A “Statement of Principles” has been released by 55 Catholic Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Commenting on this statement is Catholic League president William Donohue:
“The House Catholic Democrats who signed this statement—and 17 of them did not—are trying to convince the public, and especially Catholics, that one can be a good Catholic and differ with the Catholic Church on abortion. They agree with the Church about the ‘undesirability of abortion,’ adding that ‘we do not celebrate its practice.’ What gives them pause is not explained, but one thing is certain: there is not a word in the statement that commits these Catholics to work towards a change in the Democratic Party’s Platform on abortion. Thus, even the barbaric practice of partial-birth abortion is not so undesirable that it must be opposed.
“The statement is driven by fear. The fear is the Abortion Albatross that is literally strangling them from getting their message out. Recall that in 2004, 48 Catholic members of Congress—all Democrats—signed a letter to Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington warning him that if some bishops were to deny Communion to abortion-rights advocates it would ‘revive latent anti-Catholic prejudice, which so many of us have worked so hard to overcome.’ Funny we never recall one of them joining with us to denounce the incestuous relationship that existed for years between the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Catholics for a Free Choice, a notoriously anti-Catholic front group: a link with the bigoted group was posted on the DNC’s website for years.
“Perhaps the most convincing evidence that this statement is a sham is the fact that Rep. Rosa DeLauro is the point person for this effort. There has never been an abortion she couldn’t justify, including the killing of an innocent child who is 80-percent born. Indeed, she previously served as the executive director of EMILY’s List, the richest pro-abortion organization in the country. So with her at the helm, the ‘Statement of Principle’ is nothing more than a ‘Statement of Politics.’ Thus, the Abortion Albatross remains securely in place.”
