NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      DETROIT (CWNews.com) - The archbishop of Detroit has urged priests in his archdiocese to preach more forcefully on the sanctity of life as Michigan voters prepare to cast ballots in November on referendum to legalize doctor-assisted suicide, the Detroit Free Press newspaper reported on Thursday.

      Cardinal Adam Maida sent a letter to diocesan priests, telling them: "Now, more than ever, we need to read and interpret the Sunday Scriptures through the lens of our Church's teaching on the sanctity of life." The cardinal said the archdiocese would provide audiovisual aids to help explain the Church's teaching that suicide is immoral. He also promised that October, annually called "Respect Life" month by the US bishops, will feature a major emphasis on the issue.

      The cardinal's letter was dismissed by the group sponsoring the referendum, the newspaper reported. "He certainly has a right to express his beliefs, but many supporters of Merian's Friends are good Catholics and will continue to support us," Dr. Ed Pierce, chairman of Merian's Friends, said. "People make up their own minds. I'm sure that the cardinal has influence over people, but most of the Catholics I know pick and choose the doctrines they believe in. That's true for most non-Catholics, too."