Denver Catholic

9 DENVER CATHOLIC | JULY 2022 including policy and education organizations and crisis pregnancy centers. Pro-Life Col- orado joined together to stop the extreme Reproductive Health Equity Act (RHEA). Each individual organization does amazing work for thousands of women, families and pre-born children across the state of Colo- rado. But as a coalition, their voice is even stronger when directed at a single common issue of concern. For instance, Pro-Life Colo- rado's first act as a coalition was to host the rally at the Capitol against RHEA, bringing in nearly 1,000 people with only two days' notice, which began as the House 24-hour filibuster concluded. Together, Pro-Life Colorado will continue to fight together against RHEA and future pro-abortion initiatives, and as a coalition we will advance policy that promotes the sanc- tity of life from conception. This includes preparing to address the influx of women coming into Colorado because, as pro-abor- tion lawmakers put it, Colorado is now a "safe haven" of late-term abortion in the country. 1 1  State Sen. Brittany Petterson (@petterson4co) tweet from March 23, 2022; Statement from Sen. Julie Gonzalez marking the signing of RHEA. cohousedems.com/joint-release-signed-historic-reproductive-health-equity-act-becomes-law-in-colorado Pro-Life Colorado's establish- ment is indispensable considering pro-abortion advocates' future plans for our state. Planned Parent- hood, Cobalt, and Colorado Orga- nization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR) announced that they are planning a 2024 ballot proposition to allow Colorado tax-payer dollars to be used for abortion by removing Col- orado's current constitutional pro- tection (1984 ballot prop) against public funding for abortion. If they are successful, Colorado will be the most extreme abortion state in the country: allowing abortion up-to-the moment of birth (pos- sibly even after) for any reason, removing all "independent and derivative rights" from "fertilized eggs, embryos or fetuses" (e.g. pre- born children at all stages of devel- opment), potentially removing the notification requirement for minors who have an abortion, and forcing all Colorado taxpayers to pay for the brutal murder of inno- cent children in the womb. Coloradans do not want to be the most extreme abortion state in the country. In 2020, 1.3 million Coloradans voted for Proposition 115 to prohibit abortion at 22-weeks viability. A 2020 Cygnal poll showed 63% of Coloradans believe there should be some restrictions on abortion. This is consistent with 2020 national Gallup polling that has found only 29% of Americans want completely unrestricted abortion, while 71% want some restrictions. The ardent display of public opposition, despite pro-abortion lawmakers' attempts to stifle their voices clearly shows that the majority of Colorado's cit- izens do not support this abortion extremism. RHEA, the 2024 ballot initiative, and other efforts by pro-abortion activists align with the extreme minority that want unrestricted abortion for the full 40-weeks of pregnancy. ⊲ P R O - L I FE CO LO R A D O M E M B E R O R G A N IZ ATI O N S I N CLU D E: A Caring Pregnancy Center Alternatives Pregnancy Center Be Their Village Bella Health + Wellness Catholic Charities Denver Catholic Medical Association Colorado Catholic Conference Centennial Institute (Colorado Christian University) Colorado for Life Colorado Right to Life Culture of Life Colorado Democrats for Life Family Policy Alliance Focus on the Family Life Decisions Northern Colorado for Life Pikes Peak Citizens for Life Respect Life Apostolate, Colorado Springs Respect Life Denver Save the Storks Students for Life Action Students for Life of America Photo by Olivia Britt Photography

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