Editor's note. Fr. Frank Pavone is the National Director of Priests for Life. The following is excerpted from one of his many fine columns.
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“Catholic” Kerry A Proud Promoter of Abortion By Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director, Priests for Life
Pope John Paul II has words for politicians like presidential candidate John Kerry. "The common outcry, which is justly made on behalf of human rights -- for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture -- is false and illusory if the right to life…is not defended with maximum determination . . ." (Christifideles Laici, 38)
Despite Kerry's protestations that he is “personally opposed” to abortion, his voting record and public statements indicate that he is an active, proud promoter of abortion. According to "NARAL Pro-Choice America," Kerry has a 100% pro-abortion voting record. [Kerry has a 0% voting record with NRLC.] Kerry has hired NARAL’s vice-president as his communications adviser.
At last year’s NARAL Dinner, Kerry declared, “There is no overturning of Roe v. Wade... there are no more cutbacks on population control efforts around the world...We need to take on...all the forces of intolerance on this issue.” For Kerry, those who oppose abortion are “intolerant.” Obviously, that includes the Catholic Church, to which he claims to belong.
What Kerry promotes includes support of partial-birth abortions and a pro-abortion litmus test for Supreme Court Justices: “As President, I will only appoint Supreme Court Justices who will uphold a woman’s right to choose.” This is a policy of which Kerry is proud. He has also stated that “abortions need to be moved out of the fringes of medicine and into the mainstream of medical practice,” and that those opposing this present a “danger of fanaticism.” If Kerry considers abortion a needed “medical procedure," how can he “personally oppose” it?
Kerry insists he is a “believing and practicing Catholic, married to another believing and practicing Catholic.” But as the US Bishops wrote in Living the Gospel of Life, "No public official, especially one claiming to be a faithful and serious Catholic, can responsibly advocate for or actively support direct attacks on innocent human life" (n. 32). Archbishop Sean O’Malley of Boston has stated clearly that a Catholic politician who supports abortion should not receive communion.
posted by: reducto (reply)
post date: 03.22.04 (11:18 am)
Good entry.
posted by: DrForbush (reply)
post date: 03.23.04 (11:05 am)
Religions who don't like abortion should get their parishoners to follow in step. It isn't the governments place to pass religious laws. Remember, some religions don't believe that abortion is a sin.
posted by: LynnKramer (reply)
post date: 04.07.04 (11:40 am)
"Remember, some religions don't believe that abortion is a sin"
Editor's note. Fr. Frank Pavone is the National Director of Priests for Life. The following is excerpted from one of his many fine columns.