Montana's Catholic Bishops Urge Montanans To Vote Against CI-128

On May 3rd of this year, we issued a pastoral call to reject Constitutional Initiative 128 (CI-128) and prevent it from appearing on the November ballot in Montana. Sadly, after large amounts of out-of-state funding, Planned Parenthood and its associates have succeeded. This grave threat to unborn children, mothers, and families will be on the ballot. As followers of Jesus and faith-filled citizens of Montana, we are compelled to speak boldly in defense of the infinite dignity of every human life.

We implore voters to scrutinize the full text of CI-128 because the ballot language, or voter’s summary, is grossly insufficient and misleading when compared to the full text which voters will not see at the ballot box. Through the careful use of undefined terms, it nullifies Montana’s current abortion regulations and safeguards placing expectant mothers at risk and creating some of the most radical constitutional provisions for abortion in our Nation by enshrining them in our Montana Constitution.

In Section One, the full text of CI-128 establishes abortion as a right that cannot be “burdened” by the government if it interferes with a mother’s “autonomous decision-making.” Consequently, any regulation of abortion could be seen as a burden on autonomous decision-making. With this terminology, late-term abortions of babies who feel pain, partial-birth abortions, and abortions on minors without parental notification could easily be permitted.

Montana’s Supreme Court has recently struck down a law requiring parental consent, and CI-128 goes even further by eliminating the requirement for parental notification of an abortion procedure on a minor child. This would isolate pregnant girls when they need their parents the most and expose them to exploitation and coercion. CI-128 prevents any action against those who may victimize girls and would provide cover for abusers, human traffickers and other criminals who prey on children.

We believe that Montana’s children have a fundamental right to life and to grow up safely in our State. Again, we implore all people of good will to read the full text of CI-128 in your voter guide, search your conscience, stand with our children against CI-128, and vote NO on your ballot.

In Christ,

Most Rev. Jeffrey M. Fleming

Bishop of Great Falls

- Billings President

Most Rev. Austin A. Vetter

Bishop of Helena

Vice President

Most Rev. Michael W. Warfel

Bishop Emeritus of Great Falls - Billings