Bishop Makes Special Request of Catholics Before Election Day

Burbidge, who leads the Diocese of Arlington, announced on the latest episode of his “Walk Humbly” podcast that he is asking Catholics throughout October to fast on Fridays as part of a monthlong effort focused on defeating what he has described as dangerous ballot initiatives.

October is recognized by the Catholic Church as Respect Life Month, an annual observance dedicated to protecting unborn life and supporting those affected by abortion. Fridays also hold special significance in Catholic tradition as days of prayer and penance commemorating Jesus Christ’s crucifixion.

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Campaign Targets Ballot Amendments

Burbidge has emerged as one of the leading opponents of the ballot questions through the Diocese of Arlington’s “Catholics Vote No” campaign.

Question 1 would amend Virginia’s constitution to expand abortion access throughout pregnancy and eliminate the need for parental consent, while Question 2 would replace the current constitutional definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman with language guaranteeing the right of two adults to marry regardless of sex. Supporters say the amendments would protect abortion rights and same-sex marriage in Virginia.

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Earlier this month, Burbidge took the unprecedented step of directing priests in all 70 parishes across the diocese to read a letter during Masses on Sept. 12-13 urging Catholics to vote against the amendments. It was the first time in his decade as bishop that he had asked priests to read such a letter during their homily.

“There’s just so much at stake, and we have to be a unified voice,” Burbidge said on his podcast. “I’m so grateful to my brother priests who are rallying around with one voice and echoing that voice to their parishioners, explaining what is at stake and how essential it is that they allow their voice to be heard and their vote to count.”

Letter Draws Praise and Criticism

Across Northern Virginia, parishioners heard Burbidge warn that the amendments threaten both unborn life and the traditional definition of marriage. The effort built upon an earlier joint letter from Burbidge and Richmond Bishop Barry Knestout that described the abortion amendment as “extreme, dangerous, radical, and horrific.”

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On his latest podcast, Burbidge said the response to his letter and accompanying video message has been overwhelmingly positive. On X, the video has more than 825,000 impressions.

“Many have said this is the first time they were learning about these proposed amendments,” he said. “Sometimes we think we get it out there, but repetition is the best teacher, and we can’t tire of getting this message out.”

The bishop acknowledged, however, that the campaign has also generated criticism. He said some Catholics intentionally attended Mass outside the Diocese of Arlington during the Sept. 12-13 weekend rather than hear the letter read in their parishes.

“We expect that,” Burbidge said. “We expect that there’s going to be opposition, and sometimes the opposition is just based on a lack of information, a lack of clear understanding.”

He also referenced negative reactions shared by his nephew from social media, noting that family members are often the first to bring criticism to his attention.

Rather than responding defensively, Burbidge said priests have reached out to concerned parishioners and invited them to discuss the issues in person.

“Let’s have a conversation,” he said, describing the approach taken by Catholic priests. “Don’t be afraid to engage those who may disagree as well. But we also always do so respectfully. We always tell the truth. We don’t compromise that.”

Final Push Before Election Day

Last week, Burbidge led a holy hour at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington dedicated to prayer about the constitutional amendments.

The bishop is also encouraging Virginians to cast ballots early.

“We can’t allow anything to stop us from casting our vote,” Burbidge said. “Why not get out early and vote? It encourages others to do so.”

He expressed hope that young adults and college students will become engaged in the effort.

“We have to get the vote out,” Burbidge said. “That includes our young adults, our students eligible to vote on college campuses, and people of every age.”

Burbidge said he remains optimistic that Virginia voters can reject the amendments.

“I have hope here that with the grace of God and with our continued efforts, that Virginia could pull off something miraculous here and defeat these dangerous amendments,” he said.

Early voting began Sept. 18 and will continue through Election Day on Nov. 3. Virginia voters will decide all three constitutional amendments after they received approval in two consecutive sessions of the General Assembly, as required under state law.