Urge U.S. Senators to Vote Against Abortion-Expanding Amendment
April 24, 2023
Dear Friends,
Senate Democrats this week are expected to resurrect the Equal Rights Amendment and call for a roll call vote on the amendment that has long since run out of time. A vote could come as early as Thursday.
The amendment was first passed by Congress in 1972 and then required ratification by 38 states in order to become part of the Constitution. Congress set a 1982 deadline for ratification, and when that deadline came and went, only 35 states had ratified it. Since then, some states have changed their minds.
These Democrat leaders apparently care nothing about the will of the states, the law, or the Constitution itself.
The text of the amendment is innocuous enough: "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.”
Fact is – the Constitution already protects women, just as it protects men! There is no need for a separate amendment.
But the devil is in the details that are not spelled out. In reality, the ERA would be a disaster for the unborn, and for women. Potential ramifications include:
- Legalizing abortion on demand.
- Prohibiting schools from allowing separate-sex athletic teams.
- Prohibiting separate prisons for male and female prisoners.
- Prohibiting separate public restrooms for males and females.
- Requiring women to register for the draft.
- Requiring public funding for sex-reassignment surgeries based on the argument that denying coverage would constitute sex discrimination.
- Requiring doctors to provide puberty blockers to children who claim to identify as transgender.
- Prohibiting religious organizations from having single-sex membership.
In 2020, Virginia became the 38th state to ratify the ERA, an action that was meaningless because the deadline had passed 38 years previously. Also, five states had long since rescinded their ratification, but no one has been able to say definitively that states are allowed to take back their votes on a proposed amendment.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s plan is to have the Senate declare the ERA already part of the U.S. Constitution, remove the 1982 ratification deadline and override the wishes of the five states that rescinded their approval. Sixty votes would be required for the resolution – S.J. Res. 4 – to pass. All Senate Democrats, the independents who vote with them and two Republicans – Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska – have co-sponsored the measure.
We must make sure no more Republicans cross the aisle to vote in favor of the ERA.
Also, Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi, a Republican, has introduced a counter measure, Senate Resolution 107, that cites court decisions to prove that Congress does not have the authority to act on a proposed amendment once it has been submitted to the states and lacks the authority to revive an expired proposed amendment.
There’s also an effort by Democrats in the House to take illegal actions on the ERA but it’s much more of a longshot.
The point here is not only to prevent a PR victory for the other side, but to stand against the tyrannical attitude that disregards the law and the will of the states.
Let’s make sure that Schumer’s illegal scheme fails.
Would you be willing to call both of your senators, Democrat and Republican, to ask them to vote against this Schumer effort? We know the Democrats will try every trick in the book to ensure taxpayer-supported abortion on demand becomes the law of the land. It’s the duty of every pro-life American to stop them.
Can I count on your help?
Click on this link to let us know that you will help and then you will be taken to a page with a website to find out how to contact your senator and a sample message to deliver.
Please act today, and please pass along this email to as many others you know who may be interested.
Thank you for being part of the Priests for Life Family!
Sincerely,
Pro-Life Leader Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life
This is the type of action that Priests for Life can take nationwide as we mobilize our movement. To help make it possible for Priests for Life to conduct campaigns such as this one, please click here and be as generous as you can.