How Could Pope Benedict's Election Influence U.S. Politics, Including Abortion-Rights Debate? New York Times

Main Category: Abortion
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Article Date: 22 Apr 2005 - 9:00 PDT

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The New York Times on Thursday examined how the election of "an unstintingly conservative pope could inject a powerful new force into the intense conflicts" in U.S. politics over abortion rights and other social issues... (Toner, New York Times, 4/21). The Roman Catholic Church's College of Cardinals on Tuesday elected Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, who is viewed as a strict defender of conservative Roman Catholic doctrine and has taken the name Pope Benedict XVI (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 4/20). The new pope comes to power during a "tumultuous time" for the Catholic Church in U.S. politics, the Times reports. Republicans recently have appealed to Catholic voters in the United States -- who traditionally have been strongly Democratic -- using "culture-of-life" issues, including opposition to abortion, human embryonic stem cell research and euthanasia, according to the Times. In addition, several U.S. bishops have "become more assertive" in recommending that their congregations vote for candidates who represent Catholic teachings, the Times reports. Although Pope Benedict XVI is known as "very much in line with the doctrine of the church and a strong enforcer of that doctrine," the question that remains is how much he will emphasize his beliefs among U.S. Catholics, according to Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.), who is a conservative Catholic (New York Times, 4/21). New York Times

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