The Vatican last week issued guidelines reminding Catholic politicians of their “duty to respect and protect the rights of the human embryo,” according to the Associated Press. Released one week before the 30th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the document asserts that Catholic politicians–particularly in light of recent medical and scientific developments–should abide by “nonnegotiable ethical principles” and reject abortion, euthanasia, and same-sex or common-law marriages. American Life League (ALL) president Judie Brown insisted, “The simple fact is you cannot actively support abortion and be a faithful Catholic. You can’t have it both ways. The Church’s teachings on this matter are very clear,” according to an ALL press release. Pope John Paul II is expected to release a 1,000-page “Lexicon of the Family and Life” to provide church-sanctioned interpretations of terms such as “gender” and “reproductive rights,” reported the National Post.
Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, a 2004 presidential hopeful, has already indicated that, as a representative of “all the people,” he will not bind himself the Vatican’s guidelines, according to WRAL.com. Kerry is one of 12 US Senators targeted in American Life League’s upcoming “The Deadly Dozen” campaign, identifying pro-choice Catholic politicians.
