Washington D.C., May 17, 2007 / 10:32 am
A group of Catholic Democrats in the US Congress recently objected to comments of Pope Benedict XVI about the fact that legislators favoring the legality of abortion should not receive Communion. They said, "Advancing respect for life and for the dignity of every human being is, as our church has taught us, our own life's mission."
Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, issued a response, saying, "Faithful Catholics, as well as those in the pro-life movement from every denomination, have had enough of this double-talk. It is not possible to advance 'respect for life and for the dignity of every human being' while tolerating the dismemberment and decapitation of human beings still in their mothers' wombs. These legislators do not only contradict their faith; they contradict the very meaning of public service, and should not be in public office any longer. If they cannot muster the will to protect defenseless children, they should resign.”
Fr. Pavone added that Priests for Life will make efforts to hold the politicians accountable for their support of abortion. “[We] will challenge them to publicly acknowledge that when they say "abortion," they are talking about the same thing described in those medical texts, that is, the dismemberment and decapitation of tiny humans.”
The head of Human Life International, Fr. Thomas Euteneuer, also weighed in on the matter. “It is an embarrassment that a Catholic, much less a member of Congress should make such an absurd statement. Even if this statement were true, the Holy Father answers to a Higher Power.”
Fr. Euteneuer concluded that, “If they have that much of a problem being Catholic, no one is forcing them to stay.”