The Maryland House of Delegates’ preliminary approval this week of two pieces of legislation that would broaden and strengthen abortion rights laws in Maryland, has been criticized by the state’s Catholic bishops as “wasting time and resources on an unnecessary, symbolic gesture to make it harder to protect life.”

“Maryland women, including women of color, immigrants and those living in poverty, want support that will allow them a true decision and the choice to be able to achieve their dreams and to raise their children,” the bishops wrote in March 11 Baltimore Sun opinion piece. The bishops added, “It is not more abortion that Maryland needs, but a clear understanding of the diverse demographics in our state in order to provide support and resources for growing families.”

The op-ed was signed by Washington Cardinal Wilton Gregory, Baltimore Archbishop William Lori and Wilmington, Delaware Bishop William E. Koenig, whose three dioceses encompasses the state of Maryland.

Maryland delegates on March 9 initially approved H.B. 1171, legislation that would make “the fundamental right to reproductive liberty” protected by the state’s constitution and that would put forth the measure as a ballot referendum to be decided by state voters.

The Maryland bishops, in their published article, called that “a disturbing proposal … to enshrine abortion in our state’s constitution” that would “expand an already extreme abortion landscape under the guise of ‘reproductive liberty.’”

“Maryland is already one of the most abortion-permissive states in the nation,” they wrote. “Instead, shouldn’t we, including churches, government agencies and others, be investing resources into helping those women who feel they have no option but to choose abortion by providing them and their babies with those basic necessities that will allow them to live justly and with dignity?”

Maryland delegates also passed legislation that would repeal state restrictions against physician assistants, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners from performing abortions. It would also provide training for nurses and doctors who relocate to Maryland to avoid stricter abortion laws in other states. It would require insurance plans to cover the cost of an abortion without copayments or deductible payments by the recipient. It does include a religious exemption. It would also provide for permanent Medicaid coverage of abortion. Right now, that coverage is voted on each year during the budget process.

Once approved by the House of Delegates, the abortion measures would await final action by the State Senate.

Father Daniel B. Carson, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, in a March 10 letter to all priests of the archdiocese, said the proposed measures would “prohibit laws that protect life in the womb and would restrict laws to protect women’s safety at abortion facilities … and would allow abortions to be performed by non-physicians and require insurance coverage of abortions, among other things.”

When the legislation was first introduced last month, Jenny Kraska, executive director of the Maryland Catholic Conference (MCC) said, “Given that abortion is ubiquitous in our state, Maryland women are not looking for abortion expansion, but rather help with the basic necessities they need to survive and thrive. It is not more abortion that Maryland needs, but a clear understanding of the diverse demographic in our state and support and resources for growing families.”

The MCC is the official public policy arm of The Roman Archdiocese of Washington, the Archdiocese of Baltimore and the Diocese of Wilmington.

Father Carson, in his letter to the priests, asked them to encourage the faithful to oppose the two measures and to oppose another proposal about to be introduced: the “Pregnant Person’s Freedom Act,” (HB626/SB669), which he said “would permit the failure to provide lifesaving care to newborns, as well as dangerous self-abortions.”

“The Maryland Catholic Conference has advised that it is imperative for the faithful to reach out to their elected officials – most importantly, their state senators – to voice their opposition to these measures,” Father Carson wrote.

He praised the efforts of pastors who “have shared our earlier advocacy alerts and already encouraged the faithful to get involved.”

“MCC has reported that thousands of messages have already been sent to legislators in just the past few weeks,” he wrote. “We ask that you continue to share this important information with the faithful and encourage your communities to contact their senators as the coming weeks will prove to be critical in our campaign to oppose the further expansion of legalized abortion in Maryland.” 

The MCC has created an information and resource page – https://www.mdcatholic.org/parish-respectlifeadvocacy – that includes action alerts and another – https://oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net/messages/edit?promo_id=15701 – that includes a petition. In addition, the faithful can visit https://www.mdcatholic.org/news2022-march8 – that has information, prayers, action alerts and other information.

“Abortion is an issue that has divided our state and nation for decades. The passage of H.B. 1171 will further this deep divide by disrupting the laws already in place that safeguard life and freedom of conscience and prevent even modest laws to protect life from being enacted,” the bishops wrote in their Baltimore Sun editorial. “Let us, instead, continue to push for ways of dignifying every life, of lifting up every woman and of promoting the dignity and value of every person.”

The flurry of abortion-related bills in Maryland and other states is seen as a way to protect abortion rights in light of what some see as a very real possibility that Roe vs. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1973 decision virtually guaranteeing abortion on demand, could be overturned or severely limited. Right now, Supreme Court justices are considering the constitutionality of a Mississippi law that would ban abortions in that state after the 15th week of pregnancy.

“And even if the United States Supreme Court were to strike down the current federal standard for abortions, the laws in states like Maryland would remain in effect,” the bishops wrote. “House Bill 1171 promotes unwanted abortion to women who are already marginalized. It underestimates the resiliency and abilities of women to parent and pursue their dreams at the same time.”