By Elizabeth Gresosky
After the election last week, Bishop Barry Knestout of the Diocese of Richmond and Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Diocese of Arlington issued a joint statement concerning the outcome of three proposed amendments on the ballot. Part of the statement reads:
The approval by Virginia voters of Ballot Question 1 is profoundly tragic. Unless a court intervenes, this decision will embed virtually limitless abortion into the constitution. It will put women’s health and safety at severe risk and leave parents out of life-altering and irreversible decisions involving their minor daughters. Most fundamentally, this extreme, radical, dangerous and deadly constitutional amendment is a complete rejection of the immeasurable value of human life, created in God’s image and likeness.
Virginia voters’ approval of Ballot Question 2 also denies the truth that marriage – created by God – is the union of a man and a woman. Unless a court intervenes, Virginia’s constitution will recognize “any lawful marriage between two adult persons” – contrary to God’s design.
Though profoundly disappointed by these two results, we are also deeply grateful to so many people within our parishes and throughout our Commonwealth who worked tirelessly to try to prevent these extremely harmful and misguided outcomes. Their steadfast efforts were firmly grounded in truth and justice. We express our heartfelt appreciation to all who gave sacrificially of their time, energy and expertise to defend the sanctity of life and marriage. Though this collective effort did not prevail, the commitment and perseverance poured into it glorified God nevertheless.
To everyone who engaged in this effort, we urge you to persevere in faith and hope – anchored in the sure knowledge that God is the Author of life and marriage. No vote can alter the sacredness of human life. Nor can any vote change the reality that marriage is and can only ever be the union of one man and one woman.
Finally, we do welcome the decision by Virginia voters to approve Ballot Question 3. This result will provide a second chance for people who have completed their time of incarceration to participate in the political process.
Yesterday a majority of Virginians voted to enshrine ballot questions 1 and 2 in our state’s Constitution, eliminating important health and safety regulations surrounding abortion and striking the good and true language affirming the sacred institution of marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Despite this tragic outcome, faithful Catholics can rejoice in knowing that God will not allow our efforts to be in vain. Read the full statement from Bishop Burbidge: https://t.co/kw1DJDIYi3
— Catholic Diocese of Arlington (@arlingtonchurch) November 4, 2026
Amendment 1 will essentially legalize abortion until birth and open the door to many other radical pro-abortion policies that undermine women’s safety and parental rights. Amendment 2 legalizes same-sex marriage in the state constitution, and Amendment 3 concerns the voting rights of felons.
The bishops had previously urged Catholics in Virginia to reject the first two amendments, while saying the third is “a matter of credential judgment upon which people of goodwill can disagree” and noting that the Virginia Catholic Conference supported it.
Amendment 1, however, could soon be overturned by the courts.
A hearing will take place at the Tazewell Circuit Court on November 24 (originally scheduled for November 13) during which the Founding Freedom Law Center (FFLC), associated with the Family Foundation of Virginia, will argue for the amendment’s invalidation due to vague, misleading language.
“This amendment is the most consequential question Virginians will face in a generation, and they are being asked to vote on it without being told the truth about what it does,” said Victoria Cobb, president of the Family Foundation, at the time the complaint was filed.
The legal filing, which occurred before the election, states that “While the Ballot Language could forthrightly explain that the Proposed Amendment would ‘establish’ or ‘declare’ a freedom for abortion, it instead falsely pretends the right already exists and is only intended to be ‘protect[ed].’ Undoubtedly, this presents a deceptive and biased word choice.”
The Family Foundation of Virginia is encouraging a Statewide Day of Prayer on Sunday, November 22 to pray for the protection of the unborn and justice to be carried out in the courts.
The organization also announced that its legal center would be challenging the passage of the same-sex marriage amendment on behalf of a pastor. The “original version of Amendment 2 included language protecting clergy and religious organizations from being forced to perform marriages. That language was removed before the final version,” the organization explained.
On Election Day, a majority of Virginians tragically voted to insert an extreme and limitless legal right to abortion into our Commonwealth’s constitution and eliminating the state’s recognition of marriage as a sacred institution uniting one man and one woman. As people of faith, resolved to live by God’s divine and natural law, we recognize that fundamental truths, such as the human right to life and the sacredness of marriage, can never legitimately be put to a vote. Despite this tragic outcome, we resolve to continue speaking the truth with love. We persevere in faith and hope, and do not despair. Across America, as here in Virginia, advocacy and courage are now needed more than ever. The conversion of nations, states, and peoples is only ever possible by the grace of God, to whom we turn with confidence and hope, now and always.
— Catholic Diocese of Arlington (@arlingtonchurch) November 4, 2026
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