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Catholics Respond to Pro-Abort “Gang of 18”: Leave Our Church or Quit Politics

By Peter J. Smith

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 17, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Two pro-life Catholic leaders came out swinging against the 18 pro-abortion Catholic congressmen who rebuked Pope Benedict XVI last week for suggesting bishops could discipline politicians for advancing abortion, saying the group would do faithful Catholics a favor by leaving the Church or resigning from office.

Led by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), the Congressmen had accused the Pope of offending “the very nature of the American experiment” for his statements “warning Catholic elected officials that they risk excommunication and would not receive communion for their pro-choice views.”

“Religious sanction in the political arena directly conflicts with our fundamental beliefs about the role and responsibility of democratic representatives in a pluralistic America,” the Congressmen stated. “It also clashes with freedoms guaranteed in our Constitution.”

Fr. Thomas Euteneuer, President of Human Life International, called the pro-abortion “gang of 18” both “ignorant of their faith” and in need of “a civics lesson.”

“It is an embarrassment that a Catholic, much less a member of Congress should make such an absurd statement, said Fr. Euteneuer. “Even if this statement were true, the Holy Father answers to a Higher Power than Rep. DeLauro and the Gang of 18.” 

“The truth is,” Euteneuer continued, “nothing threatens the American experiment more than the legal but unjust killing of human beings by abortion which stands in stark contrast to the very first right enumerated by our Declaration of Independence: The Right to Life. The humanity of the unborn child is no longer even debated. It is a scientific fact. Abortion is murder, and murder is against the law.”

The “Gang of 18” also had reaffirmed its February “Historic Statement of Principles,” which attempted to reconcile the Church’s defense of the sanctity of life with a pro-abortion position. They said they remain committed to reducing the “need” for abortion with legislation like “The Reducing the Need for Abortion and Supporting Parents Act” while keeping the practice entirely legal.

Fr. Frank Pavone, the National Director of Priests for Life, criticized the Congressmen for stating that supporting abortion in any fashion could be consonant with their Catholic faith.

"Faithful Catholics, as well as those in the pro-life movement from every denomination, have had enough of this double-talk,” stated Fr. Pavone. “It is not possible to advance ‘respect for life and for the dignity of every human being’ while tolerating the dismemberment and decapitation of the human beings still in their mothers' wombs.” 

Fr. Pavone called upon the legislators to resign and end the public contradiction to their faith, while Fr. Euteneuer invited the pro-abortion Congressmen to leave the Church if they object so much to its teachings.

“This is what the Catholic Church teaches and what Catholics believe,” said Euteneuer. “If the Gang of 18 believes otherwise, honesty and integrity requires they find another church that tells them what they want to hear. If they have that much of a problem being Catholic, no one is forcing them to stay. We certainly don’t need their hypocrisy.”

The statement was signed by Catholic Representatives Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3), Joe Baca (CA-43), Tim Bishop (NY-1), Joe Courtney (CT-2), Anna Eshoo (CA-14), Maurice Hinchey, (NY-22), Patrick Kennedy (RI-1), James Langevin (RI-2), John Larson (CT-1), Carolyn McCarthy (NY-4), Betty McCollum (MN-4), Jim Moran (VA-8), Bill Pascrell (NJ-8), Tim Ryan (OH-17), Linda Sanchez (CA-39), José Serrano (NY -16), Hilda Solis (CA-32), and Mike Thompson (CA-1).

A copy of the statement can be found here and provides contacts for the Congressmen:
http://www.house.gov/delauro/press/2007/May/Cath_Members_Pope_05_14_07.html

See related coverage by LifeSiteNews.com:

18 House Democrats Blast Pope for Dropping the “E-word” on Abortion
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/may/07051506.html

Pope Supports Excommunication for Pro-Abortion Politicians - "Incompatible with Receiving Communion"
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/may/07050901.html

55 'Catholic' Democrats Out Themselves as Pro-Abortion - Slammed by Catholic Leaders
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/mar/06030202.html &nbs...;

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