Bishop of Arlington, Michael F. Burbidge, has taken an unusual step ahead of the upcoming elections in Virginia, United States: he has asked all priests in his diocese to read during Mass a letter that expressly urges Catholics to vote “no” on two constitutional amendments concerning abortion and “same-sex marriage.”
The request reaches the 70 parishes of the diocese, which serve more than 430,000 Catholics in northern Virginia. According to Burbidge, he had never before asked all priests in Arlington to do something similar. Voters will decide on the two proposals on November 3, and early voting begins this Friday, September 18.
“We must vote no on those questions and say yes to the truth,” the prelate stated during Sunday Mass at Saint Leo the Great, in Fairfax.
One amendment on abortion and another on “same-sex marriage”
The first proposal, which will appear as Question 1, seeks to amend the Virginia Constitution regarding abortion.
In his letter to the faithful, Burbidge warns that the amendment would create a constitutional right to “unregulated abortions, performed by persons without a license to perform them at any time during pregnancy.”
According to the bishop, the change would also allow abortions “targeting healthy babies up to the moment of birth” and would extend that supposed right to minors, reducing parents’ ability to intervene in decisions affecting their daughters.
“Unfortunately, abortion is already legal in Virginia,” Burbidge recalls. However, he maintains that the amendment “would expand abortion beyond what most citizens consider reasonable limits.”
“The proposed amendment is extreme. It is unnecessary. And it is wrong,” he states.
Question 2 would remove from the state Constitution the definition of marriage approved in 2006 as the union between a man and a woman and replace it with a provision recognizing the right of two adults to marry regardless of their sex, gender, or race.
Burbidge maintains that the proposal would remove from the Constitution “the truth, as taught by Jesus, that marriage is between a man and a woman” and, moreover, “would enshrine gender ideology by falsely separating the reality of sex and gender.”
Supporters of the proposals, for their part, argue that the changes would constitutionally guarantee access to abortion and protect the legal recognition of “same-sex marriage” in Virginia.
“The Church is not partisan”
Burbidge has insisted that his appeal does not constitute support for any candidate or political party.
“The Church is not partisan. The Church never advocates for or against specific candidates or parties,” he states in the letter that Arlington priests have read during Masses.
But the bishop rejects the idea that such partisan neutrality implies silence when issues of faith and morality are at stake.
“The Church, faithful to the Gospel and its mission, always speaks with clarity, fidelity, and truthfulness on matters of faith and morality in public life,” he affirms.
Therefore, Burbidge maintains that the Church’s “yes” to the protection of the unborn and the sanctity of human life requires, on this occasion, voting “no” on both proposals.
“So that we may say this Yes, we must together proclaim ‘No!’ to these radically unjust electoral initiatives, in fidelity to God and for the good of our entire society,” he writes.
The initiative continues the pre-election letter published in August by Burbidge together with the Bishop of Richmond, Barry Knestout, in which both prelates already warned of the importance of the two amendments.
Three requests to Virginia Catholics
Burbidge has accompanied his appeal with three specific requests.
First, he asks Catholics to commit to voting against both amendments through the Catholics Vote No campaign, where materials and information about the proposals have been gathered.
Second, he urges them to check that they are registered to vote and to cast their ballots as soon as possible. Early voting begins this Friday, September 18.
“I urge you to vote early to ensure that nothing prevents you from casting your vote in these crucial elections,” he writes.
Finally, he asks the faithful to speak “with family members, friends, and colleagues, with sincerity and love,” especially with those who can be mobilized to defend life and the truth about marriage.
“Our baptismal promises call us to fulfill our sacred duty to participate in public life with an informed conscience, based on prayer and facts,” the bishop reminds them.
The mobilization will also have a spiritual dimension. This Tuesday, Burbidge will preside over a Holy Hour at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More, in Arlington, to pray regarding the two electoral initiatives.
“We must defeat these amendments”
The two proposals reach the ballot after having been approved in two consecutive sessions of the Virginia General Assembly, a requirement established to submit a constitutional amendment to a vote of the citizens.
Burbidge has reiterated that the campaign does not intend to tell Catholics which party they should support.
“We are not telling anyone which party to join,” he explained on his podcast Walk Humbly. “However, with regard to faith and morality, the Church speaks clearly and consistently on human life and marriage, because these are gifts from God.”
For the Bishop of Arlington, participation in the vote is also a Catholic’s responsibility in public life.
“You must allow your voice to be heard and your vote to count,” he stated. “It is a sacred duty not only to be a citizen, but a faithful citizen.”
And he concluded his appeal with a direct request to Virginia Catholics: “Every vote counts. Please, people of God, go out and vote no. We must defeat these amendments.”