Kansas Gov. Sebelius' Support For Abortion Rights At Odds With Church, Moderate Views, Opinion Piece Says

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 28 May 2008 - 6:00 PDT

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Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) -- a "rising star" in the Democratic Party and a potential vice presidential pick -- has given the "impression of reaching out across party lines," but her support for abortion rights has put her "at odds" with the Roman Catholic Church and antiabortion advocates in the state, Chicago Sun-Times columnist Robert Novak writes in an opinion piece.

According to Novak, Kansas is the "fiercest battleground for abortion wars" in the country, making Sebelius the "national pro-choice poster girl." Novak notes contributions made by abortion provider George Tiller and others to Sebelius' and other Kansas Democrats' campaigns. Novak adds that Sebelius' executive and judicial appointments have helped to quash Johnson County District Attorney Phill Kline's (R) efforts to prosecute abortion providers. Sebelius also has vetoed multiple antiabortion measures -- including a recently passed bill that would have allowed private lawsuits to be filed against abortion providers, among other provisions -- Novak writes.

Catholic Archbishop Joseph Naumann earlier this month called on Sebelius to stop taking Holy Communion until she stops supporting abortion rights, according to Novak. Sebelius has said that she personally believes abortion is "wrong" but that her actions supporting abortion rights are "necessary" to "pass their party's pro-choice litmus test," Novak writes (Novak, Chicago Sun-Times, 5/26).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is published by the National Partnership for Women and families.

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