Superior general of Holy Cross order to Obama: Reconsider abortion position
April 01, 2009
The superior general of the Congregation of Holy Cross, which founded the University of Notre Dame, has asked President Barack Obama to reconsider his position on abortion. “I would like to take advantage of your appearance at Notre Dame to ask you to rethink, through prayerful wrestling with your own conscience, your stated positions on the vital ‘life issues’ of our day, particularly in regard to abortion, embryonic stem cell research and your position on the Freedom of Choice Act before Congress,” Father Hugh Cleary, CSC writes. He adds:
Mr. President, you expressed our most essential faith conviction in your remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast this past February 5th, when you said: “There is no God who condones taking the life an innocent human being. This much we know.”
This much we know, President Obama, your statement on the unconscionable taking of an innocent life is truly our belief. It is the kind of clear, straightforward talk of your conscience convictions that we find so appealing. But sadly for us Catholics, your words do not express our meaning.
[Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the Holy Cross order operates Notre Dame. Since the 1960s the university has been controlled by an independent board. The Notre Dame bylaws still stipulate, however, that the university's president must be a Holy Cross priest.]
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
