The following comes from an Apr. 16 story on Catholic News Agency’s website.

Amid growing protests led in large part by the Catholic Church, the Colorado Senate on April 16 killed a controversial bill that could have banned all pro-life laws in the state.

“Lift up your hearts in gratitude to God,” said Denver Archbishop Samuel Aquila in a post on Twitter. “Blessings on everyone who prayed and contacted legislators! Stay involved!”

The legislation had passed committee on a party line vote. While the floor debate and vote were initially scheduled for April 15, they were delayed until the following day after Democratic State Sen. John Kefalas of Fort Collins went home sick. The Democrats control the Senate in the state by a single vote.

On April 16, however, Denver NBC affiliate 9 News reported that Kefalas – after voting in favor of the bill in committee – was saying that he was undecided about whether he would vote for it in the full Senate vote.

The leadership of the Colorado Senate subsequently spiked the legislation – setting it aside until May 8, while the legislative session ends May 7, so that the bill is effectively dead.

Originally introduced March 31, the controversial bill – S.B. 175 – only gained wide publicity last week. It sought to ban all new pro-life laws and regulations, including requirements for pre-abortion ultrasounds and restrictions on the RU-486 abortion drug.

The legislation would have created a “fundamental right” to anything defined as “reproductive health care.” It would have barred state agencies and local government from having any policy that “denies or interferes with an individual’s reproductive health care decisions.”

….Archbishop Aquila helped lead opposition to the bill, calling together hundreds of people at a prayer vigil and assembly outside the state capitol on the afternoon of April 15, when the measure was originally scheduled to be debated.

The archbishop defended the need to restrict abortion, calling the bill “extreme and dangerously ambiguous.”

….Opposition to the bill grew quickly and prompted many Coloradans to call their legislators.

Archbishop Aquila stressed the need for further action, noting the importance of voting and lay involvement in the political process….

The Colorado Catholic Conference released a statement on the evening of April 16 thanking everyone who prayed and spoke up about the legislation….

The conference cited the words of Pope Francis, who said last September: “A good Catholic meddles in politics, offering the best of himself, so that those who govern can govern.”

To read original story, click here.