Proposition 1 Proposes to Protect Reproductive Rights in California

In response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, California will vote to amend the state constitution

With the general election approaching on Nov. 8, policymakers have advanced a new proposition to protect the reproductive rights of California citizens. Proposition 1, if passed, would enshrine reproductive and contraceptive freedom in the California constitution after the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade. 
Proposition 1 is opposed by many faith-based organizations such as the California Catholic Conference, but is backed by Democratic politicians and lawmakers, including Governor Gavin Newsom.

Professor Haruka Umetsu Cho, an associate professor in theology, ethics, and spirituality, with an emphasis on constructive theology and feminist and queer theories, emphasized the nuance necessary when considering Proposition 1.

“It is really important to acknowledge the categories of religion, categories of Christianity, or even sub-categories of Catholicism,” Umetsu Cho said. “There is such a spectrum that we cannot say just one thing.”

Opponents of this proposition argue that the amendment is too drastic of a reaction to the Supreme Court decision. Since California state law already protects reproductive rights, they claim the amendment will only legalize late-term abortions.

“The polarization of politics and religion cannot solve everything. People’s lives are much more complex than that,” said Umetsu Cho.

An email was sent on June 24 from Santa Clara Mission and Ministry after the Dobbs decision, stating that “Santa Clara University affirms the sanctity of human life. This includes the unborn and women whom, as Pope Francis has noted, our society fails to support adequately when they face difficult situations.”

In response to the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and the Santa Clara Mission and Ministry statement on June 24, the Associated Student Government sent an open letter to the Santa Clara community on Aug. 12 regarding the state of the country and school. In the letter, ASG encourages student involvement and advocates for the “representation of the undergraduate student body’s diverse issues, concerns, and needs.” 

ASG Senate Chair Izzy Dachs described the importance of action by ASG’s Senate Branch in an interview.

“It is the role of the full senate to gauge issues on campus and provide solutions to problems on campus. There are different avenues we can go,” said Dachs. “One avenue is writing a resolution or an open letter, which is what the Roe v. Wade letter was. It was more addressing a problem because that problem affected students on campus with their mental well being. We are the voice of the students to the administration.”

Since 50% of the student population identifies as female, the letter focused on the reactions of the Santa Clara community.

“The ASG letter was mostly addressed to recognize the feelings students were having,” said Dachs. “Especially since so many students are from out of state, the reversal of Roe v. Wade affected people differently, even though we all live in California now.”