The Catholic Conference of Ohio participated in a press conference today to introduce a new bill prohibiting state funding that intentionally terminates human life at any stage and circumstance in Ohio.
Bills to prohibit state-funded death will soon be introduced in the Ohio Senate, led by Minority Leader Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) and Senator Steve Huffman (R-Tipp City), and in the Ohio House of Representatives, led by Representative Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon) and Representative Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland). Both bills reinforce current law banning state funding for abortion, abolish the death penalty, and expand protections against assisted suicide by linking these prohibitions together. Uniting the state’s prohibition on funding any one of these practices protects current pro-life laws, especially from future litigation, by binding them to broader bans on state funding. The bill places each provision in the same category in the Ohio Revised Code. While these issues have strong opinions on their own, the bills seek consensus that Ohioans’ tax dollars should not fund practices that they believe immorally end a human life.
Brian Hickey, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Ohio, spoke at the press conference in the Ohio Statehouse in support of the bills, stating:
“The Catholic Conference of Ohio fully supports this unique and urgent answer to the moral dangers facing our state and its fiscal consequences. Our taxpayer dollars should be used for the common good, not in a way that takes life and is opposed by more than half of Ohioans. We urge the House and Senate to act decisively to pass this bill, making Ohio a leader in affirming a culture of life.
The Catholic faith teaches us that every life is a gift, created in the image and likeness of God. This belief compels us to act with courage and compassion, especially when facing suffering. This legislation exemplifies that courage, offering a consistent and holistic affirmation of life that transcends partisanship by denying the state the ability to fund death.”
Next Steps
Once the bills are filed with the House and Senate Clerks, they will each be given a number and referred to committees. The committees will then hold public hearings to consider the bills (see the full legislative process here). The Catholic Conference of Ohio will keep CCO subscribers up-to-date on the progress of the new bills and provide opportunities for faithful citizens to advocate for their successful passage, as appropriate. Stay tuned for more information. In the meantime, please keep our bishops, the Ohio legislators, and the CCO staff in your prayers.