Colo. Gov. Ritter Lines Up Against So-Called 'Personhood' Initiative Despite Opposition To Abortion Rights

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 10 Oct 2008 - 7:00 PST

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On Tuesday at a rally, Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter (D), who opposes abortion rights, voiced his opposition to the state's Amendment 48 -- a November ballot initiative that would define a fertilized egg as a person in the state constitution -- the Denver Post reports (Hoover, Denver Post, 10/7). About 50 people joined Ritter at the rally to oppose the measure, including physicians, nurses and Jean Dubofsky, a former member of the Colorado Supreme Court (Wyatt, AP/Washington Examiner, 10/8).

The measure would amend the state constitution to define "any human being from the moment of fertilization" as a "person" for purposes of the state's constitutional provisions "relating to inalienable rights, equality of justice and due process of law" (Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 7/15). The measure "goes too far," Ritter said, adding, "It threatens medical care, and it would create a legal nightmare in our state." Physicians attending the rally supported Ritter's claims about the measure by saying it could prevent them from removing a fertilized egg imbedded in a woman's fallopian tube to avoid an ectopic pregnancy, which can lead to death or other complications, the Post reports.

Ritter said, "In spite of the fact that I'm pro-life, I can look at this and really find reasons I think it is just such an extreme position to take," adding, "My understanding is that there are things about calling a fertilized egg a person that do not square with the church doctrine." Tom Hooyman, professor of medical ethics at Regis University, said that although it is debatable whether the measure would be good public policy, the "official Roman Catholic Church teaching" is that "at the moment of fertilization ... that's a person and needs to be protected as a newborn." The Post reports that the Catholic Church is not supporting the amendment but not actively opposing it either. A statement from Colorado's three Catholic bishops said that the measure likely would be struck down by the courts and does not "provide a realistic opportunity for ending or even reducing abortions in Colorado."

Kristi Burton, sponsor of the measure, said Ritter's position "directly contradicts the overwhelming modern scientific evidence that now recognizes what we know in our hearts, from the moment of conception, a unique individual has been created" (Denver Post, 10/8).

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