Pastors for Life concerned over Prop 1

The New York Pastors for Life gathered on Sept. 26 to discuss their concerns over the Equal Rights Amendment, coming up for vote on Nov. 5. 

Also known as Prop1, this proposal amends Article 1, Section 11 of the New York Constitution. Section 11 currently protects against unequal treatment based on race, color, creed and religion. The proposal will amend the act to also protect against unequal treatment based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, and pregnancy outcomes, as well as reproductive health care and autonomy. 

Pastors for Life feel the language is so vague it could be interpreted in ways that could be harmful to children.

“If passed, Prop 1 could open up a Pandora’s Box of radical social policies and practices in New York,” warned Michele Sterlace-Accorsi, an attorney and consultant with the Coalition to Protect Kids. “Prop 1 empowers courts and emboldens agencies to deprive parents of authority to make life altering medical decisions for their children.”

This, she said, includes taking part in transgender medical interventions without parental notification or consent. 

The New York State Department of Education has already issued best practice guidelines that direct students as young as pre-K to transition genders without knowledge of legal guardians. 

“The student is in charge of their gender transition and the school’s role is to provide support. …. Some (transgender and gender expansive) students have not talked to their families about their gender identity because of safety concerns or lack of acceptance and may begin their transition at school without parent/guardian knowledge.

“Only the student knows whether it is safe to share their identity with caregivers, and schools should be mindful that some TGE students do not want or cannot have their parents/guardians know about their transgender status. The paramount consideration in those situations is protecting the health and safety of the student, assuring that the student’s gender identity is affirmed and that their privacy and confidentiality are safely maintained,” reads the 2023 Legal Update and Best Practices, from the State Education Department.

On medical transitions, it states, “The decision for a TGE student to access gender affirming medical treatment is left up to the student, their parent/guardian, and their medical care team. School personnel may provide an affirming space for TGE students to share opportunities, challenges, and aspirations for their future including medical transition.”

Prop 1 also could empower courts to force biological girls and women to compete with biological boys and men in sports and share locker rooms and restrooms.

It could also allow courts to reduce free speech and religious liberties, by preventing churches and other organizations from teaching principles that are misaligned with these new rights.

There is also concern that by removing any age discrimination, the amendment could preclude abortion restrictions, weaken age restrictions for the purchase of alcohol and marijuana, loosen age-based penalties for statutory rape, and threaten senior discounts included senior housing.

Sterlace-Accorsi spoke on the possibility of abortion becoming a constitutional state right.

“If passed, it not only constitutionalizes the right to destroy unborn human beings through the whole nine months of pregnancy on demand, which we have in practice under the Reproductive Health Act, but not per the letter of the law. But also, Prop 1 threatens the few safeguards that exist in New York surrounding abortion and it jeopardizes the ability of the New York State Legislature to enact and implement common sense standards or requirements regarding abortion including parental notification when minors seek abortion, informed consent which is distribution of information to abortion patients containing published peer reviewed studies on abortion’s negative healthful impacts. There are mega studies that show abortion increases a woman’s risk of suicide, depression and anxiety, as well as substance abuse. If the state Legislature were ever to enact a law that required abortion providers to share this information with women, under Prop 1 it would be considered unconstitutional.”

Currently in New York, In New York, abortions are available up to and including 24 weeks of pregnancy. After 24 weeks, abortions are available if the mother’s health or pregnancy is at risk.

Cheryl Calire, director of Life Ministries for the Diocese of Buffalo spoke on the formation of a new ecumenical non-profit organization, Eternal Choice of Love, that has bought an empty lot next to the Buffalo Women Services Clinic on Main Street in Buffalo. A goal of Calire’s for 12 years, this will allow for peaceful, prayerful protests against abortion at any time. It will also circumvent a proposed 100-foot buffer zone around abortion clinics. The current buffer is 15 feet.

“Providentially, we own that lot. They cannot tell us we can’t pray on that half acre lot we own right next to the clinic,” Calire said. 

Eternal Choice of Love is partnering with Catholic Health and the Knights of Columbus to obtain a Save the Storks van to offer pregnancy testing, sonograms and compassionate support free of cost.

Calire met with Save the Storks CEO Diane Ferraro last year.

“They are very interested in helping us. So, you’re going to be hearing a lot more about raising money for this van that can pull up on that lot, and we can offer an alternative for women going in for their sonogram to see how far along they are or to make their decision,” Calire said, adding she hopes to have the van running next year at this time.

Other speakers included Rev. Arthur Ward from St. Bartholomew Anglican Church; Jason McGuire, executive director of New York Families Foundation; and Michael Bonning of Compass Care.

Father Steven Jekielek, vicar forane for Niagara-Orleans, represents Bishop Michael W. Fisher on the New York Pastors for Life. He said he encourages the priests in his vicariate to speak against abortion and the proposed amendment. 

“It’s always very difficult because you know you’re going to upset some people, but we need to have the courage of the Gospel behind us in order to continue to freely speak and not worry about what people might think about us or the message we are providing,” he said.