Archbishop Cordileone on CA’s Prop 1, abortion, Nancy Pelosi, pro-life work

Californians will go to the polls on November 8^th to vote on Proposition 1, which would “amend the California Constitution to prohibit the state from denying or interfering with an individual’s reproductive freedom in their most intimate decisions, which includes their fundamental right to choose to have an abortion and their fundamental right to choose or refuse contraceptives.” Current California law allows abortion up to the age of viability (set at about 24 weeks) and late-term abortion should a medical professional argue it is necessary to protect the life or health of the mother. Proposition 1 was placed on the ballot by the Democrat-dominated California legislature in response to the U.S. Supreme Court overturning the Roe v. Wade decision earlier this year.

The California Catholic Conference, which lobbies the state government on issues of importance to the state’s bishops, has urged a “no” vote on Proposition 1, stating the measure would “enshrine the explicit right to abortion in our state constitution, setting a nationwide precedent. It is the most egregious expansion of abortion this country has ever seen.”

The Catechism of the Catholic Church reiterated the Church’s condemnation of abortion, noting, “Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law …” (2271) The rights of the unborn must be protected by civil legislation, the Catechism adds, citing the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith’s 1987 document Donum vitae: “The inalienable rights of the person must be recognized and respected by civil society and the political authority.” (2273)

San Francisco’s Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone has long been a public advocate for the rights of the unborn. In 2021, he issued his first pastoral letter “Before I Formed You in the Womb I Knew You: A Pastoral Letter on the Human Dignity of the Unborn, Holy Communion and Catholics in Public Life.” On May 19, 2022, he announced that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who identifies herself as a devout Catholic and lobbies for legalized abortion, may no longer present herself for Holy Communion until she publicly repents of her pro-abortion views. On August 22, 2002, he penned a letter to his archdiocese asking its parishioners to vote “no” on Proposition 1, and support the California Catholic Conference’s efforts to defeat the measure, including participation in a novena to the Blessed Mother which began September 29.

Archbishop Cordileone spoke earlier today with Catholic World Report about Proposition 1.

CWR: Proposition 1 says that the state may not deny or interfere with an individual’s “fundamental right to choose to have an abortion.” There is no specific time period within pregnancy designated during which an abortion is allowed; do you think the courts will interpret that to mean any woman in this state may have an abortion up until the time of birth?

Archbishop Cordileone: It could certainly be interpreted that way and would become the law in California unless it were to conflict with federal legislation. Not only that, reproductive freedom can involve a lot of other things, such as surrogacy. But the proposition, as written, would seem to allow abortion in all nine months of pregnancy up to birth. But it ignores that once conception has taken place, reproduction has already happened.

CWR: This could allow for late-term abortions, which a majority of Californians oppose.

Archbishop Cordileone: Yes. Our challenge it to get voters to realize that a “no” vote would keep the abortion laws as they are, which are already quite liberal. There is no regulation allowed in the first six months of pregnancy, and during the last trimester, abortion is allowed if there is a threat to the life or health of the mother. This is some limit, but Proposition 1 would lift even that.

I think the public is conflicted on this issue. Many realize abortion kills an innocent human life, but cannot imagine a situation where this option is not allowed. We need to help people envision a world without abortion, where every baby is welcomed.

CWR: The California Catholic Conference worries that California’s leadership is trying to make California into an “abortion sanctuary,” allocating $200 million in the state budget to pay for abortions not only for Californians, but out-of-state residents. Do you share this concern?

Archbishop Cordileone: Absolutely. California’s political leadership is already taking steps in that direction and using that terminology. The irony is that a sanctuary is designed to protect life, whereas these measures harm it. I believe we could see the situation where pregnant women from out-of-state are being brought into California for abortions, with the California taxpayer paying all their expenses, including housing, meals, transportation, childcare if they have other children, and the like. I don’t think many taxpayers would like this.

CWR: How else do you think Proposition 1 might adversely affect the State of California?

Archbishop Cordileone: I’m more worried about how it will affect other states, bringing in women from these places for abortions. It furthers the mentality that pregnancy is an inconvenience and that abortion is the only option a woman has. We don’t think about adoption any more, as it is more complicated, but ends up in the happy choice of life.

All the focus is on abortion. We have plenty of money to pay for abortions, but no money for crisis pregnancy centers, which can help a woman to have her child. In fact, we’re seeing some of these privately funded clinics being the target of vandalism. Why not fund these crisis pregnancy centers, which truly offer women a choice?

CWR: What was your reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade?

Archbishop Cordileone: I wasn’t sure what to expect beforehand, and I may have been a bit surprised by the decision. I thought they might come up with a “middle-of-the-road” decision that kept Roe in place; but in reality, Dobbs was a middle-of-the-road decision. It did not “take away the right to abortion” that some allege, but restored the right of states to make their own laws about abortion. The court reaffirmed a basic democratic principle, that the people have the right to decide what the law should be themselves.

CWR: Proposition 1 also says that the state may not interfere with an individual’s “fundamental right to choose or refuse contraceptives.” Although Church teaching prohibits married couples from using artificial contraceptives, I am not aware of any movement seeking to outlaw them. Why do you suppose this is part of the proposition?

Archbishop Cordileone: That’s a good question. We heard alarm bells going off from those who claim that Dobbs would lead the court to rescind other decisions it had made, so perhaps it was in reaction to that.

CWR: Every January you have the West Coast Walk for Life event, with thousands gathering and walking in opposition to abortion through the streets of San Francisco. When you’ve talked to participants, what does it tell you about the state of the pro-life movement in the U.S.?

Archbishop Cordileone: It is very strong. We got to this point of the Dobbs decision by the court through a lot of activism in different arenas, including by political activity from those who have that calling. We’ve also seen a growth in crisis pregnancy clinics that offer women choices other than abortion. And, I think we’ve changed the cultural mindset a bit, making people realize how violent abortion is. The public is conflicted, as I have said, they don’t like abortion.

I’ve also observed a vibrancy at the Walk for Life. It is dominated by young people, and I believe the momentum is with us.

CWR: Earlier this year, you announced that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi would not be admitted to Holy Communion because of her pro-abortion advocacy while identifying herself as a devout Catholic. What reaction has this decision drawn, and do you still believe it was the right one to make?

Archbishop Cordileone: I’ve received a lot of positive reaction from people who have expressed their gratitude and support. There has also been some negative criticism, but most of the response that directed to me has been supportive.

I am absolutely certain I made the right decision. I struggled with it a long time, prayed about it, fasted about it, and consulted Church leaders who I respect and who offered different viewpoints. It got to the point that it was clear in my head it was something I had to do.

CWR: For Catholics not well aware of the moral teachings of the Church, what is Catholic teaching on abortion? Is it ever permissible for Catholics to have abortions or assist those who do?

Archbishop Cordileone: It is Catholic teaching that it is an intrinsic evil to intentionally take an innocent human life. Intrinsic means it is always wrong.

The question of when human life begins, however, is not a matter of religious teaching but of science. If it were merely a matter of religious belief, then necessarily one person’s religious belief would have to be imposed on the whole country. But when life begins is a matter of scientific fact. At the moment of fertilization, a new life is created with a unique set of DNA, so it can never be right to procure an abortion, just as it would never be right to kill a newborn baby.

Those pushing hard for abortion have to ask themselves, “Why are you limiting a woman’s rights?” If it is okay to have an abortion a day before a baby is born, why not the day after? Why not a month later, or six months or a year? Why can’t a young mother, after having a baby and raising that child for six months say, “I can’t do this. It is too hard,” and be allowed to kill that child?

I think we’d have to say it would be because people have an emotional revulsion to killing a newborn baby—which is a positive thing that we’re showing a bit of conscience—but is really a flimsy basis for law. Rather than our emotions, laws need to be grounded in sound reasoning, that human life begins at conception and must be protected.

CWR: What would you like Catholics to do? You’ve asked people to join in a novena, which began September 29.

Archbishop Cordileone: Yes. We want them to do the novena prayer to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary to Defeat Proposition 1. We also invite them to pray, fast, advocate, and speak to their family and friends about it. Put a sign in front of your house, speak to a co-worker or neighbor. Don’t be afraid to share your views.

CWR: In Ephesians 6:12, St. Paul says, “For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Do you see the fight over abortion as both a spiritual and political battle?

Archbishop Cordileone: Absolutely. This is fundamentally a spiritual battle of the forces of light versus the forces of darkness. We see in Scripture that the ancient Israelites were tempted to align themselves with their pagan neighbors, which included worshiping their false gods. This included sacrificing their children to Molech. Psalm 106 mentions this [“They worshipped those nation’s false gods, till they found themselves entrapped, and sacrificed their own sons and their daughters to demons.” — Psa 106: 36-37] There was a clear prohibition against this practice in Leviticus [“You shall not give any of your children to devote them by fire to Molech, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.”— Lev 18:21].

In a biblical mentality, an idol is the same as a demon, so they would be sacrificing their children to demons. So, yes, abortion is something demonic. I couldn’t help but notice that a Satanic temple was among the first to challenge Texas’ 2021 anti-abortion law.

CWR: Do you have any other comments?

Archbishop Cordileone: To be truly pro-life is to provide the measures needed to build a culture of life. I am proud of the Catholics and other Christians who run crisis pregnancy clinics, which are privately funded and staffed primarily by volunteers. They provide real love and support to women during a period of crisis, when they may feel isolated and pressured to get abortions. These clinics give them all the help they need, medical and otherwise. This may include diapers, formula, baby clothes and blankets, or information about adoption or finding a job. They surround the expectant mother with love and support, and this is a culture of love that we need to build.

We are anti-abortion, but we are also truly pro-life.