British cardinals remind politicians voting for abortion unacceptable

Published: 2007-06-01

LONDON (CNS) -- Britain's two cardinals reminded Catholic politicians that it is unacceptable for them to vote for abortion rights. Cardinals Keith O'Brien of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, Scotland, and Cormac Murphy-O'Connor of Westminster, England, denounced the 1967 Abortion Act May 31 as the act approaches its 40th anniversary. "I remind them to avoid cooperating in the unspeakable crime of abortion, and the barrier such cooperation erects to receiving holy Communion," said Cardinal O'Brien, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Scotland, during a homily at St. Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh, to mark the church in Scotland's Day for Life. "I speak most especially to those who claim to be Catholic," he said. "I ask them to examine their consciences and discern if they are playing any part in sustaining this social evil." In a May 31 statement, Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor, president of the English and Welsh bishops' conference, urged "all Catholics, especially those who hold positions of public responsibility, to educate themselves about the teaching of the church and to seek pastoral advice so that they can make informed decisions with consistency and integrity." He added, "The longstanding tradition of the church teaches that anyone who freely and knowingly commits a serious wrong should approach the Eucharist only after receiving faithfully the sacrament of penance."

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