The Court’s Rulings Explained

The court’s seemingly contradictory rulings in the two closely watched cases set the stage for a major battle this year between the pro-life movement and abortion extremists who are seeking to enshrine abortion on demand in the Florida Constitution.

In the case regarding Florida’s 15-week abortion law, the court voted 6-1 to reject the ACLU’s argument that the Florida Constitution’s right to privacy guarantees a right to abortion. The ruling, which overturns a 1989 court precedent, automatically triggers implementation in 30 days of the state’s 6-week abortion limit, known as the Heartbeat Protection Act.

But in a narrowly divided 4-3 vote, the high court today also cleared the way for an extreme pro-abortion amendment to appear on the Nov. 5 statewide ballot, despite Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody’s legal contention that the ballot wording is intentionally misleading and designed to deceive voters about its actual effect.

Known as Amendment 4, the initiative would prohibit any regulation of abortion before “viability” but also includes a broad “health” loophole that would allow abortion on demand up to birth if the abortionist claims it’s necessary “to protect the patient’s health.” The terminology used in the ballot summary is highly deceptive because the health exception has been broadly interpreted by courts to justify abortion for virtually any reason, including morning sickness, anxiety, and even financial stress.

The amendment also would nullify Florida’s parental consent requirement for minors to obtain an abortion, repeal the 24-hour waiting period before an abortion, and eliminate clinic safety regulations by abolishing the Legislature’s power to regulate the abortion industry in virtually any way whatsoever.

“The court’s decision to ‘split the baby’ is not what we were hoping for, but it’s also not unexpected, which is why we’ve been preparing for this battle for several months now. We’re grateful that the court has upheld the Heartbeat Protection Act to save innocent unborn lives in the state of Florida, but that victory will be extremely short-lived if this deceptively written pro-abortion amendment passes,” said Christian Family Coalition (CFC) Florida Founder and Executive Director Anthony Verdugo. “CFC Florida will be on the front lines of the campaign to raise grassroots awareness about the extreme nature of this amendment and why Florida voters must reject it.”

The amendment requires at least 60 percent approval from Florida voters to pass. A University of North Florida poll conducted late last year showed 62 percent support for the abortion amendment.

“There’s no question that we’re in the fight of our lives, and it will take everything we’ve got to defeat this, including each of us calling and emailing all our friends and relatives and urging them to Vote No on Amendment 4,” Verdugo said.

And in a kind of double-whammy, the Court also cleared the personal use of marijuana amendment to appear on Florida’s ballot this November. That measure will attract voters who are likely to also vote for the abortion amendment–upping its odds for passage, according to John Aman, president of Broward Right to Life.

“Seven months from now, voters will have the chance to decide whether Florida will be a pro-life state or one in which abortion through all nine months of pregnancy is written into the state constitution.” notes Aman. “In the meantime, I urge you to please pray and to learn more about this dangerous, deceptive, and extreme amendment at https://www.tooextremeforfl.com/.”

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