Catholic Bishops Challenge Obama on Unborn

In a direct challenge to President-elect Barack Obama, America’s Roman Catholic bishops vowed on Tuesday to accept no compromise for the sake of national unity until there is legal protection for the unborn. 

About 300 bishops, gathered in Baltimore for their national meeting, adopted a formal blessing for a child in the womb and advised Chicago’s Cardinal Francis George, president of the conference, as he began drafting a statement from the bishops to the incoming Obama administration. That document will call on the administration and Catholics who supported Obama to work to outlaw abortion.

“This is not a matter of political compromise or a matter of finding some way of common ground,” said Bishop Daniel Conlon of Steubenville, Ohio. “It’s a matter of absolutes.”

Fighting FOCA

I believe one of the many, and perhaps the prime reason, why so many Catholics opposed Barack Obama’s candidacy is his support for the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA).

Now that he’s been elected president, will Obama fulfill his promise to Planned Parenthood?

Some analysts believe he must show restraint on FOCA, and govern as a centrist. Others say that the people mandate “change” and that Obama is free to push leftist agenda. His selection of Rep. Rahm Emanuel as his Chief of Staff, a veteran of the Clinton administration and strong abortion advocate, is telling.

Regardless of how that plays out, pro-lifers can start acting now. I’ve included an ad from Fight FOCA in my sidebar and signed the petition. With Nancy Pelosi leading Congress, the play will be hers to call over when the FOCA ball starts rolling. I strongly doubt Democrats will be stupid enough to place FOCA at the top of their agenda, or that every Dem. would sign it. Nonetheless, the battle for life will wage on.

H/T to Heather at The Practicing Catholic for the FOCA blog widget!