Is It Possible to Be Catholic and Pro-Abortion?

A perennial political debate is buzzing again this election year, fueled by a major pro-abortion Catholic candidate and a pro-choice ad blitz.

The question: Is it possible to be Catholic and pro-abortion?

In years past, some leaders in the Catholic church informed parishioners and politicians like Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Joe Biden that they should not take communion if they support abortion.

In a recent post on LifeNews.com, a professor of theology at the University of St. Thomas calls out Democratic vice-presidential nominee Tim Kaine for his pro-abortion views. The headline for that article says it all: "Sorry Tim Kaine, You Can't be Catholic and Pro-Abortion."

A few weeks ago, a group of Catholics protested outside the church Kaine attends, holding signs with that same statement.

Now an ad placed in major newspapers across the country by a group called Catholics for Choice has generated similar outrage by Catholic readers. The ad states, "Public funding for abortion is a Catholic social justice value."

Catholic leaders are speaking out against the ad, saying the group is not truly Catholic.

"The use of the name 'Catholic' as a platform to promote the taking of innocent human life is offensive not only to Catholics, but to all who expect honesty and forthrightness in public discourse," said Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, representing the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Catholic parishioners have also written letters to the editors of newspapers, blasting the ad.

"A church with Christ as its leader would not advocate tearing an infant from her mother's womb, but what is expected as true social justice is that we all work and pray for parents in crisis pregnancies, help them in obtaining resources affirming life, and continue to assist them after their babies are born," Kathy Raimondi wrote in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

"You cannot be both Catholic and pro-abortion. This may be difficult to digest, but it is the truth," she says.

Reader Jim Walsh also wrote to the Post-Gazette, blasting the paper for running an ad with a "lie" in it.

"This is a flagrant lie. I am not a theologian, but I know enough about my religion to tell you that the exact opposite of this statement is the truth. I am truly disappointed that the PG would allow something so egregious and dishonest to be published," Walsh writes.