Res Publica 2005

Dear Senator John Kerry:

America is a place of hope and opportunity for many reasons. Chief among them we are a people of great faith and that is what keeps us strong.

But while Americans have always been a religious people, our faith is tied to reason. We choose goodness and truth not only because faith tells us to, but also because doing otherwise would be inherently wrong.

Disagreements will always exist in the civic arena. How high the minimum wage? How to best provide educational opportunity for all? The appropriate level of taxation? These are decisions that we work out in the political process and upon which the Church has no specialized knowledge. As Catholics and as Americans we are called to discern the truth in public policy and to determine which candidate best addresses our concerns.

There are core truths, however, around which we as Catholics must rally. Not just because it is the word of the Church, but also because of reason. This is where we stand on opposition to abortion.

Innocent human life must always be protected. Senator John Kerry, you have said that “life begins at conception,” but you have persistently supported abortion and oppose all sensible restrictions on the practice.

You have voted six times against banning the barbaric practice of partial birth abortion. You voted to spend taxpayers’ dollars to fund abortion at least 25 times.

You opposed Laci and Conner’s Law, which protects pregnant women and their unborn babies from violent crimes.

In the most recent debate Senator Kerry, you said, "everything you do in public life has to be guided by your faith” and that “everything is a gift from the Almighty.” But apparently, when it comes to the issue of the right to life, you follow neither your own faith nor your own reason.

Senator Kerry, your stand contradicts both your faith and reason.

As Americans and Catholics, both faith and reason lead us to President George W. Bush as the choice for life, compassion and justice for all. For that reason, we are urging fellow Catholics to join us in voting for the President on November 2.

Respectfully,

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