ANDOVER, Massachusetts, November 16, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – St. Augustine’s Catholic church in Andover has a choir and state Rep. Barbara L’Italien likes to sing. The pro-abortion politician is a cantor and head of the parish youth choir and has refused to quit when asked by Fr. William Cleary, the new priest. She says she will only leave the volunteer post if she receives the request in writing. While L’Italien has complained to local papers that she is being targeted for being a Democrat, Fr. Cleary has denied that it has anything to do with her party affiliation. “In this particular case, we’re dealing with a person who is against the church’s position (on abortion),” Cleary said. “I can’t allow her to be in a public posture—to be standing up at the pulpit singing or directing singing.”
L’Italien gives the now-standard excuse for supporting abortion as a Catholic legislator, known popularly as the “Cuomoism”. She says she has a ‘private opinion’ about abortion but must represent a broad range of opinions among her constituents and cannot make a decision against abortion for someone else. Readers may contact Fr. Cleary by e-mail at: [email protected] hw