“PRO-CHOICE” CATHOLIC POLITICIANS?

Life Matters —The Newsletter of the Respect Life Office of the Diocese of Rockford
December 2002

By Patricia Pitkus Bainbridge
Associate Director, Respect Life Office

It is not unusual for pro-choice for abortion politicians to use their religion in an attempt to woo Catholic voters. They often boast that they serve their parishes as lectors, parish council members, or members of a variety of committees.

One of the most egregious recent examples of this scandal surrounds Jennifer Granholm, the newly elected Governor of Michigan who describes herself as “100% pro-choice [for abortion].” She serves as a lector in her parish. What she and other pro-abortion public figures fail to recognize is that in 1989 the National Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote that “No Catholic can responsibly take a ‘pro-choice’ stand when the ‘choice’ in question involves the taking of innocent human life.”

Ms. Granholm and other so-called pro-choice Catholic politicians need to be reminded of Living the Gospel of Life (#32) which clearly states, “We urge those Catholic officials who choose to depart from Church teaching on the inviolability of human life in their public life to consider the consequences for their own spiritual well being, as well as the scandal they risk by leading others into serious sin. We call on them to reflect on the grave contradiction of assuming public roles and presenting themselves as credible Catholics when their actions on fundamental issues of human life are not in agreement with Church teaching. 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.”


Copyright, 2002