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Georgia Catholic Bishops Won’t Work for State “Human Life” Constitutional Amendment

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Veronica Diego

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The two Catholic bishops of the state of Georgia have refused to support efforts to implement a "human life" amendment to the state constitution. Supporters of the effort, however, say that a constitutional amendment would protect the unborn, the disabled, the elderly and vulnerable patients and "guarantee their constitutional right to life" and offer a step towards overturning Roe v. Wade.

"We do not support the passage of [House Resolution] 536" said a written statement signed by Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory, Archdiocese of Atlanta and Bishop J. Kevin Boland, Diocese of Savannah. The bishops continue, "We have come to the conclusion that the approach taken by HR 536 to amend the state constitution does not provide a realistic opportunity for ending or reducing abortion in Georgia."

A spokesman for the Archdiocese of Atlanta told LifeSiteNews.com that after consultation with constitutional legal experts, the bishops decided that only an amendment to the federal constitution would succeed in "saving lives."

"We will be monitoring the legislation during the session to see if there are any changes, but the bishops have done a great deal of legal research and the decision is that this isn't going to be a bill we're going to support, although we're not opposed to it in any way," she said.

Richard Thompson President & Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center disagreed with the bishops, saying HR 536 provides Georgia with the legal means of "overturning the central holding of Roe v Wade."

"For too long the pro-life movement has been dominated by a strategy of ‘wait' – too fearful of losing to risk winning".

Rep. Martin Scott is sponsoring the bill that has the support of Democrats and Republicans in the Georgia Legislature. "The Human Life Amendment is the next logical step for defenders of liberty," said Scott. "With advances in science such as cloning to our society's movement toward a culture of death including euthanasia and endless abortions, Georgia is the place to enact this policy."

The text of HR 536 reads, "The rights of every person shall be recognized, among which in the first place is the inviolable right of every innocent human being to life. The right to life is the paramount and most fundamental right of a person."

"With respect to the fundamental and inalienable rights of all persons guaranteed in this Constitution, the word 'person' applies to all human beings, irrespective of age, race, sex, health, function, or condition of dependency, including unborn children at every state of their biological development, including fertilization."

HR 536 requires a two-thirds vote of the Georgia House and the state Senate to appear on the ballot in the November 2008 election.

Comments

  1. Guest Avatar
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    "A spokesman for the Archdiocese of Atlanta told LifeSiteNews.com that after consultation with constitutional legal experts, the bishops decided that only an amendment to the federal constitution would succeed in "saving lives."  — so that means in order to save lives it has to be only on the federal level — all or nothing approach, I guess.

  2. Guest Avatar
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    Do not be too hasty in criticizing the bishops of GA – it may well be they understand this better than the we realize.  This decision came at a high price  w/ regards to personal and professional relationships  within the pro-life community.  It would seem a no brainer to support this amendment but why would they make such a decision, after lengthy time of reflection, knowing it would confuse voters and divide them from national and local pro-life groups?  No, I believe our bishops here in GA deserve some time on this one – I head up a Respect Life ministry at our parish and have had immense support from the Archdiocese for EVERY event we have planned.  Bishops who wish to be "non-controversial" do not choose such a battle.  In prayer for the unborn – KMc

  3. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    "We will be monitoring the legislation during the session to see if there are any changes, but the bishops have done a great deal of legal research and the decision is that this isn't going to be a bill we're going to support, although we're not opposed to it in any way," she said. "

    KMc, I trust that you know more about your state politics than I do so I give credence to your comments. I would leave the article alone except for the part of the quote above that adds: "….although we're not opposed to it in any way"

    The statement tells the faithful to make up their own minds; and we need them to tell us that?

  4. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    The problem with this is that we, the faithful of Georgia, of whom I am one, really do not know who the "legal experts" are upon whom the bishops relied.  None of us think that the bishops themselves are legal experts in the state constitution or in pro-life legalities, so it is reasonable to expect that they have their own "experts."  While of course the pro-life community of Georgia and the pro-life legislators have their own experts — the ones who have created this legislation.  We know who they are. They are known to us by their work with pro-life organizations over past years and their long-standing public statements. We trust them. But we just don't know whose advice the bishops have relied on.  They aren't making this decision process transparent.

    Also there are other reasons for pro-life legislation such as this to be promoted other than the actual affect on abortion, although that is the main thing ,of course. For thing, we need to have state initiatives go forward that will force SCOTUS to revisit Roe v Wade. Then there is the pedagogical (teaching) role ofthe law.  The law teaches morality.  And, speaking of teaching, from a practical standpoint, the very existence of such an initiative in our state would give the bishops a great "excuse" to teach about this matter within the churches…. Enough said.

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