Cardinal George backs off criticism of Illinois governor
November 07, 2011
Cardinal Francis George of Chicago has expressed misgivings about a statement in which he and the other Catholic bishops of Illinois criticized Governor Pat Quinn for participating in a Pro-Choice Leadership award ceremony.
The bishops had joined in saying that Quinn, by joining in the award ceremony for a pro-abortion group, had taken a stand “irreconcilable with any honest profession of the Catholic faith.” The governor shot back, saying that it was “the proper, Christian thing to do,” and noting that the recipient of this year’s award was honored for serving rape victims.
Cardinal George admitted that he had not been aware that the honoree was working with rape victims. He suggested that the bishops might not have made the same criticism of Quinn if they had been apprised of the facts. "If we had known this, that it was in fact an award to a rape victim, I think our own conversation would have been very different,” he said.
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Further information:
- Cardinal regrets that rape victim has become the focus of dispute between bishops, Quinn (Chicago Tribune)
- Illinois governor dismisses bishops' criticism on 'pro-choice' award (CWN, 11/3)
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Posted by: lauriem5377 -
Nov. 08, 2011 7:20 PM ET USA
The governor should not be participating in a Pro-choice Leadership Award for any reason. And the Cardinal should be standing up for his Bishops for opposing it.
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Posted by: -
Nov. 08, 2011 6:56 AM ET USA
Who got to the good Cardinal, I wonder.
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Posted by: TheJournalist64 -
Nov. 07, 2011 6:19 PM ET USA
This sounds like the standard Planned Parenthood etc. comeback--"but we do [mammograms/health screenings/etc] and not just abortions." Might as well give an award to Hesbollah for rebuilding houses.
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Posted by: -
Nov. 07, 2011 6:15 PM ET USA
How would it have been different? Did the award recipient "serve rape victims" by getting them to the nearest abortionist? More info, please, Cardinal George.
