I reported in last week’s column that we were due for a wild week, and expectations were exceeded. So, what happened?
First, last Monday, the Nebraska Supreme Court had oral arguments on both abortion-related ballot initiatives. The Court considered whether each initiative violated the “single-subject” rule, which prohibits a ballot measure from containing more than “one subject” in its proposal.
Nebraska’s high court said that neither initiative violated the single-subject rule and both could head to the November ballot.
Then, on Tuesday, the Nebraska Supreme Court held oral arguments on our school choice law, which the state teachers union is trying to take away from low-income students. Yours truly “got the nod” to present arguments in front of the Nebraska Supreme Court, an experience I never in my life would have expected to go through. It was exciting, and a whirlwind. Our argument to the Court was that it should tell the Secretary of State to keep our school choice law off that ballot because it is an appropriation for an expense of state government.
The Court did not side with our position, which was thoroughly disappointing. I’m most concerned about the harm this decision could have on kids and families looking for greater educational opportunities.
Written opinions on both matters were issued by the Court on Friday morning. Then, within several hours, the Nebraska Secretary of State issued ballot numbers for all ballot referenda and initiatives on this year’s ballot. Here’s what you can plan to see on your ballot:
> Initiative 434 – the pro-life ballot measure (Vote FOR this measure!)
> Referendum 435 – the teachers union attempt to repeal our school choice law for low-income families (vote to RETAIN LB1402, to make sure we can keep school choice in Nebraska)
> Initiatives 436 – paid family leave
> Initiatives 437, 438 – medical marijuana
> Initiative 439 – the pro-abortion ballot measure (vote AGAINST this measure!)
The next several weeks are going to be critical for Nebraska. We are faced with Initiative 439, which is a deceptive and extreme abortion measure that will be unsafe for women and babies, lead to unregulated abortion in our state, and is downright un-Nebraskan and will upend the culture of life we have been building to support moms and their children.
To learn more about this dangerous measure, please visit www.voteAGAINST439.com. There you can find important resources to learn from and share with family, friends, fellow parishioners, neighbors, enemies, you name it!
We, as Catholics, have a fundamental moral obligation to stand up for women who find themselves in difficult pregnancies and the unborn. Now is the time for us to do the hard work of helping voters learn why Initiative 439 is not the Nebraska way. This pro-abortion amendment will not be defeated by us sitting around hoping somebody else will do something. It will be defeated only by the sum of our individual and communal efforts
We need Catholics to pray and fast for 439’s defeat. We need Catholics to talk to five to 10 new people each week and explain to them why they should vote AGAINST 439. We also need volunteers to help us at the NCC (contact us if you can help: 402.477.7517 or nebrcc@necatholic.org). It’s all hands on deck.
The days are numbered until Nov. 5, which is Election Day. But not only that: Nebraskans will begin early voting in early October. This means people are making up their minds as you read this column. The call to action is urgent!
If you need courage, take St. Joan of Arc as a patroness and ask for her prayers! God bless!
