March 29, 2024

Most Reverend John P. Dolan

Bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix

Your Excellency, Bishop Dolan,

People, including the faithful, tend to think that abortion is a political issue since it is broadly discussed by politicians. It is a significant enough issue to the general population that politicians list it on their platforms. Yet, the right to life, the most fundamental human right, used to be an apolitical topic. What abortion truly is, is a moral issue. And while it was made political for pernicious reasons, we, the faithful, must sometimes use those same political means by engaging in civic activities to restore the temporal order. As articulately stated in the Vatican II document Lumen Gentium, “Therefore, by their competence in secular training and by their activity, elevated from within by the grace of Christ, let them vigorously contribute their effort, so that created goods may be perfected by human labor, technical skill and civic culture for the benefit of all men according to the design of the Creator and the light of His Word.” Before this statement the document says, “The laity have the principal role in the overall fulfillment of this duty.”

I have heard others speak, as have I, of how your Excellency and our priests cannot influence the temporal order like the lay faithful can with regard to social institutions. Bishops and priests cannot serve in the key areas in society, such as on the house floor, in the board room, in the C-suite, etc., where policies are made and sociopolitical culture is shaped. It’s us the lay faithful who can and should serve in these roles. Yet, we cannot be truly effective – principally in matters of faith and morals – if we are not well formed Catholics, or remain ill-informed of moral issues. This extends to the basic civic duty of making a decision while marking an election ballot.

The Church and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have affirmed, and continue to reaffirm, that the preeminent issue facing our culture is the threat of abortion. The Holy Father, Pope Francis identifies abortion as a primary example of the throwaway culture and has made more striking and forceful remarks against abortion.

We at the present moment, are standing at a precipice. An unthinkable abortion initiative is looming. In our state, the Arizona for Abortion Access Act threatens to strip away the rights and lives of the preborn through all nine months of gestation. By not taking sustained action, we are facing the enacting of an abhorrent and diabolical act that will codify death in the Arizona Constitution.

While the laity have been given their unique role by God, which has been proclaimed and emphasized by the Church, the lay faithful cannot act accordingly if we are unaware of how we are to practically live out our calling; and moreover, what the moral truths and positions the Church, in Her perennial and Holy-Spirit guided wisdom teach.. Your Excellency, the faithful in our diocese of over 1.2 million need your leadership and authoritative voice. And more importantly, the preborn children whose lives are under threat need your clarion and bold voice.

We are extremely grateful for the announcements your Excellency has given thus far, speaking out against this initiative through the Arizona Catholic Conference (ACF). However, I am appealing to your Excellency and respectfully want to make a request in addition to what your Excellency has done thus far.

I recently was able to speak with a board member from Heartbeat International who shared lessons learned from a similar Ohio abortion initiative. The abortion initiative made it to the ballot and the voter-approved amendment was devastatingly passed in late 2023, enshrining abortion into the Ohio State Constitution. A takeaway that was shared, and left a resounding impact on me to act, was that two-thirds of mass-going Catholics voted in favor of death. “But how could that be?” I asked myself. The board member then cited a major reason why the majority of Catholics got it wrong: the diocese put out a video to all parishes warning the faithful of the abortion amendment only a week before the election. It was simply too late for people to internalize, maybe even grapple with, before making a correct ballot decision. The Catholic Bishops of Ohio Conference put out a letter similar to ACF, denouncing and warning of the abortion initiative, it however wasn’t enough to stop it from making the ballot and eventually succeeding in Ohio. I believe we can do better, and we have a little bit of time on our side as the initiative still has the chance of being defeated if enough signatures aren’t gathered.

We live in a digital-technological age and people have become less interested in print media and more interested in visual media (myself included). I firmly believe, while it is not the only way we should try and reach people, it is a highly effective method. And I believe your Excellency agrees as well. I have been following what you, Bishop Dolan, are doing in the Diocese, and I admire how you are reaching people through visual media, i.e., Holy Mass; Word and Art; A Seat at the Table; Mental Health Minute; and other short videos. It is a great way you make yourself available to the faithful who may never get a chance to see or hear from your Excellency.

The faithful need yet another message from our Bishop and that is my heartfelt and respectful appeal; please use visual media to make a video speaking out against the Arizona Abortion Access Initiative, how it calls for abortion up to birth, how it devalues women, and how it clearly strips away safeguards that protect the baby and their mother’s physical, mental, and spiritual health. This news must be urgently shared with others. I don’t believe enough Catholics are aware of this initiative because I have encountered well-informed Catholics who simply didn’t know about it. Therefore, please also make this a mandatory video that is shared during Mass at all parishes within our Diocese, and also urge the faithful to pray and fast for an end to abortion in our state. Our Lord tells us that there are certain evil spirits that cannot be overcome except through prayer and fasting; this is one of them. A video message from our Bishop will not only make the faithful aware of the issue, but also as expressed by Vatican II, it will help us to recognize we are called to properly act against this initiative by engaging in civil activities that seek to uphold the dignity of all human beings.

I understand your Excellency has a lot of matters and business to attend to. I do, however, respectfully, and wholeheartedly implore you to make this preeminent issue preeminent among your priorities.

The film “Life is Beautiful” is poignant in how it portrays a father, who despite any threat, stands as a shield for his child. It depicts a male character, who is not strong in stature (nor does he need to be) but is strong in character. It is an outstanding portrayal of what all men are called to be for their wives and children – for their flock; a shield that not only protects but pushes forward against adversaries. Bishop Dolan, be the shield that shows us how to defend and forge ahead alongside and emboldened by our leader. Be that courageous and fatherly shield that advances towards that which threatens the most innocent and defenseless among us. Push forward my dear Bishop.

With great respect and obedience, and in Christ,

Andres Martin

Member of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Phoenix

P.S. The following individuals are members of the Catholic Church, and who by signing, and in solidarity, make the same requests of your Excellency.