DENVER, Oct 23, 02 (CWNews.com/LifeSiteNews.com)—In an unusually clear and forthright statement of Catholic political responsibilities, Denver’s Archbishop Charles Chaput, OFM Cap, has urged Colorado voters to judge political candidates by their stand on legislation regarding abortion. In a column published October 23 in his archdiocesan newspaper. Archbishop Chaput writes: “Catholics have a very clear, very specific piece of pending federal legislation by which we can measure every Congressional candidate.” He explains that the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act (ANDA), which would “protect the conscience rights of Catholics and other health-care providers,” is an essential measure, protecting the freedom of conscience. “Any candidate—Republican or Democrat—unwilling to protect that freedom through practical legislation like ANDA is unworthy of Catholic support,” the archbishop writes. He finishes his column by saying: “The candidates who oppose ANDA won’t get my vote.” The archbishop charges that abortion proponents have “fought the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act with a fog of misleading arguments.” He predicts that if they are not checked, “pro-abortion groups will continue to bend the Constitution and attack health-care providers until Catholics and other people of conscience are forced out of this vital public ministry.” Archbishop Chaput points out that this issue has “nothing to do with party affiliation.” His columns lists several of the candidates for Congressional seats in Colorado, and gives their responses to a survey, submitted by the Colorado Catholic Conference, asking candidates for their views on the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act. The archbishop also notes that several candidates did not answer the survey, and calls upon them to make a clear statement of their position on the issue.
See the Archbishop’s column at: https://www.archden.org/archbishop/docs/10_23_02_anda.htm