by Ben Johnson
LOS ANGELES, October 29, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The fact that California Governor Jerry Brown is arguably the most pro-abortion legislator in the country did not stop Catholic officials in Los Angeles from praising him in a glowing front page story in the archdiocesan publication.
Archbishop José Gómez personally appeared at the podium before Governor Brown signed a bill (A.B. 60) granting illegal immigrants the right to hold drivers licenses.
A photograph of the October 3 signing ceremony at Los Angeles City Hall, featuring Governor Brown, graced the issue of The Tidings, the archdiocese's official weekly.
In 2004, the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) adopted a resolution saying that Catholic institutions should not honor pro-abortion politicians, accepting it on a near-unanimous vote. The document,“Catholics in Political Life,” states,“The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.” (Emphasis in original.)
Governor Jerry Brown Brown highlighted Abp. Gomez's presence and support, putting his name first in a list of attendees included in his official press release.
The Tidings cover, dated October 11, was released just two days after Governor Brown signed a bill (A.B. 154) radically expanding abortion in California by allowing non-physicians, including certified nurses and midwives, to perform first-trimester suction aspiration abortions.
Attempts to reach the archdiocese's media relations department by phone and e-mail were not returned by press time.
Other pro-abortion politicians at the signing ceremony, some of whom are depicted in Tidings, included:
- Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez, who voted yea on A.B. 154;
- Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg, who has a 100 percent voting record from Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro-Choice California, and California Abortion and Reproductive Rights League, including on A.B. 154; and
- Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, one of seven people who leads a tax-exempt foundation established by his grandparents, the Roth Family Foundation, which funds Planned Parenthood.
California Catholic Daily criticized the praising of abortion supporters for their unrelated policy decisions as a “pact with the devil.” The writer likened the archbishop's actions to “German bishops turning out to join Adolf Hitler to open autobahns and Volkswagen factories and then publishing pictures of the events in their diocesan papers so all the Catholics would know that they should vote for an support the great friend of the bishops.”
Although Christianity has not had an historical dogma on the issue of immigration, the Christian faith has opposed abortion since its founding. Perhaps reflecting the dichotomy between the immigration and abortion issues, the cover story in the next issue of The Tidings was “Christian Service 4LIFE rally draws 6,000.”
Contact:
Archdiocese of Los Angeles
3424 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90010-2241
Phone: (213) 637-7000
E-mail: info@la-archdiocese.org
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