Bishop of Scranton calls Sen. Casey’s abortion vote ‘an offense against life’

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Sen. Bob Casey / Bishop Joseph Martino

Scranton, Pa., Feb 7, 2009 / 04:25 pm (CNA).- Bishop Joseph Martino of Scranton, Pennsylvania has written a letter to self-described pro-life Democrat Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) expressing “deep regret” over his vote against an amendment which would have reinstated the Mexico City Policy and said his vote would result in the deaths of thousands of unborn children.

The Mexico City Policy, which bars federal funding for international groups which promote or perform abortions, was reversed by President Barack Obama on Jan. 23.

Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL) had proposed an amendment to the Children’s Health Insurance Act which would have reinstated the policy.

Writing in a Jan. 30 letter, Bishop Martino said he learned of Sen. Casey’s vote against the amendment “with deep regret.”

Explaining that the policy also prohibited the funding of organizations which lobby governments to make abortion legal, Bishop Martino wrote:

“In effect, the reversal of the Mexico City policy will mean that over 450 million dollars of American foreign aid will go to organizations that are militant in promoting abortion as a method of population control, particularly in countries that find abortion objectionable on moral grounds.

“Senator, is not this vote a contradiction of your repeated claim that you support the protection of unborn life?”

Saying that the senator’s office had argued that the 1973 Helms Amendment provides the same restrictions as the Mexico City Policy, Bishop Martino argued that the amendment prohibits only U.S. funds from being used to pay for abortions or to motivate or to coerce anyone to practice abortions.

The Helms Amendment “does not have the same effect in limiting abortions abroad” and “in no way keeps U.S. federal funds from organizations which use their own money to pay for or support abortions,” Bishop Martino charged.

The bishop explained that he had called for vigilance against objections to the Church’s teaching on life “so prevalent in political discourse.”

He said his call for vigilance prompted his own response to Sen. Casey.

“Your vote against the Mexico City Policy will mean the deaths of thousands of unborn children,” Bishop Martino said. “This is an offense against life and a denial of our Catholic teaching on the dignity of every human being. This action is worthy of condemnation by all moral men and women.”

The bishop also challenged Sen. Casey’s support for “family planning” before citing several Church documents which discussed lawmakers’ “grave and clear obligation” to oppose any law that “attacks human life.”

“It is my deepest wish, Senator, to convince you of the necessity of rescinding your vote on the Martinez Amendment,” Bishop Martino’s letter continued. “It is the height of irony that this amendment was defeated while the Senate passed legislation to provide health insurance for children who would otherwise be without it.

“What hypocrisy offers health insurance to children in one part of the world when children in another part will be deprived, by the stroke of the same pen, of their first breath?”

“Your failure to reverse this vote will regrettably mean that you persist formally in cooperating with the evil brought about by this hideous and unnecessary policy,” Bishop Martino counseled, offering to discuss his “grave concerns” with the Senator.

Comments: 14

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Ron Pichlik
Battle Creek, MI USA 02/26/2009 12:30 PM EST

To QRS in Dallas: This is not 16th century Spain and the Church is not trying to create a theocaracy. HOWEVER, truth is truth; it is objective and it can be known. The Church is explaining and attempting to educate that abortion is in fact and truth, the murder of a fellow human being who was endowed by his/her creator with the right to exist. Even science has confirmed this fact, which the Church has always taught and believed; life exists from the moment of conception and it is in fact human life. Genetically, everything about that person; how tall, hair color, eye color, etc. are all there at the moment of conception. The pro-abortion crowd sells the lie that that is only a "potential human being". The objective truth is that that person is a person already with potential.

As to whether there are other issues; yes, there certainly are. But better schools, roads, social welfare, etc. aren't going to mean anything to people who are being killed/murdered in the womb. In short, get things in their proper order and perspective; protection of life must come first. If we condone murder of the innocent unborn with "legal" protection than at anytime government can strip any of us of our personhood when we become inconvenient or too expensive to keep alive. The true shame is that being pro-life is considered as being identified, (as you have done), with the republican party; it ought to be a universal issue.

Published by: QRS
Dallas, TX 02/17/2009 03:27 PM EST

The catholic religion has nothing to do with federal policy. This is not 16th century Spain. Catholics have no special right to make everyone conform to their beliefs. In the US, there is something called freedom of religion, not freedom to force your religion on others.
Also, there are more important policy considerations than a candidate's stance on abortion. You can vote for a Republican who is pro-life, but you're going to get some really obviously bad policies that go along with pro-life.

Published by: Jim Lenahan
Milwaukee, WI USA 02/10/2009 09:24 AM EST

This is just another case of the Catholics getting sucked in and hoodwinked into voting for the Democrats. Now it is all coming home to roost. Their true colors are showing once the election is over. Just wait until they have to make a Supreme Court nomination.

Published by: Stephanie
Redwood City, CA 02/09/2009 06:42 PM EST

Bring this gentleman to the Bay Area! We need a strong bishop here, not like the weak one we have now.

Published by: Al Wunsch
The Villages, Fl USA 02/09/2009 05:10 PM EST

God Bless the Bishop. But it's no surprise that Casey would vote that way - he, immediately after winning the senate seat, said he would fillibuster pro life judges. Now the dems are in power and we will see a socialist government that will also throw out God and free speech - just watch. Our best hope is that the people will wake up and vote in republicans in the congress that can reverse all the bad things coming in the stimulus bill and that President Obama has made with exec orders.

Published by: Jim Sauer
Plymouth, MA 02/09/2009 12:24 PM EST

Outstanding leadership on the part of Bishop Martino! I wish ALL the bishops would follow his example.

Published by: Mark Rutledge
McKinney, TX 02/09/2009 11:14 AM EST

A lot of Catholics bought into the Democrats' reduce-but-not-criminalize ruse and now we are seeing it for the fraud that it is. I can only pray that enough Catholics put their faith before their politics again and reject pols like Casey.

Published by: R E Mc Candlish
Chihuahua, Mexico 02/09/2009 10:21 AM EST

Sen Caseys father, Gov Bob Casey, would be very disappointed at his sons decision to vote against the amendment. At least Obama was straight-forward about his support of the culture of death; Casey is nothing more than a hypocrite. Pro-life indeed!

Published by: Tom Skindeleski
Delray Beach, FL 02/09/2009 09:55 AM EST

Thank God for Bishop Martino and those intelligent shepherds who go after the straying sheep. Lord, send us more, please!

Published by: Robert P. Fina
Bethlehem, Pa. 02/08/2009 02:48 PM EST

God Bless Bishop Martino! I wish
all of the U.S. Bishops would make a similar public statement.

Published by: Alan
Fredericksburg/VA/USA 02/08/2009 11:19 AM EST

If all Bishops across the U.S. did this together, things might change. All should draw the line in the sand as Christ did - then watch them disappear when asked to "cast a stone" or in the case of Congres "cast a vote". The problem seems to be that Bishops are being "reactive" instead of proactive. We should hear more stories of U.S. Bishops openly denying communion, excommunication by casting such votes, etc. The more proactive the Bishops become, the more change we will see in our Congress. In the beginning, slow - but when they slow down to consider their eternal salvation - change will come.

Published by: Phyllis M. Antonino
Akron, Oh 02/07/2009 07:01 PM EST

Thank you Bishop Martino for your stand. The Life issue is huge. When I hear priests giving up on the Life issue, - what does this do to the flock? It doesn't surprise me when lay Catholics act and say the things they do when their leadership gives up (on other issues as well, instead it is better to get along with the world and its views and we see where that has lead us). Your stand has been criticized (by Catholics) ?? Outrageous !! I can't imagine the Apostles giving up when Christ tasked them to spread the His word. Where would we be today? The Catholic church is spiritually rich with Bishops (Priests, deacon, lay) who stand up to the less popular issues as they are being crucified for doing so. May God help you to continue to keep focused. Thank you and God bless.

Published by: GFM
St. Louis, MO 02/07/2009 05:26 PM EST

I followed the presidential campaign and Casey's endorsement of Obama. Casey's alleged pro-life stance never came up. Bishop Martino's statement is strong and needed, but more of this kind of teaching should have been herd throughout the campaign. It seems that the majority of our bishops are reactive instead of on the offensive about Catholic political complicity in the death culture. This needs to end. American bishops to to speak with one voice and often.

Published by: Robert Lockwood
Lafayette, CA 02/07/2009 05:22 PM EST

The Democratic party members have always relied on deception and misleading statements to get votes. For those who did not realize this, re-read the statement by the Cardinal and get in the know.

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