Lost in much of the discussion of national and local elections is the issue of abortion. Abortion has claimed nearly 50 million American lives since the US Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision of 1973. As Catholics, we oppose abortion and any public policy which supports abortion. We support those who work to make every unborn child - made in the image and likeness of God - a welcomed child and a loved child. We also support public policy which opposes human cloning, euthanasia and embryo destruction for stem cell research.

Some Catholic politicians scandalize our Faith by claiming they can remain true to the Faith while advocating for public policy supporting abortion and public financing of abortion. Some Catholic politicians claim abortion opposition is just an "article of faith" as if it is only something to be believed but not acted upon either personally or in their public lives. Abortion is the breaking of one of the Ten Commandments - "Thou Shalt Not Murder". It is also rightfully a matter of public policy. Just as no sane Catholic politician would argue "Thou Shalt Not Steal" is an article of faith and not proper for the public policy forum, we argue that "Thou Shalt Not Murder" is even more important to social order and must be part of our moral, faith and public policy lives.

We pledge to not vote for any politician - Catholic or otherwise - who supports abortion; especially as it relates to Supreme Court nominees, judicial rulings and federal and state legislation.  We ask our fellow citizens to consider this issue and vote to support their fellow unborn Americans and their mothers.