Bush Blocks Funds to Pro-Abortion UNFPA

LIFESITENEWS.COM, Oct. 4 — Once again, President Bush refused to release the United States' contribution to the United Nations Population Fund, commonly known as the UNFPA.

The president diverted the $25 million normally sent to the fund to a State Department initiative against human trafficking and prostitution. He has nixed the contribution to the Population Fund all four years of his presidency.

The Population Fund has supported coerced abortion, particularly in China, the Canadian web-based news service noted. The Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute at the United Nations notes that in a new report, the Population Fund praises countries that have overcome parental authority, such as Papua New Guinea, where a new law ensures that “adolescents over age 16 can access reproductive health services without parental consent.”

‘West Wing’ President Sheen Signs Pax Christi Letter

THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, Oct. 1 — Martin Sheen, who plays a left-leaning Catholic president on NBC's “The West Wing,” has signed on to a campaign to tell Catholics that abortion should not be the only factor weighed in supporting a political candidate, according to a Religion News Service article appearing in the Salt Lake City newspaper.

The statement, “Life Does Not End at Birth: Catholics Called to Vote for the Common Good,” was circulated by the Catholic peace movement Pax Christi USA.

“Contrary to words used in political speeches, a politician's commitment to the sanctity of life must be judged by the actions taken to defend and promote life in all its forms,” said Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Gabino Zavala, Pax Christi USA's bishop president.

Other supporters of Pax Christi's statement include Sister Christine Vladimiroff, who said: “We will not let a few well-funded groups narrow the profound breadth of Catholic teaching to a partisan agenda.” The article says a “handful” of Catholic bishops have told Democrat John Kerry, a Catholic, he would be barred from Communion in their dioceses because of his support of abortion rights.

Astute Steubenville Student Stumps Edwards

WTOV9.COM, Sept. 29 — At an “unscreened, unscripted” town meeting held by Democratic vice-presidential candidate John Edwards in Weirton, W.Va., Franciscan University of Steubenville student Gabriel Hahn took his chance with the microphone to speak of the value of life, especially unborn life,” a Steubenville, Ohio TV station reported.

“I'm asking you, Mr. Edwards,” the website WTOV9.com reported Hahn as saying, “Will you please stand up and fight for life? For everyone?”

That was all Hahn said “before the microphone was yanked away from him,” according to the story.

Edwards said he respects Hahn's view. “This is one of those issues on which good people have different views. And personally, I don't think it's the job of government to tell women what to do.”

Hahn, son of theologian Scott Hahn, was not appeased, according to the report. “It's very kind of him to say he's respectful of my point of view, but I cannot respect the view of someone who would allow innocent children to be murdered.”