Local News
Letter to the Editor
Published: February 28, 2008
The Feb. 21 issue of The Georgia Bulletin contains an article by Andrew Nelson, “Georgia Catholics Oppose Immigration, Life Bills.” The title of the article is misleading and untrue. I know of no one other than Bishops Gregory and Boland (and their staffs, of course) who oppose HR 536! Everyone I have spoken to has had the same response along the lines of “how can the bishops oppose this fundamental and basic statement of life?” I have read the bishops’ reasons for their opposition and they are unpersuasive to me, as I am sure they are to others. Reading the bishops’ statements, it seems that they will only support measures that will prevent abortions, and such measures are not remotely possible at this time. The bishops say they would support an amendment to the federal Constitution like HR 536. There is not even a suggestion of any support for such a bill at the federal level. It seems clear that the abortion fight will not be won by starting at the federal level. Almost all of the recent pro-life victories have been at the state level: parental notification, etc. Why not start at the grassroots/state level and make our beliefs known? What is done in Georgia certainly would have a favorable effect on pro-life efforts in other states. We in Georgia could begin to change hearts and, with the support of other state pro-life efforts, perhaps eventually bring enough pressure on Congress and the Supreme Court to end the national disgrace of abortion. It is worth a try. Working at the federal level for the past 35 years has yielded little.
Francis D. O’Brien, Marietta
