Bishop Thanks Sen. Casey for Recent Vote;
Urges Him To Oppose Sebelius Nomination
 

Bishop Martino has sent the following letter to Sen. Robert P. Casey, Jr. 

Dear Senator Casey: 
          It gives me great pleasure to extend my gratitude to you for your vote in favor of the Wicker Amendment which would have stopped the sending of U.S. taxpayer dollars to the United Nations Population Fund. It is my understanding that UNFPA cooperates with the Chinese government to enforce its one-child family policy through forced abortions, sterilizations and other human rights violations.
          Please know how sorry I am that the amendment was defeated. I urge you and the thirty-eight other senators who supported it to continue your efforts to oppose policies that are destructive to life and the dignity of all persons everywhere in the world.
          In that spirit, I urge you further to oppose the nomination of Governor Kathleen Sebelius for Secretary of Health and Human Services. As you must be aware, Governor Sebelius is one of the most militant pro-abortion politicians in the country. She has voted several times against her own legislature in their efforts to prevent late-term abortions. As secretary of HHS, she will be in the position to advance the cause of making abortion a “basic health care service.” This will mean that physicians, nurses and health care institutions will be required to provide abortion even when conscience forbids them to do so. The protection of the right to refuse abortion is essential to the continuation of Catholic health care. Finally, I join Archbishop Naumann in his concern for the spiritual wellbeing of Governor Sebelius and so many other Catholic politicians who support legalized abortion contrary to the clear and consistent teaching of the Catholic Church. 

I remain,
Sincerely yours in Christ, 

Most Reverend Joseph F. Martino, D.D., Hist. E.D.
Bishop of Scranton