
The bishops of Colorado do not support this personhood amendment. They say that it will be a detriment to the pro-life cause in the long run.
BUT if the so called ‘Freedom of Choice Act’ is sign, everything else is moot anyway. All state laws would be struck down that protect life. No more conscience clauses and so on.
Yup, enactment of FOCA would a disaster.
Was just reviewing the CO Bishop’s statement on the Colorado Personhood Amendment. It’s clear that they support the intention, but know that a passed amendment would be appealed. Lower federal courts will “apply the permissive 1973 Roe v. Wade abortion decision by the U.S. Supreme Court”. The US Supreme Court would likely either decline to review the case or uphold Roe v. Wade.
That AP article’s mention of Gov. Ritter is misleading. Ritter says he’s pro-life, but he’s doing his best to fund Planned Parenthood through the state budgets.
Why would someone propose this amendment for CO? Perhaps because of how our CO judges view life. This story demonstrates the problem:
Emergency C-section at 8½ months delivers ‘non-person’
Jester, your posting title is surely right on.
Yet in the Ivory Tower theological-philosophical Auschwitz Debate Club?
Why human lives are still slaughtered in… an “amiable, knowledgeable ambiance of much heralded civility”?
Focus: if the morally bankrupt “personally opposed, but…” formal-direct abortion lawmakers are called by Abp. Cheput:
Biden: “A distinguished career in public service”.
Pelosi: “A fine public servant”…
Well, there is little to be expected from the lay.
Yes, nobody even demands those clueless TV pundits, to show Obama-Biden-Pelosi “Popes” in life doctrine, any paper advertising, just THESE three words, for use of laboratory generated embryos:
WOMBS FOR RENT
I understand the bishops’ concerns, and wish to follow my shepherd…but are we only called to be witnesses for life in cases where we’ll be sucessful? Did the martyrs consider whether their actions might set a bad precident that would make it easier for worldly rulers to kill other christians? Or are we called to stand up for the right principles regardless of the cost?
Good call, Michael. I knew there was a reason I hated politics…