Over the past two weeks, Governor Terry McAuliffe made three
decisions that contradict life and liberty at their core. We
are dismayed and deeply disappointed that he sided with the
abortion industry over real health care centers, vetoed
legislation that would have protected the right of religious
organizations to follow their faith, and, instead of vetoing
expanded use of the electric chair, inserted language that
would shroud in secrecy the execution process.
We laid out our strong and clear stances in these matters in
a letter to the governor dated March 18. He arrived at
opposite decisions, however, despite our appeal and despite
intensive advocacy throughout many months by the Virginia
Catholic Conference and thousands of Catholic Virginians and
other people of goodwill throughout the state, as well as
certain dedicated legislators, to whom we are most grateful.
Governor McAuliffe chose a veto ceremony at a Planned
Parenthood abortion center – where the lives of countless
unborn children are snuffed out each year – to boast that he
was “proud” to “smack down” legislation that would have
diverted tax dollars away from the billion-dollar
life-draining abortion industry and instead would have
applied Virginia taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars toward
life-affirming community health centers that provide a broad
range of real health care for women and their families. We
are disappointed by the governor’s comments and decision, but
we are deeply grateful to all legislators who supported this
life-affirming measure, particularly Delegate Ben Cline, the
bill’s patron.
Only a day later, the governor also vetoed – live on WTOP
radio – legislation that simply would have protected the
right of religious organizations to follow their religious
beliefs regarding marriage, applying the exact principles the
founders of our Commonwealth and our country intended. The
governor alleged the bill was “nothing more than an attempt
to stigmatize” – an unfounded and completely erroneous
charge. Our Catholic agencies each year educate tens of
thousands of Virginia’s children; serve the poor and
vulnerable through food banks, homeless shelters, mental
health counseling and job training; and offer assistance to
refugees and immigrants. We do not “stigmatize”; we serve.
Though we certainly regret the governor’s action, we thank
all who stood with us with their votes, even in the face of
heated adversity and unfair and false rhetoric. We thank
especially Senator Bill Carrico and Delegate Todd Gilbert for
their leadership and persistent determination at each stage
of the bill’s consideration by the General Assembly.
Finally, last night, the governor refused to veto legislation
patroned by Delegate Jackson Miller that would force the
electric chair on those sentenced to death if the state says
lethal injection drugs are “not available” after “reasonable
efforts.” Instead the governor inserted language from
legislation rejected by the General Assembly last year that
would shroud in secrecy the execution process. Gov.
McAuliffe’s amendment would allow the state to special-order
the drugs from compounding pharmacies while keeping the
identities of those pharmacies and other information secret.
We argued against similar legislation last year because it
would hide from the public details about how the state exacts
the ultimate punishment. This action by the governor – and
the General Assembly – ignores a very public plea Pope
Francis made earlier this year that government leaders carry
out no executions in this Year of Mercy and abolish the death
penalty throughout the world. As we lament this action, we
also express our gratitude to all who voted against this
bill, especially Senator Scott Surovell, a death penalty
opponent, whose work against it was tireless.
We are profoundly disappointed with Governor McAuliffe’s
actions on these vital issues. Yet we will persist as people
of faith in our efforts – in parishes and the public square –
to ensure we protect life at the beginning, life at the end
and religious liberty for all who serve to make life better
for people in need.
