Clashing pro-life and pro-abortion amendments await Nebraska voters in November

(OSV News) -- This fall, Nebraska voters will have the unusual option to support either competing constitutional amendments over abortion at the ballot box. According to the Nebraska Secretary of State's Elections Division, it's likely the first time in the state's history that competing petitions have appeared on the ballot.

Pro-life advocates hope their strategy of countering the abortion access amendment with one of their own will prove successful.

"It's very smart for the pro-life coalition for us to be putting this alternative to the voters," said Kelsey Pritchard, director of state public affairs for Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. "It points out how far the other measure goes."

The pro-life amendment, known as the Protect Women and Children petition, mimics the state's current law (which allows abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy) while leaving the door open for future pro-life legislation. The petition states: "Except when a woman seeks an abortion necessitated by a medical emergency or when the pregnancy results from sexual assault or incest, unborn children shall be protected from abortion in the second and third trimesters."

The pro-abortion access amendment, known as the Protect the Right to Abortion petition, states: "All persons shall have a fundamental right to abortion until fetal viability, or when needed to protect the life or health of the pregnant patient, without interference from the state or its political subdivisions. Fetal viability means the point in pregnancy when, in the professional judgment of the patient's treating health care practitioner, there is a significant likelihood of the fetus' sustained survival outside of the uterus without the application of extraordinary medical measures."

The Nebraska Catholic Conference, the lobbying arm of the Catholic Church in Nebraska, is alerting Catholics to the ballot measure through online resources, Catholic radio and newspapers, as well as literature, banners and prayer resources for parishes.

"The really important thing for Catholics to understand (about this) pro-life alternative is that it does create some protections in our constitution where none currently exist," said Marion Miner, NCC associate director of pro-life and family policy. "That's why the bishops are encouraging people to vote for it."

Miner thinks offering voters this middle ground proposal gives pro-lifers a chance to win.

"People don't like abortion. They're uncomfortable with it, but they're not necessarily comfortable with getting rid of abortion entirely," he said. "(The Protect Women and Children petition) gives us an opportunity to defeat a hideously evil proposal, while also preserving the opportunity to make progress going into the future."

Nebraska has two abortion clinics in and around Omaha, but 29 pregnancy resources centers spread across the state, said Sandy Danek, president and executive director of Nebraska Right to Life. Recent state pro-life legislative efforts include tax credits for those donating to pregnancy help organizations, the launch of a website with resources for mothers and babies, and an extension of the time that newborns can be surrendered at a hospital or a fire station.

Polling conducted by WPA Intelligence on behalf of the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America found that a majority of Nebraskans support protecting unborn children with a heartbeat. But Danek still isn't confident the pro-life amendment will garner the needed votes.

"I think our greatest challenge is (that) after Labor Day they will begin their media campaign, and they always seem to have unlimited funds," she said.

If passed, Pritchard believes the right-to-abortion amendment, which is similar to ones passed in Ohio and Michigan, would wipe out parental consent requirements for a minor's abortion, end health and safety protections for women, and ensure taxpayer-funded abortion.

"The people of Nebraska have a clear choice this November," she said. "Either protect life when a baby can smile, suck their thumb, and feel pain or allow a California-style amendment to bring late-term abortion back to Nebraska."

Election Day this year is Nov. 5.