Matt C. Abbott
Catholic bishop: Gen. Pace's remarks were 'imprudent'
By Matt C. Abbott
In response to the story regarding Marine Gen. Peter Pace and his remarks about homosexual behavior, the Most Rev. Rene Henry Gracida, D.D., Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Corpus Christi — and a staunch defender of Catholic orthodoxy — had this to say:
"Marine Gen. Peter Pace is entitled, as is every individual, to his own personal opinion on the morality of homosexual activity. However, given his position as the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, it was imprudent of him to express to the media his personal opinion, which could be interpreted as being in opposition to the official policy of the United States Armed Forces since he is charged with the responsibility for administering that policy.
"Gen. Pace publicly acknowledged the impropriety of his statement, so the matter should now be dropped by everyone."
Abortion-breast cancer link
From Karen Malec, president of the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer:
"Yesterday [March 12, 2007], I was in Concord, New Hampshire. I spoke before the Judiciary Committee and educated legislators about some of the risks of abortion. My testimony concerned House Bill 744-FN, an act that 'requires informed consent before a woman procures an abortion unless it is a medical emergency. The bill requires the commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services to publish printed materials relative to options available to the woman. This information shall also be available on the Internet. The commissioner is granted rulemaking authority to administer this law.'
"One legislator questioned whether it was the job of the government to raise awareness of the risks of abortion. Most people would agree that a government's obligation is to protect its people. In 1964, Congress mandated that tobacco companies must warn about the risks of cigarette smoking on cigarette packages. Clearly, precedents for this action exist. Another legislator wisely argued that we cannot rely on an industry to warn about health risks, especially when it is bad for that industry's business.
"You may read my testimony here. Spread the word."
© Matt C. Abbott
In response to the story regarding Marine Gen. Peter Pace and his remarks about homosexual behavior, the Most Rev. Rene Henry Gracida, D.D., Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Corpus Christi — and a staunch defender of Catholic orthodoxy — had this to say:
"Marine Gen. Peter Pace is entitled, as is every individual, to his own personal opinion on the morality of homosexual activity. However, given his position as the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, it was imprudent of him to express to the media his personal opinion, which could be interpreted as being in opposition to the official policy of the United States Armed Forces since he is charged with the responsibility for administering that policy.
"Gen. Pace publicly acknowledged the impropriety of his statement, so the matter should now be dropped by everyone."Abortion-breast cancer link
From Karen Malec, president of the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer:
"Yesterday [March 12, 2007], I was in Concord, New Hampshire. I spoke before the Judiciary Committee and educated legislators about some of the risks of abortion. My testimony concerned House Bill 744-FN, an act that 'requires informed consent before a woman procures an abortion unless it is a medical emergency. The bill requires the commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services to publish printed materials relative to options available to the woman. This information shall also be available on the Internet. The commissioner is granted rulemaking authority to administer this law.'
"One legislator questioned whether it was the job of the government to raise awareness of the risks of abortion. Most people would agree that a government's obligation is to protect its people. In 1964, Congress mandated that tobacco companies must warn about the risks of cigarette smoking on cigarette packages. Clearly, precedents for this action exist. Another legislator wisely argued that we cannot rely on an industry to warn about health risks, especially when it is bad for that industry's business.
"You may read my testimony here. Spread the word."
© Matt C. Abbott
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