“I expect that some want you to take executive action soon to reverse current policies against government-sponsored destruction of unborn human life. I urge you to consider that this could be a terrible mistake — morally, politically and in terms of advancing the solidarity and well-being of our nation’s people.”

This passage encapsulates the message delivered by the letter that Cardinal Francis George of Chicago has written to Barack Obama, on the eve of Obama’s inauguration as president.

The entire text of the letter can be read here, on the Catholic Key blog.

Cardinal George’s letter highlights existing policies regarding the protection of conscience, embryonic stem-cell research and the Mexico City policy banning U.S. funding of abortion promotion in other countries as pro-life policies that should be preserved by the Obama Administration.

“I hope you will consider these comments in the spirit in which they are intended, as an invitation to set aside political pressures and ideologies and focus on the priorities and challenges that will unite us as a nation,” wrote Cardinal George. “Again I want to express our hopes for your Administration, and our offer to cooperate in advancing the common good and protecting the poor and vulnerable in these challenging times.”

— Tom McFeely