The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has condemned Rep. Betty McCollum and 30 other Catholic Democrats who claimed in a “statement of principles” that their faith compels them to support abortion.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro led 30 Catholic members of Congress on June 24 in releasing a “renewed statement of principles affirming their support for a woman’s right to choose.” DeLauro, an 80-year-old Democrat from Connecticut, led a similar statement in June 2021 amid a debate among U.S. bishops about denying the Eucharist to pro-abortion Catholic politicians.
DeLauro’s latest statement, signed by McCollum, invokes St. Pope John Paul II, who called for defending the “right to life” with “maximum determination.”
I am a Catholic—baptized, raised, and confirmed.
The fundamental tenets of my faith compel me to defend a women’s right to access abortion.
I am proudly part of the faithful large majority of US Catholics who support legal protections for abortion access.
Read my statement ⬇️
— Rosa DeLauro (@rosadelauro) June 26, 2023
“The fundamental tenets of our Catholic faith — social justice, conscience, and religious freedom — compel us to defend a woman’s right to access abortion. We are committed to advocating for the respect and protection of those making the decision if and when to have children,” the statement says.
Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Bishop Michael Burbidge, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Bishop Daniel Flores, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Doctrine, condemned the Catholic lawmakers for “grievously distort[ing] the faith.”
“Conscience rightly enjoys a special regard both in Church teaching and in the public sphere. And policymakers should support the freedom of Catholics and of others to serve the common good in accord with their beliefs in a wide range of areas — from services and assistance to recently arrived migrants, to offering health care and social services,” they said.
“Nevertheless, conscience is not a license to commit evil and take innocent lives. Conscience cannot and does not justify the act or support of abortion. In fact, conscience ‘must be informed and moral judgment enlightened’ with the Word of God in faith and prayer, and ‘guided by the authoritative teaching of the Church.’ Moreover, the reality that the preborn are our living sisters and brothers is not only a matter of faith, but is attested to by science and sound reason,” they added.
McCollum has represented Minnesota’s Fourth Congressional District since 2001 and has an “F” rating from CatholicVote because of her support for abortion, gay marriage, and more.
Anthony Gockowski
Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News. He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform, and wrote for the Daily Caller.
