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Philadelphia Cardinal Rigali Says Abortion, Cloning Top Vote Concerns for Catholics

PHILADELPHIA, November 1, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Philadelphia's Archbishop, Cardinal Justin Rigali, reminded Catholics that the "highest priority" for the voter in Tuesday's US presidential election is "our duty to defend innocent human life."

In a letter published Thursday in the diocesan newspaper, The Catholic Standard & Times, Cardinal Rigali said, "The Church identifies moral principles about which Catholics should be informed when exercising their right to vote. As Catholics, we hold in highest priority the right to life and our duty to defend innocent human life. This principle applies directly to the protection of unborn children as well as to the Church 's opposition to embryonic stem cell research, cloning, assisted suicide and euthanasia."

"The role of Catholics in politics," Cardinal Rigali explained, "is to have a voice on policies that reflect the truths of the natural law."

Cardinal Rigali warned against voting for candidates who support the evil of same-sex "marriage." He wrote, ". . . society cannot change the definition of marriage that is revealed in natural law and confirmed by human history. The Church consistently proclaims that marriage exists only between one man and one woman. Catholic citizens must directly oppose the promotion of laws that sanction these threats to the very foundation of society."

"Not all these issues are of equal gravity," Cardinal Rigali continued. "Some issues," like abortion, embryonic stem cell research, cloning, assisted suicide and euthanasia -- unlike "problems of poverty, immigration, healthcare and acceptable military force -- lie at the foundation of society and address fundamental aspects of what it means to be human, [thus] must be considered first and foremost."

In conclusion, Cardinal Rigali encouraged all Catholics "to try to begin their day on Tuesday, November 2 by participating at Mass which is celebrated at various times in the parishes of the Archdiocese. The Eucharistic table is a fitting place to begin the journey of casting our votes."

Read the Cardinal's entire letter at: http://www.cst-phl.com/second.html

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