News

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 6, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – America’s largest Catholic pro-life organization called today for the excommunication of every one of the 62 Catholic congressmen who voted in February against defunding Planned Parenthood, the country’s largest abortion provider.

“Right now we have a very real chance at ending Planned Parenthood’s federal funding and those Catholic politicians who were voting to continue the funding of Planned Parenthood are aiding and abetting a professed enemy of the Catholic Church,” says Michael Hichborn, host of the American Life League Report.

In a four-minute Youtube video, ALL points out that the Catholic Church has a history of excommunicating those who support her greatest enemies, including supporters of Freemasonry, Nazism, and communism.  “Planned Parenthood is just as much an enemy of the Catholic Church as these three institutions,” says Hichborn.

Pope Benedict XVI himself supported excommunication for pro-abortion politicians when questioned about it after the Mexican bishops had warned they would take such action in 2007.

“Yes, this excommunication was not an arbitrary one but is allowed by Canon law which says that the killing of an innocent child is incompatible with receiving communion, which is receiving the body of Christ,” he said.

The issue is a contentious one in North America and across the world, with many bishops hesitating, or flat-out refusing even to follow the Vatican’s directives to deny communion to pro-abortion politicians.

The ALL video documents Planned Parenthood’s history of anti-Catholicism from founder Margaret Sanger to current President Cecile Richards.  In addition to its focus on abortion, the organization is a major promoter of promiscuity, contraception, and homosexual behaviour.

“Sanger identified the Church as her main opposition, Richards has formally excoriated Catholic bishops for pro-life teachings, and Catholic bishops have excommunicated members of Planned Parenthood in the past,” said Hichborn.

In particular, Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz of Lincoln, Nebraska excommunicated all members of Planned Parenthood in his diocese.

“Planned Parenthood is an enemy of the preborn child, of our children, and of Catholics. To support funding of Planned Parenthood is the ultimate hypocrisy that betrays all pretense of being Catholic in favor of the largest private abortion provider in the world,” Hichborn concluded.

American Life League is asking Catholics to contact these Catholic representatives and their local bishops to express their feelings on Catholic support of Planned Parenthood.

The following Catholic U.S. Representatives (alphabetical by last name) voted “NO” to defund Planned Parenthood:

Jason Altmire, PA; Joe Baca, CA; Xavier Becerra, CA; Timothy H. Bishop, NY; Robert Brady, PA; Michael E. Capuano, MA; Dennis A. Cardoza, CA; John Carney, DE; Hansen Clarke, MI; William Lacy Clay, MO; Gerald E. Connolly, VA; Jim Costa, CA; Joe Courtney, CT; Mark Critz, PA; Joseph Crowley, NY; Henry Cuellar, TX; Peter DeFazio, OR; Rosa L. DeLauro, CT; John D. Dingell, MI; Richael F. Doyle, PA; Anna Eshoo, CA; Charlie Gonzalez, TX; Raul M. Grijalva, AZ; Richard Hanna, NY; Brian Higgins, NY; Maurice D. Hinchey, NY; Tim Holden, PA; Marcy Kaptur, OH; Dale E. Kildee, MI; Dennis J. Kucinich, OH; James R. Langevin, RI; John B. Larson, CT; Ben Ray Lujan, NM; Stephen F. Lynch, MA; Ed Markey, MA; Carolyn McCarthy, NY; James P. McGovern, MA; Jerry McNerney, CA; Michael H. Michaud, MA; George Miller, CA; James P. Moran, VA; Grace F. Napolitano, CA; Richard E. Neal, MA; Bill Owens,NY; Frank Pallone,NJ; Bill Pascrell,NJ; Ed Pastor, AZ; Nancy Pelosi, CA; Mike Quigley, IL; Charles B. Rangel, NY; Lucille Roybal-Allard, CA; Tim Ryan, OH; Linda T. Sanchez, CA; Loretta Sanchez, CA; Jose E. Serrano, NY; Albio Sires, NJ; Jackie Speier, CA; Mike Thompson, CA; Paul Tonko, NY; Nydia M. Velazquez, NY; Peter J. Visclosky, IN; Peter Welch, VT

Citizens can identify and find the contact information for U.S. Representatives here.