Missourians voted Tuesday to overturn the state’s near-ban on abortion and include a provision guaranteeing “reproductive freedom” in the state constitution.

Voters Amendment 3 narrowly approved on Nov. 5, which adds a “fundamental right to reproductive freedom” to the state constitution, threatening to undo decades of pro-life progress.

Missouri was one of the first states to completely ban abortion after the fall of Roe v. Wade in 2022 and has not had a functioning abortion clinic in its territory for years.

The measure prohibits “any regulation of abortion, including regulations intended to protect women undergoing abortion, and prohibits any civil or criminal remedy against anyone who performs an abortion and harms or kills pregnant women.” according to the Secretary of State’s office.

It states that the government “shall not deny or infringe on a person’s fundamental right to reproductive freedom,” including “prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, health care in matters of abortion, care in the event of miscarriage and respectful conditions of childbirth.

The amendment is set to take effect Dec. 6, marking years of litigation as abortion supporters are expected to file lawsuits to strip away every one of Missouri’s pro-life protections in light of the new constitutional provision.

The inclusion of the amendment on the ballot paper was subject to a long legal battle Earlier this year, pro-lifers argued that the final proposed text not only violated state law by failing to list the laws it would repeal, but also misled voters about the scope and severity what they would vote for. The Missouri Supreme Court ultimately voted 4-3 to allow the measure to go before voters.

Missouri law currently extends protection to unborn babies throughout pregnancy, with the sole exception of “medical emergencies.”

Down, but not out

Catholic and pro-life groups reacted with dismay to the news of Amendment 3’s passage, but expressed their commitment to continuing to fight in court against the liberalization of abortion laws in Missouri.

THE Missouri Catholic Conference (MCC), which advocates a policy on behalf of the state’s Catholic bishops, had previously called Amendment 3 “an extreme constitutional amendment that legalizes abortion at any stage of pregnancy without any protection for the unborn child, even when the child is capable of feeling pain.”

MCC released a statement on November 6 expressing sadness that voters chose not to protect the vulnerable, emphasizing the Church’s commitment to protecting the dignity of all human life, especially women and children.

Tuesday’s result “does not mark the end of our work,” the bishops noted.

“We reaffirm our commitment to walking with mothers and fathers facing unplanned pregnancies, as well as parents facing difficulties in their pregnancies. For women who have been harmed by abortion, the Church will continue to provide true hope and healing,” they continued.

“We are grateful to the Catholic faithful, the clergy and all people of good will who worked tirelessly during this election to defend the dignity of the human person. It is important to remember that our faith calls us to continue to promote and proclaim the inherent dignity of each person. Let us continue to pray and work for greater recognition of the gift of every human life in our society.

A spokesperson for Missouri stands with women, the main pro-life political group opposed to the amendment, told CNA it plans to continue its advocacy efforts in the state despite the fact that it massively underfunded by the pro-abortion lobby.

“This is not the outcome we wanted, but despite millions of dollars spent, life has won in the majority of Missouri counties,” noted Stephanie Bell.

“Our work to protect the safety of women and the dignity of life continues. Pro-life advocates will not stand idly by while Big Abortion works to dismantle all the health and safety protections put in place to protect women and babies. We will continue to fight and ultimately achieve victory against the forces that see no value in life. »

Mary Catherine Martin, senior attorney at the Thomas More Society, a Catholic law firm that challenged the amendment in court, reported that the company was prepared to take further legal action.

“Missouri residents have been tragically misled by a sweeping misinformation campaign funded by out-of-state millionaires and other mega-corporations who will profit from abortion and gender-based ‘care’ to women and children of Missouri,” Martin said in a statement.

“The Thomas More Society will not abandon Missouri in this post-Amendment 3 world. We stand ready to help defend the rights of Missouri’s parents, women, children and babies against planned assaults by supporters of the ‘Amendment 3.’

Mary Elizabeth Coleman, a Missouri state senator who joined the lawsuit challenging the amendment, expressed her commitment to further political action, including the possibility of bringing a new vote on the abortion to the people of Missouri.

“This won’t be the last time Missourians vote on so-called “reproductive rights,” which have been co-opted by the left to include gender transition surgeries for children without parental consent, and I will do everything what is in my power to ensure that the vote takes place,” Coleman said.

Deacon Sam Lee, a St. Louis-based pro-life lobbyist who works with Missouri Stands With Women, told CNA last week that Missouri Catholics stepped up their prayer efforts in the final days before the election.

Notably, Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski of St. Louis urged all Catholics to participate in prayer and fasting ahead of the election, personally leading a special Mass and Holy Hour at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis on November 3 .

Lee described last week seeing numerous “No to Amendment 3” signs posted by Catholics in the St. Louis area. He also said he encouraged Catholics to inform their family members, friends and neighbors about the amendment and its implications, in an effort to counter the influence of well-funded pro-abortion organizations that support abortion. Amendment 3.

The deacon previously told CNA that the broad language of “reproductive freedom” could have unintended consequences beyond abortion, such as guaranteeing the right for minors to seek gender transition procedures without consent. of their parents.

Elsewhere on Election Day, voters in Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota voted against the main pro-abortion proposals, marking the first electoral victories for pro-life advocates since the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Seven other states, including Missouri, saw voters approve measures to expand abortion.