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The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops has filed a legal brief with the Florida Supreme Court opposing a ballot initiative that seeks to enshrine unfettered abortion access into the state constitution.

An extremely grave initiative is underway in Florida that seeks to erase pro-life protections by banning government regulation of abortion in our state constitution. A network of abortion activists is working to gather petition signatures to have a pro-abortion constitutional amendment, titled Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion, placed on the statewide ballot in the November 2024 election. In order to do so, they need nearly 900,000 signatures and are working right now in communities across Florida to collect them. 

On September 8, 2023, the Florida Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case brought by several pro-abortion groups challenging the constitutionality of Florida's 15-week abortion ban. A restriction on abortions after 15-weeks gestation was passed by the Florida legislature and signed into law by Governor DeSantis in April 2022. Join us in prayer from August 31 - September 8.

Today, the Florida legislature passed a prohibition on abortion in Florida after six-weeks gestation. The bill, SB 300, also contains provisions providing pregnancy and parenting support. Christie Arnold, associate for social concerns and respect life for the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) issued the following statement: “With the passage of the Heartbeat Protection Act, life is better respected and protected in the early stages of development."

On Monday, the Florida Senate passed the Heartbeat Protection Act, SB 300 (Grall), by a 26-13 vote. "For fifty years the killing of innocent children has been legal," said bill sponsor Senator Erin Grall during her closing speech.

After passing the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee by a 12-7 vote earlier in the week, SB 300 (Grall) was introduced on second reading in the Senate. Bill sponsor, Senator Erin Grall, answered numerous questions about the bill from members, and it was rolled to third reading. 

HB 7 (Persons-Mulicka) passed its first stop in the House on Thursday when the Healthcare Regulation Subcommittee found it favorable on a 13-5 vote. Michael Sheedy, FCCB executive director, sent a letter in support of the bill, and Christie Arnold, associate for social concerns and respect life, testified on behalf of the FCCB. 

Florida’s Catholic bishops have released a joint statement that observes January 22, 2023 as marking 50 years since the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade. The Catholic Church annually designates January 22 as a day of prayer and penance, called the "Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children.”

On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a landmark ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, overturning Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. In response, the bishops of Florida issued the following statement:

Today, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law HB 5 that limits abortions in Florida to the first 15 weeks of pregnancy. The new law also includes provisions to improve infant health and analyze and reduce fetal and infant mortality. In support of the governor’s action, the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops issued the following statement:

The bishops of Florida are elated to see the ruling by Judge Angela Dempsey of the Second Judicial Circuit Court upholding a 2015 state law that gives women 24 hours to reflect on information provided by physicians before proceeding with abortions

The Florida Senate voted to approve HB 5 by a 23-15 vote, after lengthy debate that concluded late in the evening on March 3. The House voted in favor of the bill with a 78-39 vote on February 17. 

TALLAHASSEE – The bishops of Florida commend Florida’s legislature for passing HB 5 that limits when abortions can be legally obtained in Florida to 15 weeks of pregnancy. This pro-life measure also includes provisions to improve infant health and analyze and reduce fetal and infant mortality.

An amendment filed by Senator Jason Pizzo would have funded an HLARC (Hormonal Long-acting Reversible Contraceptive) Program. Christie Arnold, associate for social concerns & respect life, testified in opposition to the amendment on behalf of the FCCB. HLARCs have detrimental effects on a woman's health and have abortifacient effects as they prevent embryos from implanting in the womb.

After nearly six hours of debate, the Florida House passed HB 5 (Grall) shortly after midnight on February 17. House members went back and forth sharing opposing perspectives and often emotional stories of how abortion has impacted their lives. The bill, which would prohibit abortion after 15-weeks of pregnancy, was passed with a 78-39 vote largely along party lines.

HB 5 (Grall) was passed by the House Health & Human Services Committee on a 14-7 vote on February 10. Christie Arnold, associate for social concerns and respect life, testified in support of the bill on behalf of the FCCB. The bill has been placed on the House Special Order Calendar for February 15.