Cornhusker State News

As the Nov. 5 election approaches, advocates for Initiative 434 are mobilizing to raise awareness among Nebraskans, encouraging them to support a measure they believe is crucial for protecting the sanctity of life. 

Initiative 434 was officially launched on March 19 and will be on the Nov. 5 ballot. 

The amendment seeks to establish constitutional protections for unborn children, allowing abortions only in cases of medical emergencies or pregnancies resulting from sexual assault or incest. 

Initiative 434, titled "Prohibit Abortions After the First Trimester Amendment,” states: “Except when a woman seeks an abortion necessitated by a medical emergency or when the pregnancy results from sexual assault or incest, unborn children shall be protected from abortion in the second and third trimester.”

Tom Venzor, executive director of the Nebraska Catholic Conference, is rallying support for Initiative 434. 

“Initiative 434 does not create a right to abortion at any point,” Venzor said in a recent press release. “The language is simple. It provides protections from abortion for women and babies in the second and third trimester. It also allows the Nebraska legislature to provide protections from unsafe and coercive abortion practices in the first trimester.” If Initiative 434 passes Venzor emphasized the significance of this ballot initiative as a crucial step toward safeguarding both women and babies from the risks associated with abortion.

“We will not have to wait and pass another constitutional amendment to provide protection against the abortion industry,” he said. “This was the consensus of countless pro-life attorneys the Nebraska Catholic Conference consulted about the language.”

Highlighting the current legal landscape, Venzor pointed out the lack of protections within Nebraska’s state constitution. 

“It’s critical to recognize that the current language of our state constitution provides zero protections from abortion for women and babies,” he said. “It leaves the issue totally up to the Nebraska Legislature. At the very least, Initiative 434 provides some basic constitutional protection from abortion.” 

As the election approaches, Venzor urged voters to take action, stressing the importance of their participation. 

“When you vote early or on Election Day, please vote FOR Initiative 434,” he said. 

The Nebraska Catholic Conference, representing the state's three bishops, has publicly endorsed Initiative 434, emphasizing its moral implications. 

The bishops highlighted that Initiative 434 not only provides essential protections for preborn babies during the second and third trimesters but also maintains existing safeguards for first-trimester abortions in specific circumstances.

“Initiative 434 will amend the Nebraska state constitution to protect babies in the second and third trimesters and keep women safe,” the bishops said in a joint announcement. 

They emphasized that Initiative 434 provides essential constitutional protections while maintaining existing safety measures that protect women from unsafe and coerced abortions.

In a flier, the state's bishops also outlined conditions under which voters can support Initiative 434. 

They stressed the importance of recognizing that all abortions should be opposed and emphasized that this initiative is intended as a step toward achieving full protection for all human life. 

“By voting for Initiative 434, we are taking a stand for what we value,” the bishops said. 

Furthermore, the bishops clarified that Initiative 434 does not create any constitutional right to abortion in Nebraska, allowing the state legislature to enact even greater protections for human life in the future. 

They expressed strong opposition to the pro-abortion ballot initiative proposed in November 2023, asserting that it must be rejected under any circumstances.

Nebraska's Initiative 434 and Initiative 439 represent two fundamentally different approaches to abortion regulation in the state.

These initiatives underscore a significant divide in Nebraska's stance on abortion, with Initiative 434 prioritizing protective measures and informed consent, while Initiative 439 advocates for broader access to abortion, even in potentially unsafe circumstances.

Initiative 439 calls for unrestricted access to abortion, including late-term and partial-birth procedures up to the moment of birth. 

Critics of Initiative 439 raise concerns that it could jeopardize vulnerable young girls by providing a shield for sex traffickers and sexual predators, thereby undermining the very protections that Initiative 434 aims to reinforce. 

Funded by out-of-state activists, Initiative 439 would remove essential health and safety regulations and allow taxpayer funding for abortions. Additionally, it poses significant risks by permitting unlicensed individuals to make critical medical decisions, effectively dismantling established protections like parental notification.

Conversely, Initiative 434 aims to strengthen existing safeguards, including parental and informed consent, ensuring that women in Nebraska have access to crucial information before making decisions regarding their pregnancies. 

Supporters note Initiative 434 focuses on protecting the well-being of families and promoting ethical medical practices, striving to maintain health and safety standards in medical procedures. It also emphasizes the importance of supporting physicians in navigating complex medical situations, reflecting a commitment to both women's health and parental involvement.