Psalm 32:9 “Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.”

“God has a plan for each and every one of us, and it is not to sit on the bench on this particular issue. You must get in the game. It is up to each of us to make sure people understand what this bill contains.”

This is from Governor Mike Parsons in an interview about the November 5 vote on Amendment 3, called the ‘Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative.’ “The big concern is that they put this as a Constitutional Amendment. If this passes, it would take 2/3 of the legislative body to change it.” Once law, it’s irreversible.

This week’s verse relates very well to Amendment 3. With $25M of false ads from Pro-Abortion advocates, Missourians can easily be led like the horse by their bridal because they have not actually read and understood the language in Amendment 3. Let’s look at 5 elements of this bill to ensure you understand it.

#1. Section 2: Transgender treatments, including sex change surgery. It defines reproductive freedom rights to include “all matters relating to reproductive health care, including but not limited to prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, abortion care, miscarriage care and respectful birthing conditions.”

Mary Catherine Martin, an attorney with the Catholic legal organization Thomas More Society, untangles the ambiguity: “I would love to hear a credible argument that replacing one’s reproductive organs is not a matter relating to reproductive health care, because that’s the only way it’s not covered by this. This is an ACLU Christmas list that includes legalizing gender-affirming health care.”

The ACLU currently represents transgender children and their parents to challenge Missouri’s 2023 law that restricts minors from accessing cross-sex hormones, puberty blockers and gender-affirming surgeries. Amendment 3 intentionally made it ambiguous by saying “all matters relating to reproductive health care.”

#2. Section 3: Abortion rights throughout pregnancy and transgender treatment to minors/children. It says that “any government regulation in this area must not infringe on that person’s autonomous decision making.” Multiple Missouri Supreme Court decisions have indicated that persons include children. If Amendment 3 passes it will be cited to invalidate any law requiring parental consent notification for minors seeking abortion or transgender treatment.

#3. Section 4: Guarantees a right to late term abortion up to 9th month of pregnancy. It says the government can regulate abortion up to fetal viability, but it adds the broad exception “…unless it’s in the good faith judgment of a treating health care professional…” that the abortion “…is needed to protect the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant person.” This refers to a US Supreme Court’s ruling that health exceptions include emotional or psychological reasons, which could apply for all 9 months.

#4. Section 4: Allows abortions to be performed by someone not licensed in MO as physician.

Missouri Law Title XII (Public Health & Welfare), Section 188.015, definition 10 for “reasonable medical judgment” is “a medical judgment made by a reasonably prudent PHYSICIAN…” Definition 9 for “physician” is “any person licensed to practice medicine in this state by the state board of registration for the healing arts.” This bill defines the person performing the abortion or sex change operation as “a treating health care professional,” without giving any qualifications for this professional (allows unlicensed practitioners).

#5. Section 5: Makes Abortions Much Less Safe than Current MO Laws. It says, “Nor shall any person assisting a person in exercising their right to reproductive freedom with that person’s consent be penalized, prosecuted, or otherwise subjected to adverse action for doing so.” This means no person who assists in providing reproductive health care – an abortion or sex change surgery – shall be subject to an adverse action, which could include a tort liability suit against someone from malpractice injuring the patient.

Summary – Amendment 3 is dangerous: It redefines the qualifications of health care professionals and shields them from liability if they perform an abortion or sex change operation on children without getting parent consent. They become self-regulated, with no external health and safety standards placed on them.

Back to God’s Word: “Do not be like the horse or mule, which have no understanding so can be controlled.” Missourians must not allow $25M worth of ads to persuade you. Vote NO on Amendment 3.

“The Evidence of Faith’s Substance” _ Article #630