Portland, Maine, Sep 18, 2019 / 14:30 pm
Bishop Robert Deeley of Portland, Maine, has expressed his disappointment at the failure of efforts to force a public vote on the legalization of physician-assisted suicide and taxpayer-funded abortion in the state.
"I am saddened to learn that despite great opposition in the public to physician-assisted suicide and taxpayer-funded abortion, these issues will not be sent to a statewide vote," said Deeley in a statement released on Sept. 18.
Deeley, who leads the state's only diocese, said that the two laws, which will now go into effect as written, will have "tragic consequences" and "contribute to a further deterioration of the common good."
The separate campaigns each failed to attract enough signatures from registered voters to force the issues onto the ballot at a future state-wide election, petition drive organizers announced Wednesday, the day the laws go into effect and the legal deadline to mount a successful challenge.