February 24, 2009 11:22 AM
STATEMENT ON THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION
AND THE CULTURE OF LIFE
The election of Barak Obama as President of the United
States marked an important watershed in American history
and culture. Running for office in a time marked by
economic and geo-political turmoil, Obama promised to be
a force for positive change, political reconciliation and
effective government. Unfortunately, President Obama has
begun his term with actions that will undermine respect for
human life, human dignity and religions freedom. We call
upon Catholic physicians and health care providers, and all
people of good will, to spare no effort in convincing
President Obama to reverse these decisions.
During the 2008 campaign, some Catholics and selfidentified
Catholic advocacy groups endorsed Barak
Obama for President based in part on his support for
economic justice and foreign policy, and in part on his
pledge to try to reduce the number of abortions by
increased social spending on support for pregnant women.
Yet as a legislator and as a candidate, Obama had taken
positions utterly opposed to respect for human life. For
example:
• Obama has long been an advocate of abortion on
demand, and has touted his 100% approval rating
from Planned Parenthood, the largest provider of
abortion in the United States;
• Obama opposed every limitation on abortion,
including laws requiring parental notification and
consent before minors could obtain abortions;
• Shockingly, as a state senator, Obama actively
opposed any protections
for infants born alive after failed abortion procedures
and misrepresented his record on this issue during the
2008 campaign;
• Finally, during the campaign, Obama proudly
proclaimed his support for the “Freedom of Choice
Act” (FOCA) – the most radical expansion of
abortion license in the world – and promised to sign
the law as President.
In addition to his unqualified support for abortion, Obama
has promised to provide federal funding for stem cell
research that destroys human life at the embryonic stage.
Since taking office, President Obama has engaged in a
series of actions that indicate that he is prepared to
implement his prior support for abortion.
• Within the first few days of taking office, Obama
overturned the “Mexico City Policy,” a U.S.
government policy that denies federal funding to
international agencies that promote or perform
abortion as a means of birth control;
• More ominously, when overturning this policy,
President Obama indicated his willingness to provide
financial support to the United Nations Population
Fund, an organization that lost U.S. government
funding after it collaborated with the Chinese
government’s coercive “one child” population policy.
• President Obama is filling his Cabinet and
Administration positions with supporters of abortion,
including Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State (who
has long been a proponent of abortion “rights” in the
United States and around the world; Rahm Emanuel,
White House Chief of Staff (who had a 100% voting
record with the National Abortion Rights Action
League (NARAL) as a member of Congress and a
reputation as an aggressive pro-choice politician);
Dawn Johnsen, nominee for Assistant Attorney
General for the Office of Legal Counsel (who was the
Legal Director for NARAL and part of the ACLU
Reproductive Freedom Project); Eric Holder,
Attorney General (who has been a longtime supporter
of abortion “rights”); Melody Barnes, Chair of the
Domestic Policy Council (who has been a member of
the boards of directors for both Planned Parenthood
and Emily's List); Ellen Moran, White House
Director of Communications (the current executive
director of Emily's List); and Thomas Perelli,
nominee for Associate Attorney General (who
collaborated with pro- euthanasia attorney George
Felos to successfully starve Terri Shiavo to death).
• While he has made no move to encourage the passage
of FOCA, many are still concerned that the
provisions of FOCA will be added piecemeal to other
bills and legislative acts.
• Finally, President Obama has declared his opposition
to the new HHS rule that protects the conscience
rights of health care providers. The rule was enacted
in the last days of the Bush administration in
response to many threats to the conscience rights of
physicians, pharmacists and health care providers.
In light of these actions and appointments, we are issuing
an urgent appeal to President Obama to reconsider his
support for abortion and research that can succeed only by
destroying innocent human life. In addition, we offer our
prayers, encouragement and appeals to Catholic
physicians in the United States to educate the public and
to oppose these efforts to promote abortion. Finally, we
appeal to all members of FIAMC to be vigilant in
opposing the new threats to human life and dignity that
could now come from the Obama administration officials
in foreign policy positions and at the United Nations.
Dr. José-Maria Simón, President
Rome, February 11, 2009
www.fiamc.org
