Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien, Archbishop of Baltimore, released the following statement in response to President Barack Obama’s decision on Friday, January 23 to reverse the Mexico City Policy:
“Last Thursday, an estimated 250,000 people peacefully marched in Washington on the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade with prayerful pleas to the new president and congress to support laws that encourage expectant mothers to choose life over death. It appears President Obama wasn’t listening. The president’s decision the very next day to restore U.S. funding of organizations that perform and promote abortion in developing nations, sends a chilling and ominous message about the priorities of the president. I echo the words of Cardinal Justin Rigali, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, ‘An administration that wants to reduce abortions should not divert U.S. funds to groups that promote abortions.’ I urge Catholics and people of all faiths who believe in the sanctity of life, to pray that our president, as well as other like-minded politicians, will experience a conversion of heart and will answer the cries of the people who marched in Washington last Thursday by promoting a culture of life instead of a culture of death.”