Choice of Biden Re-Opens Catholic Wound

Own Bishop Outspoken on Obligation to Protect Life

CHICAGO, Aug. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The selection of Delaware
Senator Joseph Biden as the vice presidential running mate of Barack Obama
poses a major challenge for American Catholics, according to Fidelis, a
national Catholic-based advocacy group.
Fidelis warned late last month that a pro-abortion Catholic choice as a
vice presidential candidate would offend many Catholics who have struggled
with the scandal of prominent pro-abortion Catholic politicians like Senator
Biden.
Fidelis President Brian Burch commented, "Barack Obama has re-opened a
wound among American Catholics by picking a pro-abortion Catholic politician.
The American bishops have made clear that Catholic political leaders must
defend the dignity of every human person, including the unborn. Sadly, Joe
Biden's tenure in the United States Senate has been marked by steadfast
support for legal abortion."
During the recent Democratic primary campaign Biden said: "I am a
long-standing supporter of Roe v. Wade and a woman's right to choose."
In 2004, John Kerry's support for abortion sparked a nationwide
controversy over whether Catholics who support legal abortion can receive
Communion. The debate was re-activated in 2007 when several bishops criticized
Rudy Guiliani, also a pro-abortion Catholic.
"Now everywhere Biden campaigns, we'll have this question of whether a
pro-abortion Catholic can receive Communion. Senator Biden is an unrepentant
supporter of abortion in direct opposition to the Church he claims as his own.
Selecting a pro-abortion Catholic is a slap in the face to Catholic voters,"
said Burch.
Biden's own bishop, Bishop Michael Saltarelli of Wilmington, Del., has
said that the issues pertaining to the sanctity of human life are the "great
civil rights issues of this generation."
Bishop Saltarelli denounced the notion that politicians can 'personally
oppose' abortion, but refuse to pass laws protecting the unborn.
"No one today would accept this statement from any public servant: 'I am
personally opposed to human slavery and racism but will not impose my personal
conviction in the legislative arena.' Likewise, none of us should accept this
statement from any public servant: "I am personally opposed to abortion but
will not impose my personal conviction in the legislative arena," said Bishop
Saltarelli.
In fact, Bishop Saltarelli made clear that pro-abortion Catholic
politicians should refrain from receiving the Eucharist.
"The promotion of abortion by any Catholic is a grave and serious matter.
Objectively, according to the constant teaching of the Scriptures and the
Church, it would be more spiritually beneficial for such a person to refrain
from receiving the Body and Blood of Christ. I ask Catholics in this position
to have the integrity to respect the Eucharist, Catholic teaching and the
Catholic faithful."
Burch concluded: "The American bishops have instructed Catholic voters to
consider many issues, but have characterized the defense of human life as
'foundational' and have explained that the issue has a special claim on the
conscience of the Catholic voter. This means that a political candidate like
Biden, because of his strong support for abortion rights, forfeits any claim
for support despite his views on other issues like health care and the
economy."
SOURCE Fidelis

Joshua Mercer of Fidelis, +1-312-276-5119, or jmercer@fidelis.org