In a letter obtained by Religion News Service and later published in the Kansas City Star, Sisters Angela Fitzpatrick and Michele Morek, members of the Ursuline Sisters order, explain their intention to vote Tuesday against a proposed amendment that, if passed, would was changing the state of the state. constitution to remove the express right to abortion. The sisters point out that abortion is already largely regulated in Kansas, and that a vote against the amendment does not take away the legislature’s power to pass abortion regulations. Instead, they argue, a vote against the measure “will make it less likely that the government mandate will control the health decisions of Kansas women.” ‘Stakes Couldn’t Be Higher’: Kansas Abortion Vote Set for Aug. 2 The nuns also note negative consequences from abortion bans passed in other states since the US Supreme Court issued a ruling last month that overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 case establishing the right to abortion nationwide. If Kansas voters agree to amend the state constitution — which the state Supreme Court ruled in 2019 affirms the right to abortion — similar abortion bans could be passed in Kansas. “A church sign said: ‘Jesus trusted women. And so do we,” the monks’ letter states. “As religious Catholic women, we support Pope Francis and the social justice teachings of our Church. We respect all people and value life. In other states, some doctors are afraid to provide life-saving procedures for ectopic pregnancies or incomplete miscarriages. A child rape victim was further traumatized by having to travel across state lines to receive health care.” The letter, which the sisters sent to various publications in Kansas, is a challenge to Archbishop Joseph Nauman of Kansas City, Kan., who has been a staunch supporter of the amendment. This month, Naumann published a letter in the Wichita Eagle combating claims by a local rabbi who argued that the amendment would allow Catholics and conservative Christians to impose their faith on others in the state — including Jewish Americans who do not believe the life begins at conception. Abortion issue boosts early voting in Kansas primary “From a Catholic perspective, abortion is not primarily a religious issue, but a fundamental human rights issue,” wrote Naumann, who previously chaired the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities. “Our faith helps us understand the dignity of every human life created in the divine image as taught in the Jewish scriptures, but reason alone is enough to know that it is wrong to destroy an innocent human life.” But Sister Angela, a founding member of the Catholic social justice lobby known as the Network, and Sister Michele, who serves as a liaison to the Sisters World Fair nuns, pointed to a lack of concern for those on the other side of the issue — and the need for the state to support those who choose to complete the pregnancy. Abortion issue boosts early voting in Kansas primary If the amendment passes, “politicians in Topeka can impose religious beliefs on all Kansans and make it harder for women to make decisions about their own health,” their letter opens. “Has the Legislature recently helped create an environment that supports pro-life choices by providing better health care, parental leave, Medicaid and other supports for poor women — and child care and child support for babies born after life?” Representatives for Naumann and the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas did not respond to requests for comment. — Religion News Service
