Lucrecia Nold, public policy specialist of the Kansas Catholic Conference, which is the public policy arm of the Catholic Church in Kansas, encourages Catholics to vote 'yes' on the Value Them Both amendment on Aug 2.

The Value Them Both amendment would add the following language to the Kansas Constitution: "Because Kansans value both women and children, the constitution of the state of Kansas does not require government funding of abortion and does not create or secure a right to abortion. To the extent permitted by the Constitution of the United States, the people, through their elected state representatives and state senators, may pass laws regarding abortion, including, but not limited to, laws that account for circumstances of pregnancy resulting from rape or incest, or circumstances of necessity to save the life of the mother."

Some say voting against the amendment would limit the ability of Kansas lawmakers to restrict abortion.

“Today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision further sets up a potential nightmare scenario for Kansas,” Nold said, according to The Leaven. “By overturning Roe, Kansas is now first in line among all the states in this new abortion landscape. We are positioned directly in the path of a horrific cultural storm threatening to usher in a dark and deadly future with Kansas growing as an abortion destination. Kansas Catholics do not want our state to become the abortion factory of the Midwest. We want to protect women and their preborn children. We urge all Kansans who value both women and babies to vote YES on August 2.”

A letter signed by Archbishop Joseph Naumann of the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Bishop John Brungardt of the Diocese of Dodge City, Bishop Carl Kemme of the Diocese of Wichita and Bishop Gerald Vincke of the Diocese of Salina urges Catholics to vote in support of the Value Them Both amendment on Aug. 2, according to The Leaven. The letter notes that in the time since the Kansas Supreme Court’s 2019 ruling in Hodes & Nauser v. Schmidt, abortions in Kansas have increased by 13%, including a 17% increase in "live dismemberment" abortion procedures and a 16% increase in out-of-state residents undergoing abortions in Kansas.

Abortions in Kansas increased from 7,542 in 2020 to 7,849 in 2021, a yearly increase of 4.1% and the largest number of abortions performed in the state since 2011, the Topeka Capital-Journal reported. According to the report, 751 of those abortions were performed on teenagers — six of whom were under the age of 14 — and 32% of the women had at least one prior abortion. The Value Them Both amendment would undo the Kansas Supreme Court ruling that stated women have a right to abortion at any point in pregnancy.

Many of Kansas' elected officials also have voiced support for Value Them Both, including Reps. Avery Anderson, Dave Baker, Doug Blex, Will Carpenter, Lonnie Clark, Chris Croft, Owen Donohoe, Ronald Ellis, Brett Fairchild, Randy Garber, Kyle Hoffman, Megan Lynn, Lisa Moser, Joe Newland, Fred Patton, Pat Proctor, Clarke Sanders and Sen. Alicia Straub.