AMERICA/UNITED STATES - Cardinal Rigali asks Catholics to help build a culture in which every human life is respected and defended, without exceptions

Washington (Agenzia Fides) - In a statement to mark Respect Life Sunday, October 5, Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia, Chair of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), urged Catholics "to help build a culture in which every human life without exception is respected and defended."
Cardinal Rigali cited encouraging trends that "most Americans favor banning all abortion or permitting it only in very rare cases." He also addressed the threat posed by "FOCA," a federal "Freedom of Choice Act" which would deprive American citizens of the freedom they now possess in working against the abortion industry. The Cardinal said that if enacted, it would introduce a kind of abortion upon request that would affect all the policies in this area and would obliterate virtually all the gains of the past 35 years.
"We cannot allow this to happen. We cannot tolerate an even greater loss of innocent human lives. We cannot subject more women and men to the post-abortion grief and suffering that our counselors and priests encounter daily in Project Rachel programs across America," Cardinal Rigali said.
Throughout the month of October, Catholic parishes and organizations will sponsor hundreds of educational conferences, prayer services, and opportunities for public witness, as well as events to raise funds for programs assisting those in need. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 3/10/2008)