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Why Don't They Tell the Truth?

The Cardinal's Challenge and Catholic Politicians' Response

By Robert Kumpel

"Normally," wrote Cardinal Mahony in an April 16 Los Angeles Times editorial, "when one speaks about choosing something, one finishes the sentence." What politicians really mean, said Mahony, by saying they support a right to choose is that they "support a woman's right to choose to terminate her pregnancy, that is, to get an abortion." Why, asked the cardinal, "do the media allow candidates to get away with such "vague, meaningless 'choice' language?" Why don't they demand that politicians finish their sentences?

Mahony said he is "vigorously pro-choice" -- that is, he supports a woman's right to choose a number of things: her husband, her neighborhood, her health care provider, etc. Since the cardinal can so enumerate direct objects to his transitive verb, why can't politicians do the same? "If political leaders are proud of the fact that they support the termination of a pregnancy, the taking of the life of an unborn baby," writes the cardinal, "then why can't they simply say so? What's with all the wishy-washy 'choice' language?" Mahony said he is "increasingly suspicious that shadow language is used because many political leaders either don't support abortion and are afraid to say so or because they want to pretend that a moral evil is somehow a moral good. And the only way to make evil into good is to disguise it. Bingo! Don't finish the sentence."

"No one in our country who is pro-abortion can deny that there is a living being in the womb of the expectant mother," wrote the cardinal. "Otherwise, there would be no reason to destroy that living being -- just leave him or her alone. But that living being is on his or her way to natural birth and to full development as a human being created by God: something precious and alive, not a choice."

Why, asked Cardinal Mahony, can politicians not simply say, "'I support the right of a woman to destroy her unborn baby'? Or 'I support the right of a woman to have an abortion and terminate her pregnancy'?" Politicians maybe do not "tell us the truth," wrote Mahony, "because they are trying to hide the reality of the inherent evil in abortion. Maybe they don't feel comfortable with their position, but because it has become so politically correct they are afraid to say out loud what they might feel in their souls. Maybe they believe that they really need the votes of those who relish the incomplete sentence, 'a woman's right to choose.' And maybe they believe that no one will challenge them to finish the sentence."

Maybe, proposed the cardinal, if we clarify what we believe when we speak, "we will think through our positions more deeply and force ourselves to identify and weigh the moral good and the moral evil in our choices."

In southern California, most of the Catholics in government remain deaf to the cardinal's words. The governor, the lieutenant governor and many legislators who were once practicing Catholics, and some who continue to receive the sacraments -- especially in the Democratic Party -- all support abortion rights. I called the offices of several Catholic politicians who are "pro-choice" to ask them how they thought their position stood up against Mahony's analysis. They were asked if the cardinal's remarks were relevant to them and which phrase they would be more comfortable using: "I support a woman's right to choose," or "I support a woman's right to an abortion." In every case I was referred to either the press secretary or to a staff member. In many cases, I was directed to voice mail messages only to have the request for a return phone call ignored.

Governor Gray Davis' deputy press secretary, ByronTucker, said, "I think that 'choice' is a very common term and used among a lot of different constituent groups and people from all walks of life. It's commonly understood what 'choice' means and represents. I think it's a rather unfair question. That's a very common term. It's not something that the governor invented. I think everybody understands that term. There's not a person who doesn't understand what a 'woman's right to choose' means. I mean, ultimately, it does come down to a choice and I think that's an accurate description."

On January 4, 1999, Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante distinguished himself at an inaugural celebration Mass at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Sacramento by leaving in the middle of the service when a petitioner during the intercessory prayers prayed for Catholics who support abortion, mentioning Bustamante's name. His spokesman, Phil Garcia, did not return phone calls.

Congressman and Republican Senatorial candidate Tom Campbell's spokesman, Casey Beyer, was quick to restate the standard phraseology of abortion rights supporters. "The issue is a personal issue between a woman, her doctor and her family," said Beyer. "The government shouldn't be a part of that decision. The question of 'to choose' may be a choice of other alternatives besides abortion. That's an individual freedom that a woman should have a right to make, not the government. Abortion is a medical act and the issue is, should the government decide whether that act is appropriate or not? The congressman believes that that should be an individual's decision and not the government's."

When I asked Beyer whether the congressman was aware that his position separated himself from the teachings of the Catholic Church, Beyer replied, "That's a question a lot of people have raised. Some dioceses don't allow the individual to have that freedom [to be pro-choice]. But in different dioceses, you could say the same issue about a Catholic person who happens to be gay." When I reminded him that the Catholic Church only condemns homosexual acts and not homosexuals themselves, Beyer stammered, "your point is that the congressman's faith and the issue are between him and ... and the Pope, not between him and ... and the government. An individual's faith is his own personal relationship with God and the Catholic Church."

Congressman Joe Baca's chief of staff, Michael Townshend, said, "I'm sure that he would prefer to respond to this himself. I can make sure I get a message to him." I received no response.

Congresswoman Grace Napolitano's spokesman, Ray Cordova, took offense at the questions. "You can be against abortion and not favor abortions and still be pro-choice." When pressed whether or not Napolitano tended to hide behind words and phrases like "choice" and "right to choose" Cordova was more emphatic: "Absolutely not!"

Cordova asked me, "did you see the press conference -- I think it was yesterday, where Planned Parenthood is now a partner with -- I forget the organization -- one of the largest adoption agencies in the United States? And they have them on-site for direct counseling."

"That's nice," I replied, "but it still doesn't change the fact that Planned Parenthood performs abortions."

"I'm Catholic too," said Cordova, "and I go to St. Polycarp's Catholic Church. I've been going there for years and I am pro-choice, but I am absolutely, adamantly opposed to abortion. But I think every woman has a right to choose. Do you remember state senator Lucy Killea? She was pro-choice and her bishop (Leo Maher) told her she could no longer receive the holy sacraments, but he did not excommunicate her." I reminded Cordova that Maher also said to the press, 'To claim to be a Catholic and to be pro-choice is an oxymoron.'"

Kelly Werner, communications director for Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, wanted Allard to respond herself to the questions and requested copies of them. After e-mailing Werner the questions, she later called to say that Royball-Allard would not have time to respond before the deadline.

Olga Quinones, spokeswoman for Congressman Xavier Becerra, would not comment on the record except to say, "Yes, the congressman is pro-choice." She offered to try to schedule an interview with Becerra but never called back.

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, who defeated pro-life congressman Bob Dornan, did much of her campaigning in Catholic churches. At the time this story was written, her web site featured a photo of her with a Catholic priest. Her press secretary, Sarah Anderson, did not return phone calls.

Assemblyman and Speaker Emeritus Antonio Villgaraigosa's press secretary, Elena Stern, did not return phone calls.

Assemblyman Gil Cedillo's press secretary, Tony Ricasa, did not return phone calls.

Assemblywoman Gloria Romero's Chief of Staff, Ignacio Hernandex, did not return phone calls.

Assemblyman Martin Gallegos' spokesperson, Josephine Figueroa, did not return phone calls.

Assemblyman Marco Firebaugh's press secretary, Jose Cigala, said, "I think that when somebody says, 'I support a woman's right to choose' everybody knows the issue is abortion. It's pretty much a part of the political culture. I didn't get a chance to read the editorial. All I can tell you is that his [Firebaugh's] position is pro-choice."

Assemblyman Tony Cardena's office called back to ask again which paper they would be responding to. After replying that they would call back, they did not.

Assemblyman Martin Gallegos' spokeswoman, Josephine Figueroa did not return phone calls.

A spokesman from Assemblyman Thomas Calderon's office re-affirmed Calderon's position. "He is pro-choice. What he's more comfortable saying -- that's a judgement call. I can give you the number for his press secretary, Valerie Martinez." Martinex did not return my phone calls.

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