By Kate Quinones | Catholic News Agency
The Colorado Catholic bishops are urging state Gov. Jared Polis to veto a bill that would put at least $1.5 million of public funding annually toward Medicaid-covered abortions.
The Tuesday open letter — co-signed by Archbishop Samuel Aquila and Auxiliary Bishop Jorge Rodriguez of the Archdiocese of Denver, Bishop James Golka of Colorado Springs, and Bishop Stephen Berg of Pueblo — urged the governor “to consider the millions of Coloradans who do not want their hard-earned tax dollars to be used in the destruction of human life.”
The legislation would require the state Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to cover abortions for Medicaid and Child Health Plan Plus participants. The bill passed the state House earlier this week and the state Senate in March.
In the letter, the Colorado bishops expressed their “deep disappointment and grave concern” over the bill, saying it “violates the dignity of human life,” “disregards the safety of women,” and neglects “the conscience rights of millions of Coloradans who do not want to pay for abortion.”