(OSV News) — Colorado lawmakers sent two abortion-related bills to Democratic Gov. Jared Polis to sign into law, but the state’s Catholic bishops have urged Polis to veto the bill that would permit the use of public funds for abortions.
The bills came after Colorado voters in November approved a state constitutional amendment enshrining protections for abortion, including the repeal of a previous ban on state and local funding for abortion.
Senate Bill 129 would restrict out-of-state investigations into Colorado abortion providers, while S.B. 183 would permit the use of taxpayer funds for abortion.
Urging a Veto
In an open letter, Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila and Auxiliary Bishop Jorge H. Rodriguez of Denver, Bishop James R. Golka of Colorado Springs, and Bishop Stephen J. Berg of Pueblo, wrote to Polis through the Colorado Catholic Conference urging him to veto S.B. 183.
“Every human life, from conception to natural death, is a sacred gift from God. No act of law can change this truth, nor can it erase our moral obligation to defend the most vulnerable among us,” they wrote.
“The allocation of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds to subsidize the deliberate ending of innocent life is a tragedy for Colorado,” they continued. “Rather than using state resources to support life-affirming alternatives — 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.”
‘Voters Have Spoken’
Democratic State Rep. Lorena Garcia argued in an April 4 statement, “Colorado voters have spoken — abortion must remain safe, legal and protected.”
“Despite the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle abortion access or restrict funding altogether, Coloradans believe it’s your constitutional right to access the reproductive health care you need,” she said. “This bill will expand access to life-saving reproductive health care, including abortion.”
OSV News previously reported that while some proponents of S.B. 183 have cast the legislation as a cost-saving measure since “a birth is more expensive than an abortion,” a Catholic pro-life activist said that funding should support low-income families so they don’t face the high cost of childbirth.
‘Make Birth Free’
Kristen Day, a Catholic and executive director of Democrats for Life of America, is co-author of a 2023 white paper called, “Make Birth Free: A Vision for Congress to Empower American Mothers, Families and Communities,” which outlines a proposal to eliminate out-of-pocket medical expenses for giving birth.
“By prioritizing taxpayer funding for abortion over support for families,” Day told OSV News, “Colorado lawmakers are signaling that low-income families don’t deserve the same opportunities as those with more resources.”
Kate Scanlon is a national reporter for OSV News covering Washington. Follow her on X @kgscanlon.
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