Mesa lawmakers talk religion as they split on Arizona Senate abortion vote

The Bible played into comments from two Mesa legislators during the Arizona Senate’s vote Wednesday to repeal the 1864 abortion law.

The 16-14 vote came after the coalition of all Democrats and two Republicans defeated various procedural motions designed to preclude final action on the measure approved a week earlier by the House on a 32-28 vote.

“God is watching,” Sen. David Farnsworth, R-Mesa, told colleagues as he pulled out his Bible. “And on judgment day we will all stand before the lord, Jesus Christ, and we will confess that he is the Christ.”

Farnsworth also mentioned the biblical story of how God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of the sinful ways of their residents.

But Sen. Eva Burch, D-Mesa, who publicly disclosed how she needed to terminate two pregnancies for medical reasons, said it is inappropriate for one group to impose its religious beliefs on others.

“I do not fear for my soul,” she said.

“They were the right decisions for me,” Burch continued. “And I don’t have to follow your religion in this country.”

Gov. Katie Hobbs was set to sign the legislation Thursday.

But even with Hobbs’ signature it does not mean the old law immediately goes away, a move that would leave only a more recent statute allowing abortion until the 15th week of pregnancy.

That’s because the repeal, like most measures, cannot take effect until the 91st day after the Legislature finally adjourns for this year. But with other key issues unresolved, including the budget and additional aid for K-12 education, there are at least several weeks before that is set to occur.

That means the law, which dates to territorial days, would still be in place when there is a final order from the Arizona Supreme Court on its April 9 order declaring the older law trumps the newer 15-week limit.

We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org .