American Life League says issue of pro-abortion politicians and Communion is still important after elections

Washington D.C., Nov 11, 2004 / 22:00 pm

American Life League president Judie Brown said the U.S. bishops must take action against Catholic public figures who take a public pro-abortion stance, reported MichNews.com.

American Life League's Crusade for the Defense of Our Catholic Church has been laboring to expose the scandal of pro-abortion Catholic public figures receiving Communion for almost two years. 

Brown pointed out that at last year’s bishops’ meeting in Washington, “not one bishop was willing to commit to withhold Holy Communion from pro-abortion Catholic public figures."

However, this year, “at least 10 courageous shepherds of the Church have taken strong stances to defend the faith by withholding Holy Communion from those public figures who support abortion,” she said.

Brown said the American Life League is grateful to these bishops, but she added, “we still have a long way to go."

With the defeat of Sen. John Kerry, the American Life League fears that many bishops may think the pressure has subsided and they can overlook this matter.

In an effort to shatter this possibility, the American Life League will run a full-page ad in Tuesday's Washington Times, geared to both the bishops and the laity, about the need to pursue the issue.

"The Catholic bishops of the United States have a moral obligation to teach the truth, to preach it without apology and to defend it unto death," said Brown. "This has absolutely nothing to do with politics and everything to do with the fact that one cannot be both Catholic and pro-abortion."