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CV NEWS FEED // Nebraska voters rejected a radical pro-abortion amendment on their ballot and instead passed a state constitutional amendment that protects unborn life, with few exceptions, after the first trimester of pregnancy.
Nebraska Sen. Pete Ricketts, who previously served as the state’s governor for eight years, celebrated the outcome. He had put in efforts to fight the radical pro-abortion Initiative 439, and, earlier this year, he made headlines when he donated $500,000 to the Protect Women and Children ballot initiative.
“Nebraskans delivered a glorious victory for life this week,” Ricketts told CatholicVote in a November 7 written statement.
“We sent a clear message to the nation that electoral fights on pro-life values are winnable,” he added. “I hope our strategy helps other states reject similar efforts by out-of-state, radical activists and the pro-abortion lobby.”
On November 5, voters rejected Initiative 439, which would have enshrined abortion in the state’s constitution as a “fundamental right” up to the point of “fetal viability,” according to Ballotpedia. It also would have allowed for abortion if the health or life of the mother was at risk.
The amendment did not specify what week of pregnancy marked “fetal viability,” but described “fetal viability” as when the expectant mother’s “treating health care practitioner” determined that the unborn child is highly likely to survive outside the womb “without the application of extraordinary medical measures.”
On a webpage about the initiatives, the Nebraska Catholic Conference, which represents the Catholic bishops of the state, stated that Initiative 439 was “intrinsically evil.”
Rivaling 439 was Initiative 434, which prohibits abortions after the first trimester except in instances of medical emergencies, sexual assault, or incest. The Nebraska Catholic Conference webpage noted that Initiative 434 “does not affect Nebraska’s current pro-life law which protects preborn babies at 12 weeks,” with few exceptions.
The webpage states that the Catholic bishops encouraged voters to support Initiative 434, on the conditions that, in part, the voters understand that abortion is always wrong, that 434 “is an imperfect alternative” to 439, and that 434 is “an incremental step toward full protection of all human life from abortion, and not as a permanent compromise.”
“Supporters must remain committed to the effort of recognizing the right to life of all preborn children,” the webpage reads.
The Associated Press called the race in the early hours of November 6, announcing that 439 had failed to pass, and 434 had passed. According to Ballotpedia, 55.32% voted in favor of Initiative 434, and 44.68% voted against it.
The vote on 439 was closer, with 51.34% voting against it, and 48.66% voting in favor of it, according to Ballotpedia.
In a statement shared via email with CatholicVote, the Catholic Bishops Nebraska expressed gratitude for the outcome.
“Praise be to God for an inspiring victory for Nebraska women and children! We are overjoyed at the prudent defeat of Initiative 439 and the success of Initiative 434,” stated Archbishop George J. Lucas and Bishops James D. Conley and Joseph G. Hanefeldt.
“Nebraskans have sent a clear message to the rest of our nation: Nebraska is a pro-life state that will stand up for its most vulnerable citizens,” they continued.
The bishops also expressed thanks to the many citizens who put in pro-life efforts leading up to voting day.
“We are grateful for the thousands of Nebraskans who worked tirelessly to ensure that their neighbors understood Initiative 439’s flaws,” they stated. “Their dedication and hard work are reflected in this victory, and we rejoice with them.”
They also emphasized that their efforts to support families in Nebraska will continue.
“As we celebrate this important victory for life and the dignity of the human person, we reaffirm our longstanding commitment to every mother, father, child, and family in our state, to work for their support, and to be, in the words of Pope Francis, ‘islands of mercy in a sea of indifference,’” they wrote. “We call on every Nebraskan to join us in this mission of mercy, love, and unyielding resolve.”
