Vatican
daily
reminds Obama that U.S. is increasingly pro-life
Vatican City - L’Osservatore Romano (LOR) published an article last
week reminding U.S. President Barack Obama that the number of Americans
who oppose abortion continues to be on the rise. This was recently
demonstrated by the nearly 200,000 signatures to the "Manhattan
Declaration," a document drafted by various Christian leaders in
defense of life, marriage, the family and religious freedom.
LOR said: "The political and spiritual weight of the Manhattan
Declaration is thus evident" as "this is a crucial moment for the Obama
administration since the president's credibility is at risk over
promises made during the campaign season, considering the
not-so-encouraging results of the latest polls on the president's
popularity."
In recent days "the spotlight is on health care reform," which is
currently being debated in the Senate, with a bill that is "quite
different from the one approved only weeks ago by the House of
Representatives." That bill prohibited the use of federal funds for
abortion and established conscience protections through the Stupak
amendment, which was lauded by the U.S. bishops.
LOR pointed out that the difference in between the two bills cannot be
considered an accident. “In fact it was Obama himself, in a recent
interview, who said that the Stupak Amendment introduced unbalanced
language in the health care reform and that "women's choices" should
not be restricted.
Thus, LOR argued, Obama is moving between two contrary positions: that
of keeping his campaign promises "not to use federal funds for abortion
and that the right to conscientious objection be respected," and that
of "influential pro-choice groups who demand an ultimate liberalization
of abortion practices."
After noting that the Manhattan Declaration clearly defends life and
opposes abortion, LOR explained that "polls in recent months show that
the number of those who are pro-life continues to rise and is now
larger than the number of Americans” who think unrestricted abortions
should be allowed during the course of pregnancy.
LOR said the change in public opinion in the U.S. is made evident by
the Manhattan Declaration, which reads: "no power on earth, be it
cultural or political, will intimidate us into silence or acquiescence.
It is our duty to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ in its fullness, both in season and out of season. May God help
us not to fail in that duty.”
Among the signers of the declaration are "Jonah Paffhausen, primate of
the Orthodox Church in America, and Robert Duncan, Anglican Primate of
North America, as well as the Rev. William Owens, president of the
Coalition of African American Pastors. Signers such as these could make
Obama campaign staffers recalculate,” LOR said.
Source:
CNA
Publish
Date:
November 30, 2009
Link
to
this
article.
Send
this
article
to a friend.
The IFRL is the largest grassroots pro-life organization in
Illinois. A non-profit organization, that serves as the state
coordinating body for local pro-life chapters representing thousands of
Illinois citizens working to restore respect for all human life in our
society. The IFRL is composed of people of different political
persuasions, various faiths and diverse economic, social and ethnic
backgrounds. Since 1973 the Illinois Federation for Right to Life has
been working to end abortion and restore legal protection to those members of the
human family who are threatened by abortion, infanticide and euthanasia. Diverse though we are, we hold one common belief - that
every human being has an inalienable right to life that is precious and must be protected. IFRL is
dedicated to restoring the right to life to the unborn, and protection
for the disabled and the elderly. Click here to learn more about the IFRL.