“We are unconditionally pro-life, since respect for the right to life is necessary for a human being to be able to exercise any other human right.”

— Cardinal William H. Keeler, Archbishop of Baltimore, Chairman, Pro-life Committee of the U.S. Catholic Bishops and Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza, Bishop of Galveston-Houston, U.S. bishops president, 2000.

“[Abortion is] a defining issue not only personally but also socially. Poverty can be addressed incrementally, but the death of a child is quite final.”

— Cardinal Francis George, Archbishop of Chicago, Oct. 2000

“It is impossible to advance human dignity by being ‘right’ on issues like poverty and immigration, but wrong about the most fundamental issue of all — the right to life.”

— Archbishop Charles Chaput, OFM Cap., Archbishop of Denver, American and Catholic: thoughts on responsible citizenship, Oct. 11, 2000.

“Many Catholic leaders both clerical and lay have urged that citizens not vote for anyone who does not have a strong pro-life position. I do not see how a disciple of the Lord could ignore the fundamental importance of public policy protecting human life…To support candidates who would continue or even expand the possibilities for more people to die by human choice is seriously wrong.”

— Bishop John Myers, Bishop of Peoria, Oct. 17, 2000

“Abortion is the issue this year and every year in every campaign. …The taking of innocent human life is so heinous, so horribly evil, and so absolutely opposite to the law of Almighty God that abortion must take precedence over every other issue. I repeat. It is the single most important issue confronting not only Catholics, but also the entire electorate.”

— Bishop James C. Timlin, D.D., Bishop of Scranton, “The Ballot and the Right to Life” Fall 2000.