Kelsey Reinhardt

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed a new law eliminating previous restrictions on abortions after 24 weeks, making the state the 10th to allow the procedure up to birth. CatholicVote is urging Massachusetts bishops to determine if Healey incurred automatic excommunication under canon law due to her support for the measure. Bishop Robert Barron sharply condemned the provision as "barbaric," and the conflict reignited a discussion over how Catholic leaders should respond to political actions conflicting with Church teaching.