ARTICLES

The Fundamental Right

Vote and Pray For Life on November 2

BY MARIA ELENA KENNEDY

Tuesday, Nov. 2, is election day in California, and Catholics are being urged to vote in accordance with the teachings of the Church, especially on the most fundamental issue of all: human life.

"An honest look at what an abortion is, and at how many victims it claims, is enough to reveal that nothing outweighs its gravity among the many 'life issues,'" explains Fr. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life. "Multiple Church documents have confirmed this insight, repeating over and over that the abortion tragedy demands urgent attention and priority."

Fr. Pavone continues, "Yet the truth is even deeper than the statement, 'Being wrong on abortion outweighs being right on other issues.' The full truth is, if you are wrong on abortion you can't be right on other issues. To permit abortion, but then to cry out for the right to work, housing, education, health care, and so forth, is to say that these other rights belong to some people but not to all."

Listed below are a few key contests in which a pro-life candidate is challenging a pro-abortion candidate. For a complete listing of all candidates in every district in California, with information on whether they are pro-life or pro-abortion, please visit the Internet site of the California Pro-Life Council. Please vote and pray for the pro-life candidates listed here.

President of the United States

Pro-life incumbent Republican George W. Bush is being challenged by pro-abortion John Kerry, a Democrat. Kerry, who says he is a Catholic, has been repeatedly criticized by bishops and lay Catholic organizations for continuing to receive Holy Communion despite his unwavering support of abortion.

U.S. Senate

This is a statewide election in which former Secretary of State Bill Jones, a pro-life Republican, is challenging Senator Barbara Boxer, the well-known pro-abortion incumbent.

U.S. House of Representatives

The 39th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Whittier, Artesia, Lakewood, La Mirada, South Gate and Paramount: Tim Escobar, a pro-life Republican, is challenging pro-abortion Representative Linda Sanchez.

The 43rd Congressional District, which includes the cities of San Bernardino, Rialto, Fontana, Ontario, Colton and Bloomington: Ed Laning, a pro-life Republican is challenging pro-abortion Democratic incumbent Joe Baca.

The 47th Congressional District, which includes the cities of Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Anaheim and parts of Fullerton: Alexandria Coronado, a pro-life Republican, is seeking to unseat Representative Loretta Sanchez, a Democrat with a long record of supporting abortion.

The 18th Congressional District, which is located in the Central Valley and includes the cities of Merced, Modesto and Stockton: pro-life candidate Curt Pringle, a Republican, is challenging Dennis Cardoza, who has an extremely pro-abortion voting record.

The 3rd Congressional District, which includes the counties of Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Sacramento and Solano has pro-life Republican Dan Lungren running against pro-abortion Democrat Gabe Castillo.

Another Central Valley race to watch is in the 20th Congressional District where Congressman Cal Dooley is retiring. Pro-life candidate, Roy Ashburn is running against pro-abortion Democrat, Jim Costa. The 20th Congressional district includes portions of Fresno, Bakersfield and the cities of Hanford and Lemoore. The largely rural district lies in the Central Valley of California.

Further down the state in the 29th Congressional district which is located in the western portion of the San Gabriel Valley, pro-abortion incumbent Adam Schiff is being challenged by pro-life candidate Harry Scolinos. The 29th Congressional district includes portions of Glendale and Pasadena. Also in the district is Temple City, San Marino and Altadena.

Pro-abortion Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard is running against pro-life candidate Wayne Miller in the 34th Congressional district. The district includes parts of downtown Los Angeles, Bell, Bellflower, Bell Gardens, Boyle Heights and Downey.

In the 36th Congressional district, pro-life Republican candidate Paul Whitehead is challenging pro-abortion Democratic incumbent Jane Harmon. The 36th Congressional district includes Torrance, El Segundo, Wilmington, Venice Beach, Manhattan Beach and Lennox.

California Assembly

The 30th Assembly District, which is located in the Central Valley and includes the counties of Fresno, Kern, Kings and Tulare: pro-life Republican Dean Gardner is challenging pro- abortion Democrat Nicole Parra.

The 46th Assembly District, located in the heart of East Los Angeles: Manny Aldana, a pro-life Republican, is challenging pro-abortion Democrat Fabian Nuñez.

The 55th Assembly District, which includes the cities of Carson, Lakewood, Harbor City, Wilmington and parts of Los Angeles: Incumbent pro-abortion Democrat Jenny Oropeza is being challenged by attorney and pro-lifer Margherita Underhill, a Republican.

The 56th Assembly District, located in Los Angeles County, including the cities of Norwalk, Artesia, Cerritos, South Whittier, Buena Park, Santa Fe Springs and Hawaiian Gardens: John Brantuck, a pro-life Republican, is challenging pro-abortion Democratic incumbent Rudy Bermudez. Bermudez gained notoriety after it was revealed that he is a member of the Knights of Columbus while at the same time defying the Church's teaching by consistently voting to promote abortion.

The 61st Assembly District, which includes the cities of Montclair, Chino, Ontario and Pomona: Pro-abortion incumbent Gloria Negrete McLeod is being challenged by Alan Wapner, a pro-life Republican.

The 62nd Assembly District, which includes the cities of Rialto, Fontana, Muscoy and parts of San Bernardino: Marge Mendoza Ware, a pro-life Republican, is challenging pro-abortion Democrat Joe Baca.

Ballot Propositions

Proposition 71: This initiative would authorize the sale of $3 billion in bonds to support stem cell and embryonic cloning research. Embryonic stem cells are harvested from pre-born babies, some who are the victims of abortion. The use of embryonic stem cells and clones for medical research is contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church.

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