, Sep 15, 2004 / 12:00 am (CNA).- Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, has responded to the recent controversy concerning the distortion - by the media and Kerry supporters - of the words of Cardinal Razinger concerning voting and abortion, by issuing a clarification and explanation of the cardinal’s memo.

The note at the end of Cardinal Ratzinger’s letter which has been the source of all the controversy reads: "When a Catholic does not share a candidate's stand in favor of abortion ... but votes for that candidate for other reasons, it ... can be permitted in the presence of proportionate reasons."

Fr. Pavone states that the issue of “abortion is not proportionate to other issues, but is certainly proportionate to itself,” and quotes a paragraph earlier in the cardinal’s memo to explain the point: “There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about waging war and applying the death penalty, but not however with regard to abortion and euthanasia...”

Fr. Pavone’s full article is available at www.priestsforlife.org/elections/ratzingerletter.htm

12:56 pm | Venezuelan cardinal calls for new evangelization of country's capital

11:11 am | International congress to focus on priestly identity and celibacy

07:10 am | Former Saints star says Super Bowl victory revealed a ‘team with destiny’

06:01 am | DC ruling favors same-sex ‘marriage’ over religious freedom, archdiocese says

04:43 am | South African Bishops Conference to care for 60,000 AIDS patients

Man criticizes bishop for stance on Communion for pro-abortion politicians

Pro-abortion politicians who receive Communion ‘offend’ other Catholics, says bishop

Pro-abortion Giuliani honored by Catholic hospital group, gets trauma center named after him

ALL greets Southern bishops for denying Communion to pro-abortion politicians