VOTE NO!

 

EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT
PROPOSAL ONE

 

WHAT CATHOLICS IN
NEW YORK STATE
SHOULD KNOW

What is the "Equal Rights Amendment" or "Proposal One"?

A referendum that is on the general election ballot for this November is asking voters to approve or reject what is known as an Equal rights Amendment to the New York State Constitution. While some of the language of the proposed amendment is unobjectionable, the New York State Catholic Conference, which represents the Bishops of New York State in public policy matters, strongly opposes the referendum for important reasons.

What changes are being proposed?

The Equal Rights Amendment (Proposal One on November’s ballot) would add new language to the New York State Constitution (Article 1, Section 11). The NEW proposed language is in CAPITAL letters:

A - "No person shall be denied the equal protection of the laws of this state or any subdivision thereof. No person shall, because of race, color, ETHNICITY, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AGE, DISABILITY, creed [or], religion, OR SEX, INCLUDING SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, GENDER EXPRESSION, PREGNANCY, PREGNANCY OUTCOMES, AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE AND AUTONOMY, be subjected to any discrimination in [his or her] THEIR civil rights by any other person or by any firm, corporation, or institution, or by the state or any agency or subdivision of the state, PURSUANT to law."

B - "NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL INVALIDATE OR PREVENT THE ADOPTION OF ANY LAW, REGULATION, PROGRAM, OR PRACTICE THAT IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT OR DISMANTLE DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF A CHARACTERISTIC LISTED IN THIS SECTION, NOR SHALL ANY CHARACTERISTIC LISTED IN THIS SECTION BE INTERPRETED TO INTERFERE WITH, LIMIT, OR DENY THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF ANY PERSON BASED UPON ANY OTHER CHARACTERISTIC IDENTIFIED IN THIS SECTION."

What could the Equal Rights Amendment do?

Loosen age-appropriate restrictions.

Common sense age-restrictions on “sexual freedom” and the potential “right to die” may be endangered.

Allow children to make life-altering medical decisions without parental consent.

Children experiencing gender confusion may be able to seek gender reassignment therapies and surgeries without parental consent or knowledge.

Enshrine abortion up until birth in the New York State Constitution.

Abortion limitations to protect women and children could become impossible to pass. Conscience protections of health care professionals and individuals might also be threatened.

Erode freedom of religious protections.

Churches, religious organizations and charitable institutions could lose existing and future protections if they are seen as contrary to these newly created “rights.”

Learn More

The Coalition to Protect Kids-NY (CTPKNY) Website: This Coalition is a nonpartisan ballot issue committee registered with the New York State Board of Elections formed as the formal opposition to the amendment. The NYS Catholic Conference and our local Diocese support the goal of the CTPKNY to defeat the amendment. It is comprised of a diversity of people from all walks of life, organizations across the state, and from both secular and faith-based communities that have come together to oppose and defeat the ERA, particularly because of the dangers it presents to parents and children.