Archbishop Cordileone slams mandate for abortion signage at pregnancy centres
Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone has criticised a measure that will be on the San Francisco ballot come national elections in November that could result in new abortion-related signage having to go outside pregnancy centres. The ballot measure called “ Proposition O” would require the signs to be placed outside of pregnancy resource centres that do not The post Archbishop Cordileone slams mandate for abortion signage at pregnancy centres appeared first on Catholic Herald.
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Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone has criticised a measure that will be on the San Francisco ballot come national elections in November that could result in new abortion-related signage having to go outside pregnancy centres.
The ballot measure called “ Proposition O” would require the signs to be placed outside of pregnancy resource centres that do not offer abortions, or do not refer for abortions.
“Why would anyone want to stigmatise a primary health care facility and a pregnancy resource centre that gives pregnant women support for having their babies?” the archbishop has said, urging Catholics to reject the proposition.
Cordileone, in a recent video message, highlighted the double standards of the proposal.
“Why doesn’t Proposition O require the city to install signage outside facilities that do abortions to direct women to places where they will be supported in giving birth?” Cordileone asked.
“Why doesn’t it require such facilities to post the same signage announcing that they do not provide the full range of reproductive rights because they only provide abortion and contraception and do not offer life affirming alternatives? Do the authors truly believe in choice?”
Proposition O, or the San Francisco Reproductive Freedom Act, essentially reiterates many of the related laws that already exist in California to bring them to a local level, while adding the stipulation about the signage as well as regarding a website that will be maintained by the Department of Public Health (DPH).
The website would list pregnancy service centres in the city that provide or offer referrals for abortions or emergency contraception, as well as “limited service pregnancy centres”, which are those that do not. The latter would also be required to have the signs installed outside of the facility.
The measure’s text states: “DPH may install signage outside of limited services pregnancy [centres] in the City to inform the public that those facilities do not provide or offer referrals for abortions or emergency contraception, and to provide information about where those services may be available. DPH may prioritise installing such signage in geographic areas of the City where there is a greater need for abortion or emergency contraception services.”
According to the legal text, DPH would provide so-called limited service pregnancy centers at least 30 days’ written notice before installing the signage. The facility or owner of the premises can file a petition with the Director of Public Health to prevent the signage, however the director’s decision will be final.
“[This] ensures that everyone in our city has the autonomy to make decisions about their reproductive health,” says San Francisco Mayor London Breed. “Passing Prop O is not just about preserving rights; it’s about protecting lives.”
She added: “Comprehensive reproductive care leads to healthier families and communities. Prop O ensures that women and all people who can become pregnant are not forced into dangerous or untenable situations.”
That’s not how the archbishop sees it. Cordileone argues in his 3 October video message that if it becomes law, “Proposition O” would endanger the employees, volunteers, patients and clients of life-affirming state-licensed health clinics, “because by singling out facilities that refuse to perform abortions, it potentially opens them up to abusive behaviour by opponents.”
He adds: “This flies in the face of the measure’s language that states ‘People in San Francisco should always be able to access reproductive health care services free from coercion, threat, violence, or fear’,” while also noting that having babies is something that falls under reproductive health care.
“Both [types of] organisations targeted by ‘Proposition O’ help women, children and the entire family without regard to ability to pay; both are licensed medical facilities,” Cordileone said.
“If we want to create a civil society we must affirm across the board support for human life. That means alternatives to abortion and euthanasia, repealing the death penalty, and working to end all racial and ethnic discrimination.”
The archbishop concludes: “I urge you to vote no on ‘Proposition O’.”
The first pastoral letter issued by the archbishop is takes its title “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you” from Jeremiah 1:5. A summary of the letter notes:
“A young Jeremiah heard the Lord speak these words to him over 2500 years ago. In these times in which we are living, the scourge of abortion ignores the reality that humans are made in the image of God, known and beloved by God. This pastoral letter addresses all Catholics, but especially Catholics in public life, calling for deep reflection on the evil of abortion and on the meaning of receiving Holy Communion, the Bread of Life.”
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