in this issue:
catholic parishes: CHICAGO
catholic politicians: GRANHOLM / KERRY / SEBELIUS
euthanasia: SCHIAVO
pro-life: MORAL AUTHORITY
research: CANCER
united nations: FERTILITY
reminder: NATIONAL PRO-LIFE T-SHIRT DAY
reflection for prayer: PSALM 34:14-16
catholic parishes
CHICAGO: St. Sabina Catholic Church, which allowed pro-abortion political activist Al Sharpton to preach at Mass last year (see Communique, 2/7/03), is hosting Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu at Palm Sunday Mass. Tutu is scheduled to speak about Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., although the Sunday gospel reading is the Passion of Christ. Tutu was once quoted as saying, “Abortion may be the lesser of two evils. You cannot be absolutist about it and say it must never take place.” Church regulations permit only a Catholic priest or deacon to deliver the homily at Mass. Cardinal Francis George, Chicago’s archbishop, has thus far has not commented.
(Reading: “Guest speaker: Archbishop Desmond Tutu,” St. Sabina Church; “Tutu on abortion: Let women choose,” The [South Africa] Sunday Times, 5/31/98)
catholic politicians
GRANHOLM: The Michigan legislature has failed to override Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s veto of a parental-consent abortion law. The Associated Press reports that Granholm, a pro-abortion Catholic, “vetoed the bill because she was concerned it would put additional obstacles in the way of young girls seeking a court waiver for an abortion if they failed to get consent from their parents or don’t feel that they can ask for it.”
(Reading: “Override of abortion veto fails,” Associated Press, 3/24/04)
KERRY: Time magazine quoted Sen. John Kerry, a pro-abortion Catholic, as saying, “I certainly intend to take Communion and continue to go to Mass as a Catholic.” Kerry added, “I don’t tell church officials what to do, and church officials shouldn’t tell American politicians what to do in the context of our public life.”
(Reading: “A test of Kerry’s faith,” Time, 4/5/04)
SEBELIUS: Kansas legislators are debating a bill that would impose health and safety standards on abortion facilities. Among other things, the bill would require each facility to have a licensed surgeon as medical director. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a pro-abortion Catholic, vetoed a similar bill last year and promises another veto if the bill arrives on her desk.
(Reading: “House advances two bills sought by anti-abortion activists,” Associated Press, 3/19/04)
euthanasia
SCHIAVO: Another setback for the parents of Terri Schiavo, the disabled Florida woman whose husband wants to end her life by removing her feeding tube (see Terri’s Fight). Terri’s parents asked Judge George Greer to find Michael Schiavo in contempt of court for failing to keep them apprised of changes in Terri’s medical condition. The judge, in a brief order, turned down their request.
The case is being called a “blatant situation of abuse against a disabled innocent woman whose husband is out to kill her.” Concerned people are being asked to “please call the state abuse line at 800-96-ABUSE and ask for them to follow up with an investigation regarding lack of care for Terri.”
(Reading: “Judge rules against Schiavo’s parents,” WorldNetDaily, 3/30/04; “Today, March 26th in the Sixth Judicial Kangaroo Court,” Cheryl Ford, RN, 3/26/04)
pro-life
MORAL AUTHORITY: Barbara Kralis of the Jesus Through Mary Foundation comments on some pro-life groups: “Some groups are so flawed they must be called fakes. There is only one correct defense if we are to stop the killing of babies. We must be pro-life with no exceptions.” She adds, “If this isn’t the right time to end abortion, tell that to the 4,000 babies that will be surgically murdered tomorrow.”
(Reading: “Who says it’s not a good time to end abortion?” MichNews.com, 3/30/04)
research
CANCER: Researcher Brent Rooney notes evidence that counters a recent medical journal report denying the existence of a link between abortion and breast cancer. “Lead author Valerie Beral informed Lancet readers about the results of her ‘study of studies’ of 53 prior abortion/breast cancer studies,” said Rooney. However, he also notes a 2002 article, also by Valerie Beral, that “hailed childbirth and breastfeeding as major breast cancer risk reducers.”
Rooney concludes that women who want to slash breast cancer risk can read “Escape from Breast Cancer.”
(Reading: “Rival cancer experts clash in medical journal,” news release from Brent Rooney, 3/31/04)
united nations
FERTILITY: The U.N.’s Commission on Population and Development has accepted a statement from American Life League senior researcher Robert L. Sassone, Esq., and cited that statement in a news release. Among other things, the U.N. release mentions Sassone’s observations on population decline and low birth rates: “If the experience of the countries with current fertility below 1.3 illustrated the future of other countries with similar or lower median income, most countries were at risk for very low fertility. Much was known about reducing fertility. In contrast, practically nothing was known about increasing a country’s fertility or alleviating the problem of too-low fertility.”
(Reading: “International assistance needs to address national priorities as well as development, demographic issues, population commission told,” United Nations news release, 3/25/04)
reminder
NATIONAL PRO-LIFE T-SHIRT DAY: American Life League is again sponsoring this annual event. This year’s date is April 27. Pro-life students across the country are asked to wear shirts with a pro-life message when they attend school that day. The official shirt of National Pro-life T-shirt Day is available from ALL online, or by phone at 866-LET-LIVE.
reflection for prayer
PSALM 34:14-16: Keep your tongue from evil, your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The Lord has eyes for the just and ears for their cry.