Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Baltimore (Agenzia Fides) – Cardinal Francis George, Archbishop of Chicago and President of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, dedicated his opening address at the Bishops' Fall Assembly being celebrated in the city of Baltimore, November 10-13, to the defense of the unborn as part of the common good of the nation, no less an issue than racial justice.
“The Bishops of the Catholic Church in the United States welcome this moment of historic transition and look forward to working with President-elect Obama and the members of the new Congress for the common good of all,” the Cardinal said, commenting on the historic victory of President-elect Barack Obama, the first African American to be elected President of the United States.
However, he also mentioned that, “the fundamental good is life itself, a gift from God and our parents,” and therefore, “a good state protects the lives of all.” Thus, he later affirms that “it would counteract any and all sincere efforts by government and others of good will to reduce the number of abortions in our country.” Thus, he also states that “if the election is misinterpreted ideologically as a referendum on abortion, the unity desired by President-elect Obama and all Americans at this moment of crisis will be impossible to achieve.”
The President of the Bishops' Conference believes that “abortion kills not only unborn children; it destroys constitutional order and the common good, which is assured only when the life of every human being is legally protected.” He also considered the fact that “aggressively pro-abortion policies, legislation and executive orders will permanently alienate tens of millions of Americans, and would be seen by many as an attack on the free exercise of their religion.”
“We express again our great desire to work with all those who cherish the common good of our nation. The common good is not the sum total of individual desires and interests; it is achieved in the working out of a common life based upon good reason and good will for all,” the Cardinal concluded. During their Assembly, the Bishops also approved a Blessing of a Child in the Womb for use in all of the nation's dioceses. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 13/11/2008)
