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CURRENT
ISSUE: September 18, 2006
VOL.
44, NO. 16Oakland,
CA
Proposition 85 proponents seek victory on November ballot
Supporters
of Proposition 85 --- the parental notification initiative for minors
seeking abortions --- are busy with another grassroots campaign after
a similar measure was defeated at the polls last year by a slim margin.
The proposition, called the Parents Right to Know and Child Protection
Act by its sponsors, will appear on the November ballot.
The California Catholic Conference of Bishops in Sacramento has endorsed
the initiative that requires notification of the parents or guardians
of a minor 48 hours before she obtains an abortion, unless a judge determines
that such notification places her in danger.
Oakland Bishop Allen Vigneron has sent a letter to all pastors, administrators
and staffs in the diocese, urging them “to raise parishioners’
awareness of Prop. 85 and to catechize on the matters which it addresses.”
Supporters see Prop. 85 as a parental rights issue, trumping a minor child’s
privacy rights. Currently, California public schools have the authority
to arrange confidential medical services, including abortion, for junior
high and high school students without their parents’ consent or
knowledge.
“It is sensible to require a minor girl faced with a serious decision
such as an unexpected pregnancy to go to her parents for their wisdom
and counsel,” wrote Bishop Vigneron.
“It is equally sensible to require that parents by made aware of
this reality so that, should their daughter go through with a plan to
end her pregnancy, they may best care for her physical and emotional well-being
thereafter.
“Furthermore, it is entirely appropriate to ensure that a pregnant
minor be protected in the unfortunate circumstance in which she is being
coerced to have an abortion,” he wrote.
Over 30 states have a parental involvement law (parental notification
or parental consent). Michael New, assistant professor at the University
of Alabama, in his 2005 study, “Analyzing the Effect of Pro-Life
Legislation on the Incidence of Abortion among Minors,” states that
a major factor in the 50 percent reduction of abortions among minors from
1985 to 1999 was the “positive impact” of pro-life legislation.
If Prop. 85 passes, it will amend the California constitution to prohibit
abortion for an unemancipated minor until 48 hours after a physician notifies
the pregnant girl’s parent or legal guardian, except in a medical
emergency or with a parental waiver.
The initiative would also permit a minor girl to obtain a court order
waiving notice based on clear and convincing evidence of her maturity
or best interests. It also requires a minor girl’s consent to an
abortion, permitting girls whose consent was coerced to obtain a court
order blocking the abortion procedure.
In their statement last month, the California bishops said Prop. 85 is
“good public policy” and encouraged Catholics to vote for
its passage.
On July 25, the U.S. Senate passed the Child Custody Protection Act making
it a federal crime to help girls under age 18 circumvent parental notification
laws by crossing state lines for an abortion. A similar bill passed the
House in 2005, and President George W. Bush has said he will sign the
legislation if the two chambers can agree on wording for a final bill.
Last November, Prop. 73 failed by a modest margin of 52.6 percent to 47.4
percent, unlike the other four reform measures which were soundly trounced
by voters.
With no major campaign funding anticipated beyond the over $2 million
spent toward the petition drive --- loaned by San Diego Reader Weekly
publisher James Holman who spent over $1.1 million getting Prop. 73 on
the ballot according to a July 28 article in The Sacramento Bee --- passage
of the initiative rests on the success of grassroots efforts.
Opponents led by Planned Parenthood, which spent more than $4.5 million
to defeat Prop.73, have promised another aggressive campaign. State Treasurer
Phil Angelides, the Democratic candidate for governor running against
Schwarzenegger in November, opposes the initiative. Schwarzenegger has
taken no public position on Prop. 85, but did support Prop. 73.
“We’re hoping to win with grassroots efforts again since there’s
no campaign war chest,” said Carol Hogan of the bishops’ conference.
(Editor’s note: Downloadable educational materials in English and
Spanish on Proposition 85 are available on the California Catholic Conference
Web site at www.cacatholic.org.
The Catholic Coalition in favor of Proposition 85, led by the CCC, the
Knights of Columbus and Catholics for the Common Good, also has an informational
Web site at www.Catholicsfor85.org)
Paula Doyle is a staff writer for The Tidings, weekly newspaper of the
Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Catholic Voice staff contributed to this article.
The
California Conference of Catholic Bishops, including Oakland Bishop Allen
Vigneron, calls Prop. 85 “good public policy.”
