Volunteers collecting signatures for late-term abortion ban

COLORADO SPRINGS. A ballot initiative that would ban abortions after the 22nd week of pregnancy has been approved by state election officials in Colorado. A group called the Coalition for Women and Children, which is based in Englewood, filed the proposed initiative.

Supporters of the ban now have until March 4, 2020 to collect 124,632 valid signatures from registered Colorado voters so that the proposed law, known as Initiative 120, can appear on the November 2020 ballot.

Colorado is one of seven states that allow abortion at any point in pregnancy.  The Colorado Catholic Conference, the legislative arm of Colorado’s four bishops, has endorsed the initiative, and volunteers have been collecting signatures at a number of parishes in the Diocese of Colorado Springs.

“In Colorado, we have some of the least restrictive abortion laws in the country. Currently, there is no point up until birth at which a baby cannot be aborted,” wrote Archbishop Samuel Aquila in the Denver Catholic. “The bishops of Colorado and I have given permission to every pastor to allow trained signature gatherers at every Catholic church in the state. It is important that those asking for signatures be trained so that we obtain the maximum number of certifiable signatures possible.”

For more information on Initiative 120, visit www.duedatetoolate.com.