May 31, 2026
Dear St. Rita Parishioners,
Beginning this weekend, you’ll see signs in the vestibules and in fact around the Diocese that say, “Catholics Vote No”. This is the beginning of a Diocesan-wide campaign regarding 2 proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution that will be on the ballot this fall during the November elections. Bishop Burbidge and Bishop Knestout (of Richmond) are working hard to get the word out about the disastrous consequences if these amendments are passed. It is our hope that Catholics throughout the Diocese and Commonwealth will visit https://catholicsvoteno.com/ in order to sign the pledge to vote against these amendments, which would violate natural parental rights and basic health protections regarding abortion access and which would make Virginia a sanctuary state for same-sex unions, undermining God’s plan for married love between one man and one woman.
As Catholics, it is extremely important that we approach these two social topics with the right spirit. While there are a number of activists who celebrate their abortions or who believe that everyone really should actively support same-sex “marriage”, most people are more interested in being left alone and in leaving others alone. From the Catholic perspective, we desire to promote what is good, and we recognize that law itself has a teaching character to it, but that much work must be done in the hearts of men even when the laws are just and good. Therefore, we actively strive to create a society where laws reflect God and His Law, so that men and women can avoid being wounded by sin, because there was no obstacle in place to prevent them from (perhaps unwittingly) damaging themselves and others.
If we invite sin – and seriously grave sin, at that – into our Commonwealth, or if we sit back and do nothing and allow it to enter, then we are also responsible for the consequences. In this case, those consequences will be death for countless babies, untold interior pain, suffering, shame, and remorse for their mothers (and often their fathers, too), and in the case of same-sex unions, a distorted understanding of the human person, destroyed families and relationships, anger and hatred at God, self, and others, deep sadness and brokenness, and even exploitation of children. The point is that this is a very serious decision for Virginia, and we have the opportunity to do a lot of good for many others. This is not about a violation of privacy rights – which is just a defensive, shame-response equivalent to “Don’t judge me.” This is about protection of those for whom we are responsible, which flows first from the fact that I am my brother’s keeper and secondly from the fact of our constitutional republic and representative democracy in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In other words, we have a say in how this thing goes, and we have an obligation to love our neighbor. Therefore, we cannot remain silent, nor can we leave this question to other people.
At this point, you are hopefully wondering what exactly these two proposed amendments say. You can find the one about abortion here and the one about same-sex unions here. Because the language (particularly in the abortion amendment) and the actual text on the ballot in November is misleading, it is important to be informed. The amendment on abortion speaks about protecting freedom, but what it doesn’t say explicitly is that parental rights are violated. In indicating that no individual can be prosecuted for procuring or assisting another to procure abortion, the amendment would enshrine in our Virginia Constitution minors being assisted by their school teachers in procuring abortions without parental knowledge or consent, which is a grave violation of the rights and responsibilities of the family. You may recall that a situation exactly like this allegedly happened in Fairfax County and was in the news last year.
In addition, the ballot question for the abortion amendment refers to doctors and nurses, but the amended text of the Constitution refers to “any individual,” which means essentially that, barring a separate law in Virginia, no one can be penalized from assisting another in procuring an abortion, including those who perform the abortion. Therefore, abortion providers without a medical license cannot be penalized. Regardless of one’s support for abortion, this provision makes the situation even worse.
It is a travesty that these amendments are even on the ballot in our Commonwealth, and to those who say, “Get over it,” I say, “No!” This isn’t about me and my own desires. This is about health, safety, and life for others. Either we step in and make our voices heard, or we are complicit in the evil. There is no middle ground in this situation. Abortion activists often use the (again, misleading) language of “My body, my choice.” Notwithstanding the fact that the child in its mother’s womb is NOT its mother’s body (they are really saying, “Your body, my choice”), they should be hesitant to make such ultimative demands. Because the sin of supporting abortion is grave, and to do so knowingly is mortal sin (and for those who procure it or assist another in doing so, there is the added penalty of automatic excommunication), such sin separates an individual from the Body of Christ. He could easily respond the same way to any objectors: “My Body, My choice.” And that will be His response to those who obstinately persist in mortal sin. During this time of repentance, however, He still offers a way out. On the Cross, He proclaims the opposite of the abortion activists. He says, in effect, “My Body, your choice.” Every one of us chose to reject Him at some point, and He submitted humbly to our destruction of His Body. But now, He has offered all the choice to return. And He does so without scorn, without belittling, without judgment, but full of compassion and goodness and mercy. He hopes that all will choose well, since His Body is the only way to Heaven.
More to come on these amendments down the road.
In Christ,
Fr. Christensen