Cardinal Rigali to Congress: "Not 1 Red Cent for Abortion"

Last week (5 February 2009) Cardinal Justin Rigali, as chairman of the bishops' Committee for Pro-life Activities, sent a letter to every member of Congress. In it he asked Congress not to approve the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA).

After talking about FOCA, he went on to say: "While an extreme proposal like FOCA would overturn hundreds of pro-life laws at once, we are equally concerned that such laws may be overturned one at a time during Congress' appropriations process."

He then said: "Lawmakers who disagree about the legal status of abortion have long agreed that Americans should not be forced by government to support or participate in abortion against their will," the cardinal added. "Efforts to coerce consciences in this way violate any possible definition of 'pro-choice,' and undermine our nation’s long tradition of respect for conscience and religious freedom."

He then listed some long standing amendments that he asked this Congress to continue approving as a part of the appropriations process. These amendments are: the Hyde amendment (no government funds for Medicaid to pay for abortions), theDickey/Wicker amendment ( bans funding for research that creates & then destroys embryos), the Hyde/Weldon conscience protection amendment (prevents federal agencies, as well as state & local governments from descriminating against health care providers who do not participate in abortion) & the Kemp-Kasten amendment (prevent US funding of organizations the support coercive abortions & involuntary sterilization).

While I applaud Cardinal Rigali's call to retain those "essential provisions", I am not so sure how successful his efforts will be. & I place the blame at the feet of his fellow Bishops who haven't done all the could or should to deal with those Catholic (in Name Only) representatives who call themselves "Pro-choice"*. Why should a CINO in Congress care what the Church actually says or does when they know there will be no consequences? The same is true for those CINOs who voted them in as well. As long as Ted Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi, VP Biden etc can go on receiving Communion as Catholic's in good standing, they will care more about what Planned Parenthood wants than with what the Church teaches. It is these officials that are politicizing the Eucharist as Archbishop Burke said. & as long as they can hide behind it with no consquences they will continue to do so.

*That term (pro-choice) is their way of putting up an appearance of not being pro-abortion when they really are. Pro-choice IS Pro-abortion. There must be more emphasis put on that fact, that abortion is the choice they are in favor of allowing women to make. When you support allowing a woman to chose abortion you are not only are allowing a woman to chose to kill her child you are aiding & abetting in it.

Source: US Bishop Protests Taxes-for-Abortions

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Note: This is post #2000. Definitely a red-letter event!!!!!!!!