Oregon Governor Criticized By Catholic Archbishop For Hosting NARAL Fundraiser

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Sexual Health / STDs;  Abortion
Article Date: 03 Oct 2008 - 8:00 PDT

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Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski (D) is being criticized by Roman Catholic Archbishop John Vlazny, head of the Archdiocese of Portland, for hosting a fundraiser for NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon in Portland on Friday, the AP/Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports. Vlazny in a statement issued Tuesday said, "For a Catholic governor to host an event of this sort seems a deliberate dissent from the teachings of the church." He added that it is inappropriate for Kulongoski, an abortion-rights supporter, to host an event two days before the church's annual "Respect Life" mass in Portland to show opposition to the procedure. The NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon event will be held at a Portland hotel, and the governor and his wife are to be the honorary hosts. Laura Taylor, spokesperson for NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon, said the organization is "honored" to have Kulongoski and his wife host the event, adding that she had no comment about the situation.

Vlazny on Tuesday also called abortion a "grave evil" and encouraged Catholics to call the governor's office in regard to Friday's fundraiser "to remind him of the demands of personal integrity as a member of our faith community in the exercise of his office." Anna Richter Taylor, a spokesperson for the governor, said that Kulongoski "has only respect and admiration for the archbishop. They obviously disagree on the issue of choice." Richter Taylor said that Kulongoski's office had not received any phone calls as of Tuesday afternoon (Cain, AP/Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 9/30).

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