Christian World | Catholic bishops in Virginia and Missouri lamented Nov. 3 ballot results backing abortion rights, calling Virginia's vote 'profoundly tragic'

ACW | November 5, 2026 — Virginia's two Catholic bishops, Michael Burbidge of Arlington and Barry Knestout of Richmond, called voters' approval of a constitutional right to abortion "profoundly tragic" in a joint statement on Wednesday.

"Unless a court intervenes, this decision will embed virtually limitless abortion into the constitution," the bishops said. They argued the amendment would put women's health at risk and remove parents from decisions involving their minor daughters.

The bishops also criticized voters' approval of a second ballot question on marriage, restating their view that marriage is between a man and a woman. They welcomed a third measure restoring political participation to people who have completed their incarceration, calling it a "second chance."

In a separate statement the same day, Burbidge wrote: "We know the truth, and no temporary political defeat changes this reality."

In Missouri, the Missouri Catholic Conference, speaking for the bishops of the state's four dioceses, said on Wednesday that the defeat of Amendment 3, which would have repealed the state's constitutional abortion right, "does not mark the end of our work." The bishops pledged to keep supporting policies that help women facing difficult pregnancies.

More than 62% of voters in Virginia and Nevada backed constitutional abortion rights in Tuesday's ballot measures, while 55.5% of Missouri voters rejected the pro-life amendment, EWTN News reported. In Idaho, 56% voted against a proposal to create a legal right to abortion, the outlet said.

Background: The Nevada Catholic Conference said it was "deeply disappointed" by its state's result, while the Diocese of Boise in Idaho had not issued a statement, according to EWTN News. Earlier, the US Supreme Court heard the Colorado Catholic preschools case.

Why it matters: The Virginia bishops cited Catholic teaching that citizens should take an active part in public life and work for the common good.

ACW will continue to follow this story.

Sources: Virginia Catholic Conference — Statement by Bishop Burbidge and Bishop Knestout on Ballot Question Outcomes; Missouri Catholic Conference — Statement on the Defeat of Pro-life Amendment 3; Catholic Diocese of Arlington — Statement of Bishop Burbidge; EWTN News — bishops react to election results

Photo: Virginia Catholic Conference