American Life League urges bishops to rebuke pro-abortion Catholic politicians

Washington D.C., Oct 17, 2005 / 22:00 pm

The American Life League is urging all United States bishops to publicly challenge and rebuke politicians who claim to be Catholic but who support abortion.

American Life League president Judie Brown put out the call in light of yesterday’s 20^th anniversary luncheon for Emily’s List, a organization founded in 1985, dedicated to having pro-choice women elected into office.

The five pro-abortion public officials who highlighted yesterday’s luncheon include: U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Ct.), Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D-Mich.) and State Sen. Joan FitzGerald (D-Colo.)

"These women, who claim to be Catholic, all adamantly defy the Church,” said Brown. “It would be my hope that each of their bishops contacts them as soon as possible to remind them it is impossible to be Catholic and pro-abortion.

"The fact that their public support of abortion is seemingly going unchallenged is a cause of great scandal," she continued.

Brown said bishops’ ongoing private dialogue with pro-abortion public officials is “an excellent first step.”

"However, the apparent reluctance of many bishops to publicly rebuke these pro-abortion Catholics is a source of confusion, not only for their fellow Catholics,” said Brown, “but for all Americans who would benefit from a clear understanding of Catholic teaching on the sanctity of human beings' lives."

Brown noted that the issue is not on the agenda for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ meeting next month in Washington. Brown claims that it is only when this topic becomes a major concern that legislative change will come.