Catholic leaders call passage of abortion amendment ‘painful moment in Maryland history’

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Despite a campaign by Maryland’s Catholic bishops against an amendment enshrining the right to abortion in the Maryland Constitution, voters overwhelmingly passed Question 1 in the Nov. 5 general election.

The measure, which promotes the “right to reproductive freedom,” won approval with more than 74 percent of the vote. 

In a written statement, Jenny Kraska, executive director of the Maryland Catholic Conference that represents the state’s Catholic bishops on public policy issues, called passage of Question 1 a “painful moment in Maryland history and one we believe future generations will look back upon with deep regret and bewilderment.”

“Even before this vote, abortion was legal in Maryland for anyone, any reason and at any time,” Kraska said. “This vote has made it more difficult for our state to enact any safeguards for women’s health and to respond to changing information and needs. This is deeply troubling and should concern all residents. 

“Through our hearts, prayers, parishes and ministries, we remain firmly committed to walking with women and their children during and after pregnancy. We remain committed to advocating for policies and laws that cherish life and address the root causes that lead to abortion.”

Erin Younkins, director of Life, Justice and Peace in the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Institute for Evangelization, called the outcome on Question 1 “certainly a grave disappointment.”

“Sadly, I don’t think the reality of what this means for abortion in our state is an accurate reflection of what most people would like to see for women’s health,” Younkins said. 

Based on in-depth research on people’s abortion views, she said, many of those who voted for the amendment believe that abortion is necessary or helpful for women. That is why it’s more important than ever for the pro-life community to “patiently but persistently work to tell the truth about what abortion really is, what it does to women, and what alternatives and true choice look like,” Younkins said.

The parishioner of St. Peter the Apostle in Libertytown added that the Catholic Church needs to “continue to move toward the radical solidarity and all-in approach to helping women and families and addressing the root causes of why women seek out abortion to begin with. This amendment is a danger to the unborn, but our work to save one life at a time remains the same.” 

While the abortion issue was one of the key concerns of Catholic voters in the general election, they also weighed such hot-button issues as immigration, poverty, education, the environment, the family and conscience protections. 

Prior to the election, Archbishop William E. Lori issued a statement asking the faithful “to pray for our country and all those in public life.”

He also encouraged those with questions to read “Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility,” a document from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on political responsibility.

“Let us also ask the Holy Spirit to lead us in continuing the arduous work of creating a just and peaceful society at home and force for justice and peace abroad,” Archbishop Lori said.

A steady line of people waited to vote at The Catholic High School of Baltimore, with the queue stretching from the Edison Highway school’s entrance to inside the auditorium.

“Baltimorians are eager to vote,” said Quintaria Brunson, one of three election judges on hand at the polling site. ”We’ve had a lot of first-time voters.”

Jeaica Jones of Baltimore was one of those first-time voters. At 35, Jones felt it was important to vote this year out of concern for her children’s future. 

“They are the only reason I am here voting,” said Jones, who has a child with special needs. 

For more than three decades, Catholic High has been a polling place for the Belair-Edison community. No one knows why or how it was selected to be a site, and many current students and staff are surprised it is one, according to Barbara D. Nazelrod, president of the all-girls school.

“We are honored to welcome our neighbors as they engage in this most important of democratic functions,” she said. “Our students feel that using our school is a significant way for the Catholic High community to live our Franciscan identity of welcome, and as good stewards and servant leaders in the community.”

Cheryl Trzcinski, a humanities teacher at Catholic High, prepared students for the elections by having them watch the debates and then discuss and analyze them. Students held their own debates on selected topics of importance that need to be addressed by those who are elected.

Other Catholic schools and institutions of higher learning used the election as an opportunity to educate students on democracy and civic engagement.

The Karson Institute for Race, Peace & Social Justice at Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore partnered with UMBC’s School of Public Policy, MissionFit, and the Short Kuts Show to host an election-night watch party at the Loyola/Notre Dame Library.

“This election is about charting a new way forward and making a decision about the type of America that you want to live in,” said Karsonya Wise Whitehead, founding executive director of the Karson Institute for Race, Peace & Social Justice and professor of communication and African and African American studies, in a statement. “With such a pivotal election, it’s important for us to have spaces where we can gather and experience history together.”

Loyola University Maryland’s Department of Communication and Media and the Karson Institute for Race, Peace & Social Justice also held Election Day events with student journalists and editors collaborating with journalism instructors and faculty to publish stories for The Greyhound, Loyola’s student newspaper.

Students conducted live interviews with faculty experts on all angles of the election and posted some on the thegreyhound.org, according to Jenny Glick, assistant teaching professor of communication and media and faculty advisor for The Greyhound.

“We are excited to have students involved in this Election Day coverage as a practice of high-impact learning,” Glick said, in a statement.

Loyola also engaged with students to encourage them to register and make a plan to vote through LoyolaVotes, a free, online service for students, faculty, staff, administrators and members of the surrounding community. 

As many students and alumni at Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg watched the election results, they relied on a special guide prepared by Mount St. Mary’s University political science professor, Dr. Michael Towle. The professor began writing Towle’s Guide to Watching Election Returns for a class on political parties and elections more than 25 years ago. The guide grew in readership over the years. 

This story may be updated. 

Katie V. Jones and George P. Matysek Jr. contributed to this story. 

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