Stop Taxpayer Funding of Abortions Up to Birth in Colorado

The Catholic bishops of Colorado are urging Democratic Gov. Jared Polis to veto a bill that directs a minimum of $1.5 million in tax dollars per year toward Medicaid-covered elective abortions in the state.

In an April 8 open letter to the governor, the bishops decried the abhorrent mindset underlying the bill, SB 183. Colorado currently faces a $1 billion deficit; the bill’s fiscal note touts that the state will save money through this bill because it is cheaper to abort children than to deliver them.

“Such a statement is an egregious reflection of the inhumane mentality behind the bill,” the bishops wrote.

The Colorado House of Representatives on April 6 passed SB 183, which now awaits the governor’s signature. The bill would take at least $1.5 million from the Colorado general revenue to fund Medicaid-covered elective abortions.

ACTION ALERT: Contact Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and urge him to veto the abortion funding bill.

“Rather than using state resources to support life-affirming alternatives,” the bishops wrote, “such as comprehensive prenatal care, adoption services and resources for women facing unexpected pregnancies — this bill instead prioritizes public funding of abortion at the expense of the lives of preborn children, the health of their mothers and the conscience rights of millions of Colorado taxpayers who morally object to abortion.”

Archbishop Samuel Aquila of Denver, Auxiliary Bishop Jorge Rodriguez of Denver, Bishop Stephen Berg of Pueblo, and Bishop James Golka of Colorado Springs signed the letter.

If the legislation becomes law, there will be catastrophic consequences, the bishops warned. Several botched abortions had occurred in the state just before the bill was introduced. One ended with the death of an 18-year-old woman. The bishops emphasized that the lives of preborn children and their mothers are of incalculable worth.

“Every human life, from conception to natural death, is a sacred gift from God,” they wrote. “No act of law can change this truth, nor can it erase our moral obligation to defend the most vulnerable among us.”

The bishops emphasized that they and their dioceses will continue to help pregnant mothers in crisis by providing counseling and housing and by continuously expanding medical support, both before and after their children are born.

“We urge you, Governor Polis, to consider the millions of Coloradans who do not want their hard-earned tax dollars to be used in the destruction of human life,” they concluded. “We call upon you to veto SB 183.”

The legislature also advanced another pro-abortion bill and two radical pro-“transgender” bills on April 6, as CatholicVote previously reported.

LifeNews Note: McKenna Snow writes for CatholicVote, where this column originally appeared.

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