Letter: Reproductive Rights in Connecticut
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To the Editor:
In an October 2024 Connecticut Mirror poll, almost half of all voters and three quarters of Democrats listed reproductive rights and abortion as key issues. With the election of Donald Trump, the rights we now have in Connecticut are threatened by Project 2025’s plan to implement a national ban on medication abortion by pushing the FDA to reverse approval of mifepristone and misoprostol (the drugs most commonly used for medication abortions).
On day one of his administration, Trump’s attorney general could also reinterpret the Comstock Act to criminalize the act of sending mifepristone through the mail. This would prevent healthcare providers from obtaining the drug, even though abortion is legal in Connecticut. It is vitally important that all of us who care about reproductive rights let our governor and elected representatives know that we want them to take action immediately to protect these rights.
State Democratic leaders Martin Looney and Bob Duff have already written to Governor Lamont to note their appreciation of efforts by his administration, the Department of Public Health, UConn, and legislators who have been developing a plan to stockpile doses of mifepristone. They noted that Massachusetts, Washington, California, and New York have already taken this action. However, although it appears that there is significant support for Connecticut taking similar steps, there has been no stockpiling yet.
Here is a simple step you can take if this is an issue of importance to you. Simply contact Governor Ned Lamont’s office and ask him to prioritize Connecticut stockpiling mifepristone before the Trump Administration takes office. A preliminary assessment of needs indicates that the most cost-efficient way to do so is for the state to provide $850,000 to Planned Parenthood of Southern New England as soon as possible for this purpose. https://portal.ct.gov/
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Vozzola, Ph.D.
West Hartford
As a Christian Presuppositional Abolitionist and the head of the Connecticut Foundation to Abolish Abortion (www.AbolishAbortionCT.org), I must strongly refute Dr. Vozzola’s letter advocating for taxpayer-funded stockpiling of abortion pills.
Planned Parenthood has already received $3 million in taxpayer funds in Connecticut—funds allegedly unrelated to abortion but undeniably bolstering the nation’s largest abortion provider. Let’s not kid ourselves. Every dollar allocated to Planned Parenthood supports its infrastructure and further entrenches the machinery of child sacrifice. This blatant misuse of public money is an affront to God, human dignity, and equal justice under the law.
Abortion is Murder, Period.
Let me be clear: every abortion ends the life of a distinct, valuable, human being created in the image of God. The euphemistic language of “reproductive rights” and “medication abortion” cannot sanitize what is happening. We are witnessing the mass slaughter of the most vulnerable among us, cloaked under the guise of healthcare and personal freedom. Abortion isn’t a matter of rights—it’s a moral atrocity and a violation of God’s law, which commands, “You shall not murder.” (Exodus 20:13)
Trump Is Not a Pro-Life Champion.
While many in the pro-life movement hail Donald Trump as a defender of the unborn, let’s set the record straight. Trump is pro-abortion in cases of rape, incest, and so-called “life of the mother” exceptions, which account for over 90% of abortions that he claims to oppose. That’s a staggering figure: he’s for ending only a fraction of abortions, while his exceptions leave the door wide open to continued injustice. Abortion, under any circumstance, is the intentional killing of an innocent human being, and no circumstances justify murder.
Trump’s policies, while occasionally curbing abortion access on paper, have consistently stopped short of declaring the equal protection of preborn children under the law. Incremental half-measures are not abolition—they perpetuate the evil they claim to fight.
The Call for Abolition, Not Regulation.
What Connecticut and the rest of the nation need is not a stockpile of mifepristone but the complete and total abolition of abortion. Abortion is not healthcare—it’s homicide. It must be abolished, not regulated, incrementally delayed, or sidelined as a political talking point. We demand laws that establish equal protection for all humans, born and preborn, under the law, as is their inalienable right.
Our Hope Is Not in Politicians.
True change will not come through misplaced trust in politicians, whether Democrat or Republican, but through a moral and spiritual awakening in this state and nation. Connecticut is stained with the blood of over 500,000 innocent children since 1973. God remembers each of their names and every detail of their short lives. Their blood cries out for justice, and justice will not be delayed forever.
We Will See Abortion Abolished.
The Connecticut Foundation to Abolish Abortion is committed to calling the Church, the state, and the people of this nation to repentance and obedience to God’s law. We will continue to agitate and expose the evils of abortion until this scourge is eradicated. Dr. Vozzola’s call to stockpile death pills is not progress—it’s an escalation of a holocaust against the unborn. But history teaches us that evil cannot prevail forever.
To all those reading this: there is no neutral ground. You are either standing for justice and life, or you are complicit in the bloodshed. Join us as we cry out for the abolition of abortion in Connecticut and beyond, to the glory of God alone.
Norman Harold Patterson Jr.
Founder and Director
Connecticut Foundation to Abolish Abortion
http://www.AbolishAbortionCT.org
Patterson claims that Planned Parenthood misuses taxpayer funds and equates these funds with support for abortion. This is misleading. By federal law (the Hyde Amendment), taxpayer dollars cannot directly fund abortion except in rare cases. Planned Parenthood provides essential healthcare services, including cancer screenings, contraception, and STI testing, to millions of people. Denying funding to such organizations disproportionately harms low-income individuals who rely on these services. Public health is strengthened—not weakened—when comprehensive care is accessible.
The statement “Abortion is Murder, Period” dismisses the nuanced ethical, medical, and legal dimensions of abortion. Pregnancy often involves complicated circumstances, including risks to a person’s physical and mental health. Equating abortion in all cases to homicide ignores these realities and oversimplifies deeply personal decisions. Many religions and philosophical traditions differ on when life begins and whether abortion can be morally justified. Laws governing abortion must respect this diversity, ensuring that no singular belief system dictates public policy.
The call to label mifepristone as a “death pill” disregards its role as a safe, FDA-approved medication for terminating pregnancies early and managing miscarriage. Medication abortion allows individuals to handle a deeply personal decision privately and safely. Without access to this option, those seeking abortion are often forced into unsafe alternatives that endanger their lives. Protecting access to medication abortion is not about promoting one choice over another but about safeguarding people’s health and autonomy.
Criticizing incremental pro-life measures and Donald Trump’s stance on exceptions reveals a rigid and uncompromising perspective. Absolute bans on abortion ignore widespread public opposition and fail to account for exceptional circumstances like rape, incest, or life-threatening pregnancies. Public policy should balance the rights of the pregnant individual and the developing fetus, reflecting the values of compassion, fairness, and practicality rather than rigid absolutism.
While Patterson invokes religious principles, public laws in the United States must adhere to the Constitution, which guarantees the separation of church and state. People hold diverse beliefs about abortion, and no one religion or worldview should dictate laws governing everyone. Upholding reproductive rights ensures that individuals can make decisions consistent with their own values, conscience, and faith—or lack thereof.
Referring to abortion as a “holocaust against the unborn” is inflammatory and deeply inappropriate. Such comparisons trivialize historical atrocities and alienate meaningful discourse. Policies on abortion should focus on improving health outcomes and supporting individuals, not on divisive rhetoric.
Instead of abolishing abortion outright, we should aim to reduce unintended pregnancies through education, access to contraception, and support for parenting and adoption services. These proactive measures can decrease abortion rates without infringing on individual rights. Genuine compassion calls for addressing the root causes of abortion, such as poverty, lack of healthcare, and inadequate social support systems, rather than imposing punitive bans.
Patterson’s fervor underscores the importance of addressing abortion thoughtfully and humanely. However, public policy must serve all citizens, respecting their rights, beliefs, and health needs. Safe, legal abortion access protects lives and upholds individual autonomy. Rather than abolishing abortion, we should work to create a society where individuals have the resources and support they need to make empowered reproductive choices.
Regarding Dr. Vozzola’s request to email the governor’s office, feel free to copy and paste the text below when you email the governor at https://portal.ct.gov/governor/contact-the-governor?language=en_US.
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Dear Governor Lamont,
I am writing to urge you to prioritize efforts to stockpile mifepristone in Connecticut before the new presidential administration takes office. With the election of Donald Trump, the reproductive rights we currently enjoy in our state face significant threats, particularly from Project 2025’s plan to implement a national ban on medication abortion. This includes potential actions to reverse the FDA’s approval of mifepristone and reinterpret the Comstock Act to criminalize mailing this essential medication, even in states like ours where abortion remains legal.
Massachusetts, Washington, California, and New York have already acted to protect access to this critical healthcare option by stockpiling mifepristone. Connecticut must not delay. I respectfully request that you allocate $850,000 to Planned Parenthood of Southern New England to ensure sufficient stock of mifepristone, as this has been identified as the most cost-efficient way to safeguard access for Connecticut residents.
Reproductive rights are a top priority for many voters in our state, as highlighted in the October 2024 Connecticut Mirror poll. Your leadership is essential in protecting these rights during this uncertain time.
Thank you for your continued efforts to uphold reproductive health and freedoms in Connecticut. I hope to see swift action on this matter.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Email Address]
[Your Phone Number]