WASHINGTON, September 27, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Over fifty representatives from a wide variety of religious groups, and even atheists, held a press conference in Washington, DC, Thursday to deliver a unified message about the 2004 elections: Support for abortion contradicts public service and disqualifies candidates from holding public office. Representatives were Catholic, Southern Baptist, Church of Christ, Muslim, Orthodox Jewish, Korean Presbyterian, Methodist Episcopal, and Native American. The religious groups were joined by various pro-life organizations, each representing a different pro-life perspective, including: Atheists for Life, Libertarians for Life, Democrats for Life, Black-Americans for Life, The National Right to Life Committee, the Family Research Council, Focus on the Family, and many more. Celebrities on hand to voice their support included actress and model, Jennifer O’Neill, national spokeswoman for the Silent No More Awareness Campaign, and Dr. Alveda King, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Led by Fr. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, and President of the National Pro-life Religious Council, the coalition vowed to deliver its message in all the churches, synagogues and mosques of the United States between now and November 2nd.
“By gathering a group of people that is very diverse politically, philosophically, ethnically, and religiously, we are aiming to destroy the stereotypes under which many labor, namely, that opposition to abortion must come only from one’s religious or political affiliation,” said Fr. Pavone.
He continued, “It is a favorite tactic of pro-abortion politicians to hold that opposition to abortion flows merely from Catholic faith, and therefore that because of religious freedom, we cannot expect everyone to be against abortion. What nonsense! Through this press conference, we are pointing out that opposition to abortion is based on reasons above and beyond any religious, ethnic, or political loyalties a person might have. Rather, it flows from an awareness that, as an act of violence, abortion has no place in a civilized society.”“Because abortion is an act of violence that destroys an entire segment of the public,” Fr. Frank concluded,” no one who ignores the victims of abortion is worthy to hold public office.”
At the press conference, Fr. Pavone also unveiled a million dollar educational campaign that Priests for Life is launching in the final thirty days before the election. It will be aimed primarily at church-going Christians, who, according to polls, favor pro-life candidates.
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