A week remains before Ohio voters decide whether the state will protect access to abortion rights.
Both pro-life supporters and abortion activists are flooding the state with advertising pushing their stances.
However, Ohio abortion proponents have raised three times more than their opponents, Ohio Capital Journal reported.
An organization called Catholics for Choice has set up billboards throughout the state encouraging Catholics to support the abortion referendum, Catholic News Agency (CNA) reported.
Catholics for Choice recently announced it will set up 30 billboards across the state, including the seven largest metropolitan areas.
One billboard reads: "Pro-choice Catholics: you are not alone. Vote Yes on Issue 1."
That's despite the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issuing a fact sheet saying: "The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: 'Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable.'"
Issue 1 would allow every person to have the legal choice on abortion, contraception, fertility treatment, miscarriage care and continuing a pregnancy.
Although the language allows for some restrictions on abortion after "viability," which normally occurs at 24 weeks of pregnancy, pro-life organizations have warned that the ambiguous language of the measure could allow abortion up until birth and remove parental consent and notification rules for minors getting abortions, CNA reported.
"It is sad that a group of individuals who identify as Catholics would promote a message that endangers pregnant women and vulnerable children," Brian Hickey, executive director for the Catholic Conference of Ohio, told CNA.
"We pray they convert to Christ's message of solidarity with the marginalized and join the Church's commitment to accompanying migrants, the poor, and all vulnerable people."
Rachel Del Guidice, communication director for Ohio Right to Life, says that all Catholics in Ohio most vote "no" on Issue 1.
"It is imperative that every Catholic in the state votes 'no.' No Catholic in good conscience can turn a blind eye to Nov. 7. If Ohio Catholics vote 'yes,' and Issue 1 passes, we will be culpable for allowing this diabolical evil in our state," Del Guidice wrote in The Catholic Times.
"Catholics have a duty and an obligation to stand for life. If we believe the most basic tenets of our faith, we can't in good conscience stand on the sidelines."
Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, who is Catholic, has appeared in a recent ad with his wife urging "no" votes and warning the proposal is "not right for Ohio," The Washington Post reported.
Charlie McCarthy ✉
Charlie McCarthy, a writer/editor at Newsmax, has nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics.
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