An effort to amend the Kansas state constitution protecting abortion rights has failed in dramatic fashion, garnering only 41 percent of the vote in a deeply red state. The outcome will surely reverberate across the political world, but abortion may have an equally large impact on America’s religious landscape.
The move to repeal the Kansas state constitution protecting abortion rights was rejected by voters, but it enjoyed strong support from the Archdiocese of Kansas City. The New Yorker documents how the Catholic Church became heavily involved in the effort, despite reservations from many in the pews.
“The main financial backer of Value Them Both is the Catholic Church, which has contributed more than four million dollars. Much of the funding has come from the Archdiocese of Kansas City, led by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, who has said that abortion “entices and encourages women to attack an essential part of their femininity.” Naumann has made clear that he favors legislation t…
