Sign petition to overturn RHA

The New York State Catholic Conference wants the Reproductive Health Act (RHA) repealed. 

The NYSCC is urging people to turn their anger into action and sign a petition that went live on its website on Valentine’s Day to overturn the law. It gained over 1,000 signatures within the first week. 

“People are really looking for a way to express their outrage with this new law,” said Kathleen Gallagher, director of pro-life activities and director of Catholic Action Network for the NYSCC. Signing the petition “is one way to express that” anger.

The bill, which passed in both houses of the state legislature and was signed into law on Jan. 22 on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, had long been opposed by the Church for greatly expanding abortion rights in the state. The RHA broadens access for third-trimester abortions, increases the pool of practitioners who can perform an abortion, and repeals a previous mandate that medical care be offered to a child accidentally born alive during a late-term abortion. 

Gallagher wasn’t surprised by the local opposition to the bill, but that she was surprised “by the national uproar” caused by the bill’s passing. 

On Jan. 22, Gov. Andrew Cuomo lit up the World Trade Center in bright pink lights to commemorate the passing of RHA. The Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, the Kosciuszko Bridge and the Alfred E. Smith Building in Albany were also lit pink. Celebrating the new law was met with national backlash, particularly on social media. 

Assemblyman Phil Steck of Colonie, Niskayuna and Schenectady counties, wrote an op-ed piece in the Daily Gazette discussing the overwhelming negativity he has experienced surrounding RHA. “He’s feeling [the backlash],” said Gallagher. “And that’s a good thing.”

Gallagher added that while the RHA was a blow for the pro-life community, the passage of the bill really “awakened” a lot of pro-life passion within the state. The next step, she says, is trying to sustain that passion in the long-term.

The NYSCC is currently working with other pro-life groups, such as Students For Life and New Yorkers For Life, to gather signatures across the state.

The groups are planning to collect signatures throughout the next month and begin to deliver the stacks of petitions to the governor’s office starting on March 19.

For more information, or to sign the petition to repeal the Reproductive Health Act, visit https://www.nyscatholic.org/.