Missouri Catholics Promote Pro-Life Amendment Ahead of Election Day

On Nov. 3, Missouri could become the first U.S. state to reverse a previously passed pro-abortion amendment since the overturn of Roe v. Wade — a unique opportunity for the Show-Me State’s pro-life voters.

“This vote may be the best chance we have in the near future to reinstate protections for mothers and their preborn children,” said Jamie Morris, executive director of the Missouri Catholic Conference, which advocates policy on behalf of the state’s Catholic bishops.

Almost exactly two years ago, Missouri voters narrowly approved Amendment 3, which added language guaranteeing “reproductive freedom” to the state constitution — a provision which has since been used by courts to strike down many of the state’s pro-life laws, once some of the strongest in the nation.

Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturn of Roe in 2022, Missouri protected unborn babies under law throughout all of pregnancy, with the only exception being cases of “medical emergency.” Following the 2024 “reproductive freedom” amendment’s passage, however, nearly all of Missouri’s pro-life protections were rendered unenforceable — including the state’s ban on race- and sex-selective abortions.

Despite being heavily outspent by out-of-state political organizations that lobbied for the previous pro-abortion amendment, the 2024 vote in Missouri was exceedingly narrow. It needed a simple majority to pass and garnered just under 52% of the vote. By contrast, Florida voted on a similar pro-abortion measure the same night in 2024, which garnered 57% of the vote in the Sunshine State — but that amendment needed a 60% majority to pass, and thus it failed.

Galvanized by the closeness of the defeat, Republican lawmakers and pro-life leaders in Missouri announced plans almost immediately to introduce a fresh referendum to repeal the new “reproductive freedom” provision. As a result, Missouri is one of four states that will present an abortion-related ballot question before voters on Nov. 3 — and the only state this time around where voters will consider a pro-life measure. (In an ironic and potentially confusing twist, the pro-life measure that voters will consider in Missouri this Election Day is once again named Amendment 3, the same as the pro-abortion measure from two years ago.)

If passed, Amendment 3 would impose a new prohibition on most abortions, with exceptions for cases of medical emergencies and fatal fetal anomalies, as well as cases of rape and incest during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. It would also clear the way for many of Missouri’s previously passed pro-life protections, such as a 72-hour waiting period, to be reinstated.

In addition to restoring many protections related to abortion, the new Amendment 3 would also constitutionally ban hormones, puberty blockers and surgeries for the purpose of “gender transition” for minors. Missouri already has a law that bans those procedures for minors, but that restriction, first passed in 2023, is set to expire in August 2027.

Sam Lee, a deacon with the Archdiocese of St. Louis and a longtime pro-life lobbyist in Jefferson City, told the Register that what happens in Missouri on Election Day is likely to have an effect on other states’ abortion-related policy changes going forward.

“If Missouri can overturn a pro-abortion constitutional amendment, then that will give hope to other states that have also had to deal with these initiative petitions and have pro-abortion amendments in their state constitutions,” Deacon Lee said.

Spreading the Word

The pro-life measure needs a simple majority to pass, but its success or failure is far from assured. Despite electing a pro-life Catholic governor in 2024, Missourians have since voted down several Republican-led statewide ballot initiatives, leading some observers to predict that Amendment 3 may also be headed for defeat.

The latest polls offer little clarity as to Amendment 3’s future, with a February YouGov poll suggesting a win for the amendment, an August YouGov poll suggesting a defeat, and an October Remington Research poll announcing a deadlock of 43% to 43%.

Deacon Lee said he believes Missouri Catholics are in a better position this time around in terms of advocacy, in part because they had more of a head start than they had in 2024. Last time around, because of legal challenges against the prospective amendment, it was unclear until just two months before the election whether the pro-abortion amendment would even appear on the ballot.

But this time, the abortion-related ballot measure was long foreseen, and Catholics were able to establish their messaging early. The state’s four bishops released statements both in March and in October urging support for the amendment and asking Catholics to pray and fast, speak to family and friends, and advocate for its passage. While “not perfect,” Amendment 3 would be “a significant step toward restoring protections” for women and children in Missouri that were “stripped away” in 2024, the bishops said.

At the grassroots level, Catholics across the state have been organizing prayer rallies and putting up yard signs to drum up support for the amendment.

“A lot of the [pro-life] folks that I know, they’re just working really, really hard — up early and staying up late at night. They’re getting out yard signs or they’re going door to door or they’re working the polls,” Deacon Lee said.

Moreover, “I’m hearing, anecdotally, that more priests and deacons are preaching on it than they did two years ago,” he added.

Deacon Lee said some Catholics have expressed concern that the new amendment, if passed, would still allow some abortions to take place in the state. It’s clear, however, that the amendment represents a much more favorable outcome than the status quo when it comes to abortion policy, he noted, and is a good “incremental approach” toward entirely eradicating abortion in Missouri sometime in the future.

Morris of the Missouri Catholic Conference said the organization has greatly encouraged Catholics in the state to make personal contact within their circle of influence — friends, family, other parishioners — to inform them about the upcoming vote and to make sure they have a plan to vote on Nov. 3 or earlier.

“Many other churches and denominations have been working to spread the message within their faith communities. All of our partners, secular and religious, have been working together since day one to work to pass Amendment 3. It’s been all hands on deck,” Morris told the Register by email.

“Amendment 3 better reflects where the average Missourian stands on abortion and on the protection of children from harmful gender transition procedures,” he said.

Prayer Needed

A Jackson County judge in June struck down many of Missouri’s abortion regulations in light of the 2024 amendment, including laws prohibiting abortions done specifically because of the baby’s race or sex, or a Down syndrome diagnosis; telemedicine abortions done via medication; special licensing requirements for abortion providers; and a 72-hour waiting period between an initial consultation and an abortion. Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, a Catholic, has said that the state will appeal the judge’s decision to the state Supreme Court, with the outcome of the Nov. 3 vote likely to be a major factor in any future judicial decision related to Missouri’s abortion laws.

Midterm election results often hinge on which side can drive a larger turnout, but regardless, Morris said he believes the pro-life side is “in a good spot.”

“While the pro-life side will always be outspent by the out-of-state abortion lobby, our side is better funded than we were in 2024 and has been able to utilize that funding earlier,” he said.

Deacon Lee urged all voters to turn out and encourage those they know in Missouri to do the same. He also encouraged Catholics, wherever they are, to pray for the success of Missouri’s Amendment 3, especially when at Mass or praying the Rosary.

Morris echoed Deacon Lee on this point, underscoring the importance of the Nov. 3 vote for Missouri and for the nation.

He concluded: “I would just continue to encourage Catholics to pray for the success of Amendment 3, and continue to talk with their friends and family and encourage them to vote yes.”