Vatican Challenges "Catholic" Politicians To Vote Pro-Life

In a strongly worded, 17-page document, the Vatican told Catholic politicians they must oppose laws favoring abortion and euthanasia.

The document called "Doctrinal Note on Some Questions Regarding the Participation of Catholics in Political Life" said that Catholics in public life "cannot compromise" in the name of tolerance, pluralism, or freedom of choice when they support or vote for legislation which permits abortion and euthanasia.

The Doctrinal Note states:

"Democracy must be based on the true and solid foundation of non-negotiable ethical principles, which are the underpinning of life in society.

"...Those who are directly involved in lawmaking bodies have a grave and clear obligation to oppose any law that attacks human life. For them, as for every Catholic, it is impossible to promote such laws or to vote for them."

This document should fall heavily on the shoulders of the Catholic legislators who have almost consistently ignored the church's teaching on the sanctity of innocent human life. Most notable of these in the United States Senate are Joseph Biden (D-Del.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Thomas Daschle (D-S.D.), Christopher Dodd (D-Ct.), Richard Durbin (D-IL.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), John Kerry (D-Mass.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), and Jack Reed (D-R.I.). All of these senators have pro-abortion voting records, as compiled by NRLC, or have made pro-abortion and/or pro-euthanasia statements.