Choose life, that both you and your descendants may live. (Deuteronomy 30:19)

God has moved mightily in Massachusetts. Prayers have been answered. Praise God!

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Thanks to an army of on-the-ground signature volunteers and mighty IFA prayer warriors, the repeal of Governor Healy’s heinous abortion-until-birth law will go before the voters of Massachusetts.

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Repeal 188 Moves Forward

On August 10, 2026, Governor Maura Healy signed legislation allowing abortion up until the moment of birth – for any reason. Known as Chapter 188, this law has a 90-day waiting period for the law to go into effect. So, it is scheduled to become law on November 8.

But God…

Our Heavenly Father, the Author and Creator of Life, moved in the hearts of His people.

Myrna Flynn, President of Massachusetts Citizens for Life, launched a petition referendum to suspend and repeal Chapter 188. Joined by Sam Miele, Director of Massachusetts Family Action, they launched the Compassionate Care Coalition and were joined by Democrats for Life of America and the Cape Cod Pro-Life Alliance.

The Coalition had a difficult challenge ahead. They had to get 50,000 certified signatures from registered Massachusetts voters by November 6. But generally, up to 30% of the signatures are thrown out for “technical” reasons, which are often subjective.

So the goal became 100,000 signatures to ensure the certification of 50,000 in order for the law to be suspended for two years and to put the repeal question on the ballot in 2028 for the next statewide election. This allows all the voters in Massachusetts to vote and decide whether the law goes into effect.

According to the Repeal 188 website, “While previous state law allowed late-term abortions to be performed in a hospital setting by a qualified surgeon for maternal health and fetal abnormalities, Chapter 188 removes these boundaries entirely, sacrificing maternal safety and putting viable infants at risk.”

The Church Rose to the Challenge

Protestant, Evangelical, and Catholic churches rose up to speak out for the most defenseless among us, and declare these babies had a right to live.

All four Massachusetts Catholic bishops stood with the Compassionate Care Coalition, declaring the law a “radical measure which is gravely immoral.” The bishops instructed their parish priests to speak about the law and have repeal petitions available for parishioners to sign.

“We bishops felt the law was so extreme that we needed to do something concrete that would signal to the political leadership there are still pro-life voices in Massachusetts, and they should be heard,” Archbishop Richard G. Henning said.

Maura Healy claims to be Catholic and yet goes against Catholic doctrine on the issues of abortion, transgenderism and homosexuality.

Hundreds of Protestant churches in MA did the same, gathering signatures and praying for the success of this repeal campaign.

IFA’s Massachusetts State Leader, Suzie McCaskill, asked IFA Intercessors from every state to pray for the repeal signature effort. “We have been blessed by the outpouring of prayer support from people standing in the gap for Massachusetts,” said Suzie.

Sam Miele, Director of Massachusetts Family Action, stated, “The backbone of this effort was faithful men and women and children recognizing the dignity of human life.”

And God was faithful. In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, for You will answer me. (Psalm 86:7).

God Faithfully Answered

On October 30, the Compassionate Care Coalition announced they had gathered nearly 100,000 (with more arriving) to challenge the Chapter 188 Abortion Law. If 50,000 signatures are certified by the state, the law would be suspended until voters can vote in 2028. That’s two years of babies being saved from a third-trimester abortion in Massachusetts.

A statement from the bishops declared, “Today, thousands of voices have been raised in the defense of the sacred dignity of human life. As pastors, we raised our voices in opposition to the bill and in favor of the beauty of life. Every child is a gift, and every person deserves a chance to live.”

Governor Healy can choose to declare an “abortion emergency” that would put the barbaric abortion law into effect on November 8, overriding the petition-triggered suspension.

Miele called on Maura Healy “to have the faith and the courage to allow the people and to trust the people that you represent.”

Intercessor, please join with us to ask God to stay the hand of Governor Healy and prevent her from declaring such an emergency.

In Awe of God’s Mercy

Suzie McCaskill was elated by the news, saying…

“We are praising God for His great faithfulness in calling up His people to be part of this amazing grassroots movement. The Lord was at work in all aspects, and people were willing to step up to ensure the babies in Massachusetts have some protection in their mother’s wombs.

The four Catholic Bishops came out in support of this repeal initiative and encouraged all their parishioners to sign. And so many churches throughout MA had opportunities for their people to sign.

We know many people who went out day after day into the public square to bring awareness of this repeal and to get signatures. We heard of hostile experiences and attitudes signature gatherers faced, but they remained faithful to go back out again to stand in the gap for the unborn babies of our state.

We are just so in awe of God’s mercy to us in our state, and we continue to cry out to Him to stay Governor Healy’s hand and prevent her from signing an emergency preamble, ignoring the will of the people.

We in Massachusetts are so grateful to all those who have stood with us in prayer since the signing of the horrendous abortion legislation in August.

Thank you for praying for the most vulnerable lives in our state. We rejoice with you at this time.”

Share your praises and continued prayers in the comments below.

Belinda Brewster analyzes cultural, political, and world events from a biblical worldview. Belinda’s passion is to equip, support, and encourage parents and grandparents who are courageously battling against the spiritual and cultural forces impacting children and grandchildren. Belinda lives in Plymouth, MA. Photo Credit: paulbrady via Canva Business.