Issues by State

Arizona:

Proposition 102: Protecting Marriage (PASSED)

Proposition 102 will appear on Arizona’s Nov. 4 ballot and, if passed, would add an amendment to the state constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman.

The Arizona Catholic Conference supports  this referendum.

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California:

Proposition 8: Protecting Marriage (PASSED)

Proposition 8 will appear on California’s Nov. 4 ballot and, if passed, would add an amendment to the state constitution stating that only marriage between a man and a woman would be valid or recognized in California. The proposition is being closely watched across the country, particularly after the California Supreme Court overturned an existing statute this May that had defined marriage in the exact same terms as Proposition 8.

The California Catholic Conference has endorsed  Proposition 8 and encourages Catholics to provide support for the ballot initiative. The conference is also sponsoringwww.protectmarriage.com.

Proposition 4: Providing Parental Notification of Minor’s Abortion (FAILED)

Proposition 4, or “Sarah’s Law,” will appear on California’s Nov. 4 ballot. If passed, a new amendment would be added to the state constitution prohibiting abortion for unemancipated minors until 48 hours after the physician notifies the minor’s parent or legal guardian. If, however, parental abuse has been reported, an alternative adult family member can be notified.

The California Catholic Conference said last April that it would support  the proposition if it made it to the state ballot in November.

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 Colorado:

Colorado Equal Rights Amendment (FAILED)

This proposed amendment to the Colorado constitution will appear on the state’s Nov. 4 ballot. If passed, the amendment will state that “the terms ‘person’ or ‘persons’ shall include any human being from the moment of fertilization.”

The Colorado Catholic Conference has affirmed respect for the initiative’s supporters but declines support  for the measure, saying it does not find the proposed amendment to be the best means of defeating abortion.

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Connecticut:

Question 1: Calling for a Constitutional Convention (FAILED)

After the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled in favor of legalized same-sex marriages, the Connecticut bishops called for the passage of Question 1 on the state ballot. This would have convened a state convention and given proponents a chance to amend the constitution with a definition of marriage as between one man and one woman.

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Florida:

Proposition 2: Protecting Marriage (PASSED)

Proposition 2 is a proposed constitutional amendment on Florida’s Nov. 4 ballot. The ballot title reads, “In as much as a marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife, no other legal union … shall be valid or recognized.”

The Florida Catholic Conference supports  this proposition.

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Michigan:

Michigan Stem-Cell Initiative: Allowing for Embryonic Stem-Cell Research (PASSED)

If passed, this proposed amendment to the Michigan constitution would allow for “any research permitted under federal law on human embryos,” including research from stem-cells taken from embryos that would have been discarded from fertility treatment centers. The state is currently reviewing signatures gathered in support of this ballot initiative; if enough signatures are valid, it will appear on Michigan’s Nov. 4 ballot.

The Michigan Catholic Conference is opposed  to this initiative.

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South Dakota:

Abortion Ban Initiative (FAILED)

This initiative will appear on South Dakota’s Nov. 4 ballot and, if passed, would add an amendment to the South Dakota constitution banning all abortions in the state with the exception of cases of rape, incest or protecting the mother’s health.

In January, Bishop Paul Swain of the Diocese of Sioux-Falls said Catholics could vote for the measure, even though it allowed for exceptions to the abortion ban.

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Washington:

Initiative 1000: Allowing Patients to Request Physician-Assisted Suicide (PASSED)

I-1000 will be on Washington’s Nov. 4 ballot. It would allow terminally ill, mentally competent adults to request and self-administer lethal medication prescribed by a physician.

The Washington Catholic Conference opposes  this initiative.

Voting Catholic

• Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States
• Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, Challenges Catholics to Stop Accommodating Pro-Abortion Politicians
• Why Life Matters 

• Voter’s Guide for Serious Catholics 

• The Participation of Catholics in Political Life by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger

• Catholics in the Public Square by Bishop Thomas Olmsted
• Render Unto Caesar: Serving the Nation by Living Out Catholic Beliefs in Political Life by Archbishop Charles Chaput