Religious leaders are taking a front seat in Albuquerque’s debate of
the proposed ban on abortions after 20 weeks that voters will decide at
the polls on Nov. 19.
New Mexico’s top Catholic Church leader threw his support behind the
proposed ordinance on Sunday and urged churchgoers to head to the polls
to help pass the referendum.
Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan, who heads the Archdiocese of Santa Fe,
celebrated a “pro-life” Mass in Albuquerque on Sunday and called on
Catholics to help restrict abortion laws that he said currently attract
women from around the country to Albuquerque to receive later-term
abortions.
“I encourage all the people of Albuquerque to support the proposed
ordinance to ban late-term abortion after the 20th week. These children
are able to feel pain and suffer greatly when aborted,” Sheehan said in a
statement.
Sheehan commended the effort of political organizers to collect
sufficient petitions and get the proposed ordinance on a city ballot.
Early voting has begun.
The archbishop said debate over the ordinance has helped educate the public about the issue.
The Catholic Church typically does not weigh in on election debates
to endorse candidates, but the church routinely has advocated its stance
on issues such as its strong opposition to standing abortion policies.
New Mexico political analyst Brian Sanderoff, president of Research
& Polling Inc., said the advocacy from the Catholic Church could
boost turnout at the polls.
“People will make up their own minds based on their own values,
regardless of what their bishops or priests might say,” Sanderoff said.
“However, many of the faithful could be inspired by the priests and
bishops, and that could increase turnout.”
Meanwhile, a coalition of opposition groups organized against the
proposed 20-week abortion ban known as “Respect ABQ Women” has
highlighted a number of local religious leaders who oppose the ban.
Respect ABQ Women, which includes New Mexico affiliates of the
American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood and the League of
Women Voters, says at least 24 local religious leaders or faith groups
have voiced opposition to the proposed abortion ban and endorsed the
group’s effort to vote down the ordinance.
Several of the religious leaders represent local Presbyterian, Unitarian and Jewish congregations.
“Some of our strongest supporters are people of faith,” said Micah
McCoy, a spokesman for Respect ABQ Women.
“It’s important to recognize
there is a range of beliefs on this issue, a diversity of beliefs. …
Recognizing that people of faith are not a monolith when it comes to
this issue is part of the reason we’ve had such a strong response from
our faith community here in Albuquerque.”