Denver Archdiocese, Catholic nonprofit contribute $225,000 to anti-abortion group in fight over Amendment 79

The Archdiocese of Denver and a nonprofit representing the state’s Catholic bishops have contributed $225,000 to a Colorado anti-abortion group in its fight against Amendment 79, which would enshrine abortion rights in the state’s constitution.

The Pro-Life Colorado Fund, a coalition of more than 50 anti-abortion groups, received $175,000 on Oct. 22 from the Denver Archdiocese, according to TRACER, the website that discloses campaign finances.

Another donation of $50,000 on Sept. 11 was attributed to the archdiocese, too, but that actually came from the budget of the Colorado Catholic Conference, said Brittany Vessely, the organization’s executive director.

The Colorado Catholic Conference — a nonprofit representing the state’s three dioceses in Denver, Colorado Springs and Pueblo and their four bishops — isn’t independently structured, operating instead as a project of the Archdiocese of Denver from a legal tax status. That’s why the $50,000 was listed as a contribution from that specific archdiocese, Vessely said.

“All four Catholic bishops in Colorado are united in their warning that Amendment 79 removes any common sense safeguard for abortion access,” Vessely said in an interview, speaking on behalf of both the Colorado Catholic Conference and the Denver Archdiocese. “The Catholic Church in Colorado is doing everything that we can to ensure Coloradans vote no on 79.”

The news of the campaign contributions was first reported in an investigation by Mother Jones and the National Catholic Reporter on Thursday.

On the state ballot, Amendment 79 would enshrine existing abortion protections into the Colorado Constitution. It would also repeal language from 1984 that prohibits the use of state and local government funding toward abortion services, which could mean Medicaid enrollees and public employees on government health insurance plans might have the procedure covered.

In order to pass, the measure must receive 55% support because it would amend the state constitution.

Supporters argue that its success would mean the protection of abortion access from future political decisions. However, opponents such as the Colorado Catholic Conference and the Pro-Life Colorado Fund disagree with the use of taxpayer funds toward abortion, among other reasons.

“The opposition has nothing to do with a religious position,” Vessely said. “It has to do with how extreme this amendment is.”

The Pro-Life Colorado Fund has raised almost $373,000 through Oct. 28, according to TRACER. Another anti-abortion group, Vote No on 79, reported around $57,000 in contributions on TRACER, with a recent major donation of $15,000 by nonprofit Truth and Liberty Coalition.

Coloradans for Protecting Reproductive Freedom has drastically outraised its opponents, with close to $6.4 million contributed to the campaign through Oct. 30, according to TRACER. The latest prominent donors include women’s rights organization UltraViolet and Denver-based nonprofit Cobalt Advocates.

A majority of Colorado voters — 67% — said in 2022 that women should have access to abortion care in a survey that was conducted by Global Strategy Group, a Democratic polling firm, and co-sponsored by ProgressNow Colorado, a progressive advocacy group.

“As someone who had an abortion in college, I would not be where I am today if I didn’t have the opportunity,” Dani Dawes Cox, 34, told The Post earlier this month. “Having access to abortion for women is really empowering and allows them to fulfill unlimited futures, versus not having that option and being limited on where they can go next.”

But anti-abortion advocates are still holding out hope that they’ll defeat Amendment 79 next week.

On Wednesday morning, a group of about 40 people gathered on the steps of the Colorado State Capitol for a news conference alleging the hazards of the ballot measure. Hosted by the American Association of Pro-Life OBGYNs, five attendees wore the white coats associated with health care professionals.

Others held signs that read, “No to taxpayer funded abortion,” and, “Don’t cut parents out.”

Michelle Stanford, a pediatrician, argued the risk of “coercion” of pregnant youth to get abortions when it was her turn to speak.

At times, the presenters were drowned out by the goading of a sole counter-protestor herded by police officers to the sidewalk along Lincoln Street.

Out of sight, but heard over a megaphone, Derek Torstenson yelled, “Abortion is health care!”

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