Catholic leaders and others with the coalition opposing the state’s controversial Proposition 1 abortion measure are demanding that Gov. Kathy Hochul repent for calling them “evil’ and forces of “darkness.”
Prop 1 — which is on the November ballot and is being referred to as the “Equal Rights Amendment” by Hochul and other backers — is aimed at enshrining a woman’s right to an abortion in the state constitution.
But the proposal also includes protections for people based on their gender identity, “ethnicity” and “national origin.”
Opponents claim the vague language opens the door for biological men who identify as transgender to compete against women in sports and would allow youngsters to get sexual reassignment surgery without parental consent.
They also claim taxpayers could be on the hook to pay for services for illegal migrants and that the amendment, if approved, paves the way for non-citizens to vote in elections.
Hochul has accused opponents of scare-mongering and lying.
“They’re trying to scare us and say all these things are going to happen if you pass this,” Hochul said during a rally with Democrats on Saturday in Yonkers.
“Don’t let them win. Do not let darkness win over light. Don’t let bad, evil, win over good,” Hochul said in remarks first reported by Politico NY Playbook.
But the opposing Vote No on Prop One Committee blasted Hochul for smearing its members and demanded an apology to New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, other Catholics and faith-based New Yorkers who oppose the measure on religious or other grounds.
“As a Democrat and a Catholic, I am totally shocked by Gov. Hochul’s attack on the Catholic Church, its leadership in New York and the nearly 6,500,000 New Yorkers who identify as Catholic,” said Bobbie Anne Cox, a Westchester County-based constitutional lawyer and statewide rep for the committee.
“Not only are her words incendiary and hateful, but also deceptive and wrong,” Cox said.
“Prop 1 is a Trojan Horse of the most epic kind; filled with woke policies that will give illegal aliens the same rights as citizens of New York, make New York State a permanent ‘Sanctuary State,’ allow boys to compete in girls’ sports, allow males to invade the ‘safe spaces’ of women like bathrooms and locker rooms and also handcuff parents from being involved in important decisions about their minor children’s life.”
“Governor Hochul needs to immediately apologize to Cardinal Dolan, the Catholic Bishops and the millions of Empire State Catholics for her anti-Catholic attack,” Cox said.
Dolan and the Archdiocese of New York and the New York State Catholic Conference
oppose Prop 1 as a “wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
A rep for another anti-Prop 1 group also said Hochul should apologize.
“Hundreds of religious leaders across the state — including countless black ministers — strongly oppose Prop 1 because of what it could do to children, families, girls sports and religious freedoms,” said Ayesha Kreutz of the Coalition to Protect Kids-NY.
“It’s extremely hurtful and wrong for anyone, much less a governor, to call them ‘forces of darkness.’ We are hopeful that Mrs. Hochul will retract her statement,” Kreutz said.
Polling shows overwhelming support for Prop 1, but even the main backers are concerned that opposition has taken hold in some suburban and upstate enclaves where there are key competitive House races, which could aid Republican candidates.
Asked about the criticism of Hochul painting opponents of Prop 1 as “evil” and “force of darkness,” her campaign spokesperson referred The Post to less incendiary remarks made by the governor in a recent interview, in which she emphasized protecting the right to an abortion.
“If we don’t enshrine this in our Constitution, these rights could be stripped away with a national abortion ban, something that seems so far-fetched just a couple of years ago, and now that could be our reality,” Hochul said on MSNBC’s “This Weekend.”
“I’m going to protect New Yorkers and voters need to know that is the only thing that really matters on this proposition,” the governor said.
“One is to get out there, and flip over your ballot because it’s on the other side. Don’t forget about it and do this, not just for this generation, but for generations to come.”
“So we have this opportunity to protect those rights, even in a state like New York, where I think it’s important.”
