FRI-SAT-SUN
January 7-9, 2000
volume 11, no. 5

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    NEW YORK (CWNews.com/LSN.ca) - Cardinal John O'Connor of New York has questioned Father Sean McManus, head of the Irish National Caucus Political Action Committee, over his support for Hillary Clinton, who is pro-abortion, in her run for the US Senate.

    "I would be grateful to learn your reasoning for supporting a candidate who so openly opposes the fundamental Church teaching on human life," the cardinal wrote Father McManus in a letter dated August 17.

    The Associated Press reported that McManus wrote back to the cardinal that the Irish PAC "applies one and only one criterion in assessing political candidates: their position and record on Ireland." Clinton's Republican opponent in the race, New York City mayor Rudy Guiliani, is also pro-abortion.

    The cardinal had received a complaint from Theresa French, chairman of a New York pro-life group, who said Father McManus should drop the title of "Father" when endorsing a candidate to avoid giving the impression that the Catholic Church supports the candidate.

    Father McManus was born in Ireland and his brother Patrick was an Irish Republican Army leader killed in 1958. "For the longest time, maybe throughout all of history, Irish people have been told: You can't do that for Irish justice because of your faith," he said. "This lady writes and tells me I can't endorse Hillary Clinton because of my faith. ... My endorsement has nothing to do with abortion."

          

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