Rep. Tom Suozzi Discusses Abortion with Bishop Robert Baron

Representative Tom Suozzi, a Democrat from New York, took a stance that not many of his party colleagues would readily adopt. In a June 12 announcement about Bishop Robert Baron’s podcast, Suozzi, who identifies as a Catholic lawmaker, engaged in a conversation on how both Democrats and Republicans could collaborate to reduce the annual number of abortions in the United States.

Bishop Baron highlighted how many Catholics have distanced themselves from the Democratic Party due to its stance on abortion. He prompted Suozzi to consider whether the Democrats could compromise by limiting abortions to the third trimester of pregnancy.

While Suozzi rejected the idea of imposing restrictions on late-term abortions, he did express a desire to minimize abortions overall. He suggested three key initiatives: establishing homes for single mothers, encouraging adoption, and providing education on birth control—areas where Democrats and Catholics often find themselves at odds. He emphasized, “There is no reason why the person making the choice should not support other choices.”

Suozzi maintained that the goal should be to foster a society with fewer abortions, advocating for cultural change rather than restricting access. “We need to engage in discussions,” he stated. “Let’s sit and talk about how we can find common ground.”

He further elaborated, “If we aim to reduce the millions of abortions, we need to consider the goal of moving from 1 million to 500,000. We can achieve this by supporting women, establishing homes for single mothers, providing adoption services, and preventing unintended pregnancies through education.”

Ultimately, while Suozzi’s fellow Democrats remained resistant to limiting abortions, he stressed the importance of finding ways to reduce the numbers without undermining access. “If the approach is to restrict access—as seen in the Dobbs decision—it’s a major shift in the law,” he noted. “I’ve heard people claim that the abortion rates are going down, but personally, I haven’t seen that reflected in the actual numbers. There’s a real lack of productive conversation, with many insisting on ‘my way or the highway.’ It’s crucial that we take practical steps to reduce abortion rates without limiting access.”