Pro-Life News Roundup

• Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger of Evansville said he will not attend an April right-to-life dinner where Republican Chairman Michael Steele is scheduled to speak because he objects to comments he made about abortion. (Catholic Chronicle March 30, 2009.
  

  
  

• Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, has signed a bill into law banning the use of some state funds for embryonic stem cell research:

  The move puts the DNC chairman at odds with President Obama, who signed an executive order earlier this month reversing the Bush administration's ban on federal funding for research on embryonic stem cells.
  

  Kaine approved the Virginia bill on Monday, according to the governor's office, the same day he enacted legislation that would permit "Choose Life" license plates in the commonwealth — an act that angered state and national abortion rights advocates.

  Good for him.
  

• Gov. Kathleen Sebelius signed the Woman's Right To Know Act, permitting women to see an ultrasound or hear a fetal heartbeat before receiving an abortion and requiring abortion clinics to offer information about fetal development. (The Wichita Eagle March 29, 2009.
  

• The fourth anniversary of Terri Schiavo's death by court-ordered dehydration was observed by Priests for Life and Terri's Foundation with a Memorial Mass, celebrated by Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life and Fr. Thomas Euteneuer, President of Human Life International.
  

• Four More Bishops Make Thirteen Opposed to Notre Dame Obama Invitation LifeSiteNews.com April 1, 2009.
  

Steele Disappoints.

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele embarassed himself yet again this week with a disappointing interview with men's magazine GQ:

How much of your pro-life stance, for you, is informed not just by your Catholic faith but by the fact that you were adopted?

Oh, a lot. Absolutely. I see the power of life in that—I mean, and the power of choice! The thing to keep in mind about it… Uh, you know, I think as a country we get off on these misguided conversations that throw around terms that really misrepresent truth.

Explain that.
The choice issue cuts two ways. You can choose life, or you can choose abortion. You know, my mother chose life. So, you know, I think the power of the argument of choice boils down to stating a case for one or the other.
Are you saying you think women have the right to choose abortion?

Yeah. I mean, again, I think that’s an individual choice.

You do?

Yeah. Absolutely.

Are you saying you don’t want to overturn Roe v. Wade?

I think Roe v. Wade—as a legal matter, Roe v. Wade was a wrongly decided matter.

Okay, but if you overturn Roe v. Wade, how do women have the choice you just said they should have?

The states should make that choice. That’s what the choice is. The individual choice rests in the states. Let them decide.

Do pro-choicers have a place in the Republican Party?
Absolutely!

As Ben Smith reports from Politico, Steele backtracked and sought to clarify what he meant:

I am pro-life, always have been, always will be.

I tried to present why I am pro life while recognizing that my mother had a “choice” before deciding to put me up for adoption. I thank her every day for supporting life. The strength of the pro life movement lies in choosing life and sharing the wisdom of that choice with those who face difficult circumstances. They did that for my mother and I am here today because they did. In my view Roe vs. Wade was wrongly decided and should be repealed. I realize that there are good people in our party who disagree with me on this issue.

But the Republican Party is and will continue to be the party of life. I support our platform and its call for a Human Life Amendment. It is important that we stand up for the defenseless and that we continue to work to change the hearts and minds of our fellow countrymen so that we can welcome all children and protect them under the law.

As Ed Morrisey (HotAir.com) notes, ""The two statements cannot be reconciled with each other. They are mutually exclusive. And Steele has offered both as his views in two successive days."

Patrick Archbold (Creative Minority Report) exclaims "Steele Must Go":

"I'm done. Michael Steele cannot lead the Republican Party. I don't want a leader who attacks conservative leaders. I don't want a leader who smiles and agrees when Republicans are called Nazis. I don't want a leader who waffles on abortion every time he's asked about it. That's not good enough. If this party wants the support of pro-lifers then Michael Steele must go."

Frankly, it's difficult to tell WHAT Steele actually thinks, given his tendency to play up to whatever audience he's got.

As Paul Zummo quips: "If the guy is going to have to issue a press release after every interview he gives, that's reason enough to give him the boot".

Can't help but agree. Sorely disappointed.

Catholic Michael Steele New GOP Chairman

The Washington Post reports:

The Republican National Committee elected Michael Steele as its first African American chairman today in Washington, a decision that came after an excruciating series of ballots that displayed a level of drama rarely seen in national politics.

On the sixth and final ballot Steele bested South Carolina Republican party Chairman Katon Dawson 91 to 77.

"It's time for something completely different and we are going to bring it to them," Steele said after his victory. "This is our opportunity. I cannot do this by myself." (Watch the full speech.)

Steele acknowledged that the GOP has an "image problem" but cast his election as a "new moment" for the Republican Party.

***
It was -- interestingly -- former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell who ultimately swung the race to Steele when he dropped out before the fifth ballot and endorsed the former lieutenant governor. The move was somewhat unexpected as Blackwell had staked out the turf as the most socially conservative candidate in the field while Steele had had to beat back rumors that he was not sufficiently conservative.

[More]

Why Is Michael Steele a Republican Candidate?

Read why over at Catholics for Steele.

Lt Governor Steele compares ESCR to Nazi experiments on Jews

Catholic politician, Maryland Lt Governor Mike Steele, recently compared ESCR to Nazi experiments on Jews during World War II. From the Washington Post:

In an appearance Thursday before the Baltimore Jewish Council, Steele responded to a question about stem cell research by saying he was "cautious" about the idea of "tinkering around with life," and added:

"Look, you of all folks know what happens when people decide they want to experiment on human beings, when they want to take your life and use it as a tool," Steele said, according to a recording of the event. "I know that as well from my community and our experience with slavery."

The Lt Governor is getting much heat for these remarks which is unfortunate since this analogy is spot on. He spent most of the day apologizing.

Amy Welborn blogged on it and there are some very good comments from her readers.

Kevin Miller blogged on over at Heart, Mind, & Soul. Also at HMS, Greg Popcak puts in a good word for the Lt Governor as does Rachel Watkins, who is a Maryland resident.

Lt Gov Steele is running for the US Senate seat in Maryland this year.

(Cross-posted at Catholics for Steele.)

Maryland Lt.-Gov. Michael Steele to run for Senate

"What a Steele" - John J. Miller profiles Maryland's Lt. Governor Michael Steele, who is something of a unique figure, being a black Republican (apparenly there are only 59 elected black Republicans in the United States), and a staunch pro-life Catholic in a predominantly pro-abortion state.

He will also be running for U.S. Senate next year.

(Thanks to Eric Johnson @ Catholic Light).

Steele for Senate?

According to the Baltimore Sun, leading Maryland Republicans say Lt Gov Michael S. Steele, a practicing Catholic, is their best chance to capture the Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Paul S. Sarbanes. Steele announced today that he is forming an exploratory committee to consider entering the race. "The potential candidacy of Steele, an African-American lawyer and former seminarian who has never been elected to office on his own, is attractive to a national party looking to broaden its appeal among minority groups," the paper said.

I do not know much about Lt Gov Steele. He is pro-life and against the death penalty. He gave a well received speech at the RNC last summer.

According to one profile I found, he is a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Landover Hills, Maryland, which he attends with his wife, Andrea, and their two sons, Michael and Drew. In June 1998, Mr. Steele was honored by his Church community as Man of the Year. In 2005, he was chosen by the President to be part of the U.S. delegation at the investiture of Pope Benedict XVI in Vatican City on April 24, 2005.

If anyone knows anything else about him please post it in the comments. And maybe one of the editors can provide a profile here in CPS.