WASHINGTON – On Thursday, April 27, the U.S. Senate declined to advance a resolution asserting that the “Equal Rights Amendment” has been ratified as a new amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

“The Catholic faith teaches that women and men are created with equal dignity, and we support that being reflected in law,” explained Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Arlington, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Pro-Life Activities. “The proposed ‘Equal Rights Amendment,’ however, would likely create a sweeping new nationwide right to abortion at any stage, at taxpayer expense, and eliminate even modest protections for women’s health and the lives of preborn children. It could also pose grave problems for women’s privacy and athletic and other opportunities, and negatively impact religious freedom. I am grateful that the Senate did not advance this proposal that in fact expired decades ago, and I hope that Congress will focus on meaningful support for women and families in need.”

Bishop Burbidge was joined by other chairmen of USCCB committees in a letter to Congress this past February where they voiced their opposition to the resolution: Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, chairman of the Committee for Religious Liberty, Archbishop Borys Gudziak of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, and Bishop Robert E. Barron of Winona-Rochester, chairman of the Committee for Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth. The letter and backgrounder sent to Congress may be read here.