Santa Fe, N.M., Jan 25, 2019 / 18:00 pm
Archbishop John C. Wester of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe issued a statement on Wednesday clarifying that signatories to a letter in support of abortion "are not affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church in New Mexico."
On Jan. 22, the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision that found a right to legal abortion in the United States, the New Mexico Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice published a full-page ad in the Albuquerque Journal featuring a letter signed by members of the clergy from various religions and denominations throughout New Mexico.
Two of the signatories were James Lehman from "Holy Family American National Catholic Church" in Las Cruces, and Francis Quintana from the "Blessed Oscar Romero Catholic Community in Albuquerque," both of whom presented themselves as priests of the Catholic Church.
Despite the use of "Catholic" in both churches names, they are not in communion with the Roman Catholic Church, Wester explained in his statement.