The other day, I was wondering if all the advocacy to vote FOR 434 and to vote AGAINST 439 was becoming repetitive and tiresome, not just to me, but to those hearing it. After all, it’s been nearly a year since pro-abortion forces launched their extreme abortion proposal, Initiative 439. But, thankfully, two small providential moments provided me renewed insight and energy—and I hope they do the same for you.

First, Marion Miner, the NCC’s associate director of pro-life & family policy, wisely reminded me that as we head down the homestretch of this campaign trail, there will be many voters who haven’t been paying much attention. While some of us live and breathe politics, many people don’t. They’ve been checked out, or at least not wholly checked in. But they’ll be more attuned and making decisions about their votes in the days to come.

Second, I was reviewing polling data about Nebraskans and their attitudes toward Initiatives 434 and 439. The polling showed up to 20% of Nebraskans are undecided about the abortion-related ballot efforts. This is up from earlier polls showing 13-15% undecided voters. The increase in undecided voters could be attributed to voter confusion on the two ballots, or other causes. Regardless of why there is an uptick, these voters will arrive at firm decisions about their votes in the days to come.

These two stark realities renewed my commitment to protecting women and babies. And they led me to recall the words of the late Father Richard John Neuhaus: “We shall not weary, we shall not rest.”

These undecided voters need guidance on Initiatives 434 and 439—let’s not miss this crucial moment.

It is a providential opportunity to remind voters that Initiative 439 will lead to an unsafe, unregulated, and un-Nebraskan abortion legal regime, and we must vote AGAINST it. Initiative 439 will insert a “fundamental right to abortion” in our state constitution that will allow abortions late into a pregnancy, even into the second and third trimester. These unregulated abortion laws will harm women, as they’ll be subjected to unsafe abortion practices that the Nebraska Legislature will have little to no ability to regulate. It will cause babies in the 28th, 30th, 32nd, etc., weeks of pregnancy to be deemed as “non-viable” and subjected to abortion, a time at which they could survive if they were offered the humane and basic healthcare.

We can let them know that Initiative 439 is being pushed by the abortion lobbying, which includes out-of-state special interest groups pouring millions and millions of dollars to turn Nebraska into something it is not. And that the abortion industry stands to financially gain if 439 passes, while women, babies, and Nebraska stand to lose.

We must take time to reach out to five people a day and courageously communicate this message to family, friends, fellow parishioners, and other Nebraskans. The race isn’t over yet. Justice demands our involvement. The real lives of human beings—women and babies—demand our involvement.

The same goes for Initiative 434. We must tell people to vote FOR 434. This ballot measure offers the only real chance at defeating Initiative 439. It provides an alternative measure that protects current Nebraska abortion law, which is intended to provide common sense health and safety measures for women and babies. It provides protections to unborn babies in the second and third trimester, and ensures the Nebraska Legislature can further protect women from unsafe and coercive abortion practices. While imperfect in its protections, Catholics are urged to vote for Initiative 434.

In the days ahead, abortion special interest groups will amp up their spending. The money they pour into Nebraska through television, radio, and digital advertising is to be expected, and it will influence many people. But, that’s no reason to lose hope.

It’s only more reason to fight for the lives of women and babies. Equipped with prayer and the grace of God, we can have reasonable, charitable, and winsome conversations that influence the minds and hearts of Nebraskans on Initiatives 434 and 439.

If you need more information to equip you, visit www.voteFOR434.com and www.voteAGAINST439.com

“We shall not weary, we shall not rest.”