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Bishops To Congress: "We Can't Reduce Abortion By Promoting Abortion"
LifeSiteNews ^ | 9/23/08 | LifeSiteNews

Posted on 09/23/2008 3:46:48 PM PDT by wagglebee

WASHINGTON, September 23, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Writing to all members of Congress on September 19, Cardinal Justin Rigali warned against enactment of the proposed "Freedom of Choice Act" or "FOCA" (S. 1173, H.R. 1964).

"Despite its deceptive title," he wrote, "FOCA would deprive the American people in all 50 states of the freedom they now have to enact modest restraints and regulations on the abortion industry. FOCA would coerce all Americans into subsidizing and promoting abortion with their tax dollars. And FOCA would counteract any and all sincere efforts by government to reduce abortions in our country."

Cardinal Rigali, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities, wrote that under FOCA "abortion on demand would be a national entitlement that government must condone and promote in all public programs affecting pregnant women."

While some have said the bill would simply codify the Supreme Court's 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade, Cardinal Rigali responded, pointing out that supporters of FOCA say it "would sweep away hundreds of anti-abortion laws [and] policies" that are now in effect because they do not conflict with Roe. These include bans on public funding of abortions as well as "modest and widely supported state laws" protecting women's safety, informed consent and parental rights.

With his letter, Cardinal Rigali enclosed a legal analysis by the bishops' Office of General Counsel documenting the extreme legal impact of FOCA.

"Members of both parties have sought to reach a consensus on ways to reduce abortions in our society," wrote Cardinal Rigali. He cited laws restricting and regulating abortion, and "bipartisan legislation providing practical support to help women carry their pregnancies to term, such as the Pregnant Women Support Act (S. 2407, H.R. 3192)," while noting evidence that programs promoting access to contraception do not generally reduce abortions.

"However," wrote Cardinal Rigali, "there is one thing absolutely everyone should be able to agree on: We can't reduce abortions by promoting abortion…. No one who sponsors or supports legislation like FOCA can credibly claim to be part of a good-faith discussion on how to reduce abortions."

Cardinal Rigali urged all members of Congress "to pledge their opposition to FOCA and other legislation designed to promote abortion," so that "we can begin a serious and sincere discussion on how to reduce the tragic incidence of abortion in our society."

The full text of his letter can be found at http://www.usccb.org/prolife/FOCArigaliltr.pdf

The legal analysis of FOCA by the USCCB Office of General Counsel is at http://www.usccb.org/prolife/FOCAanalysis.pdf



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: abortion; catholic; moralabsolutes; prolife
Cardinal Rigali, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities, wrote that under FOCA "abortion on demand would be a national entitlement that government must condone and promote in all public programs affecting pregnant women."

And this is EXACTLY what the left wants.

1 posted on 09/23/2008 3:46:48 PM PDT by wagglebee
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To: cgk; Coleus; cpforlife.org; narses; 8mmMauser; NYer; Salvation; Pyro7480

Pro-Life/Catholic Ping


2 posted on 09/23/2008 3:47:35 PM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: 185JHP; 230FMJ; 50mm; 69ConvertibleFirebird; Aleighanne; Alexander Rubin; ...
Moral Absolutes Ping!

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3 posted on 09/23/2008 3:48:06 PM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: wagglebee

Wow!
The U.S. Bishops remembered they are Catholics for a rare occasion huh?
Next thing they’ll be telling us the Cubs are in the playoffs!


4 posted on 09/23/2008 3:49:07 PM PDT by Artemis Webb (Sarah Palin: Babies, Guns, Jesus. HOT DAMN!)
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To: Artemis Webb
"The U.S. Bishops remembered they are Catholics ..."

Remember that B16 is the new sheriff in town.

5 posted on 09/23/2008 4:00:20 PM PDT by Natural Law
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To: Artemis Webb
You must not have seen this list of Bishops speaking out against Pelosi, Biden and all CINOs:

Updated: American Bishops who have spoken against Pelosi

Here is the complete list of American bishops who have responded to Nancy Pelosi's comments so far:
  1. Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver was the first American bishop to respond
  2. ... Bishop James Conley, his auxiliary, joined him
  3. Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington DC responded twice, first in a press release and second in a statement to The Hill. He has also appeared on Fox News, I am told.
  4. Cardinal Justin Regali of Philadelphia, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities, issued this statement through the USCCB website...
  5. ... Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, chairman of the Committee on Doctrine, joined him
  6. Cardinal Edward Egan of New York publised a strongly worded statement of his own
  7. Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo issued a letter correcting Pelosi's claims
  8. Bishop David Zubik of Pittsburgh and...
  9. ... Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs have chimed-in
  10. Archbishop Jose Gomez of San Antonio, CNA reports has added his voice ...
  11. ... Bishop Oscar Cantu, his auxiliary bishop, has joined him
  12. Bishop William Murphy of Rockville has published an extensive letter
  13. Bishop Edward Slattery of Tulsa has a detailed response
  14. Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas has joined the USCCB's efforts
  15. Bishop Gregory Aymond of Austin is on-board
  16. Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston mentions the USCCB on his blog
  17. Bishop Thomas Wenski of Orlando has written at length
  18. Archbishop John Nienstedt of Saint Paul/Minneapolis challenges Pelosi's statement
  19. Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, President of the US Bishops, has weighed-in
  20. Bishop Robert Vasa of Baker, OR publishes in the Catholic Sentinel
  21. Bishop Jerome Listecki of La Crosse, WI responds in a word document
  22. Bishop Richard Lennon of Cleveland, OH will comment in his September 5th column (PDF)
  23. Bishop Ralph Nickless of Sioux City, IA has one of the very best responses I've read
  24. Archbishop George Niederauer of San Francisco has invited Pelosi to a "conversation"
  25. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn: "Judging the Candidates"

{Last updated on September 10th.}

Notes:

  • Previous #23 has been removed. Bishop Joseph Gossman of Raleigh, NC is actually the bishop emeritus, and the new bishop, Michael Burbidge has not, to my knowledge, made a personal statement.
  • Previous #16 has also been removed, it was an erroneous duplication of current #13.
  • #26 was added September 10th, although he published his column September 6th

6 posted on 09/23/2008 4:16:55 PM PDT by Salvation ( †With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Natural Law
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7 posted on 09/23/2008 4:19:02 PM PDT by Salvation ( †With God all things are possible.†)
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To: wagglebee
Pinged from Terri Dailies

8mm


8 posted on 09/24/2008 4:23:19 AM PDT by 8mmMauser (Jezu ufam tobie...Jesus I trust in Thee)
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