Prince William Reporter

With elections coming up this month, abortion and school choice are hot topics. Prince William County, Virginia resident Abigail Fucci expressed her thoughts on the issues as Gov. Glenn Youngkin supports a 15-week ban on abortion, while Democrats are running TV ads saying Youngkin and Republicans want to ban abortion and jail OB-GYNs, NBC News reported.

Youngkin’s PAC, Spirit of Virginia, recently released an ad that said, “Virginia Republicans support a reasonable 15-week limit with exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother," according to NBC News.

Fucci said although she is against abortion, she supports Youngkin's 15-week ban because "we must start somewhere."

"We need to pass more legislation so that abortion is eradicated," Fucci said. "I support his ban but also would encourage a ban that even is a six-week ban. Babies feel pain way before 15 weeks. Such a ban isn't enough. But it is something."

According to a letter from the Diocese of Arlington, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge said, "The preeminent civil rights issue of our time is abortion." Burbidge noted pro-abortion Democrats are involved in local Virginia elections, and pro-life Catholics must do their part to get the pro-life message out. He encouraged early voting and to spread the word to friends and neighbors to vote in this year's elections. He said, "Ask them to study the issues and the way their candidates have pledged to vote or have voted in the past."

Bishop Burbidge and Bishop Barry C. Knestout of the Diocese of Richmond authored a letter to Catholics in Virginia regarding voting this November. One-hundred forty seats in the Virginia General Assembly are up for election – 40 in the Senate and 100 in the House of Delegates. The bishops said, "Much is at stake, and it is the sacred duty of each voter to form his or her conscience and participate in these critical decisions." They said some issues have more moral weight than others, emphasizing "Protecting life is paramount." The Bishops said the abortion issue is a “preeminent priority because it directly attacks life itself because it takes place within the sanctuary of the family, and because of the number of lives destroyed,” citing the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, Introductory Letter.

"The Catechism of the Catholic Church mentions that it is every single Catholic's duty to vote in elections; the only way that individuals with values and morals will be elected is if every one of us goes out and votes with an educated mind," Fucci said.

When it comes to specific candidates, Fucci said she is excited about Bill Woolf, Jeannine Lawson, Glen Hill and a few
others.

"Bill Woolf is at the top of the list. I am passionate about human trafficking and ways to stop it. Bill Woolf fights for victims of human trafficking, especially children who are sex trafficked," she said. "Everyone else is pro-life, wants to lower taxes and stands for values close to mine."

On the matter of school choice, Fucci said she doesn't have any children, but if she did, she would homeschool them for as long as possible. She said parents should have the right to choose where their children go to school and have the right to object or intervene if needed.

"I do not know that my county is acting in the children's best interests. Most of the school board members do not have any interaction with the schools and have no children in them," Fucci said. "Taxes are consistently raised so that money can go to fund the schools and teachers, but the money may not be going where it should be going."

She said children are allowed and encouraged to attend school however they want, which isn't healthy. Things pertaining to the LGBTQ community shouldn't be allowed at schools as well, Fucci said.

"There is so much wrong with the school system right now, so overall, I don't believe that the county is currently acting

in the children's best interests. There is a lot of room for improvement," Fucci said.