FUNNY OLD WORLD WHEN...:

Cardinal tells Catholics to reject Labour over abortion (Ruth Gledhill and David Charter, 3/15/05, Times of London)

THE Roman Catholic Church made a dramatic entry into the election campaign yesterday by backing Michael Howard’s stance on abortion and withdrawing its traditional support for Labour.

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor ensured that abortion would play a greater part in the coming election than any other by praising the Tory leader’s call for a cut in the legal abortion limit from 24 to 20 weeks.

The Archbishop of Westminster went on to admit that Labour was no longer the natural party of choice for the UK’s six million Catholics.

His views could be particularly significant in marginal constituencies with large Catholic populations such as the West Midlands, the North West and parts of London.

Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor spoke out after the three main party leaders gave their personal views on abortion — traditionally a matter for conscience rather than party policy — to Cosmopolitan magazine.

Mr Howard’s commitment to find parliamentary time for a debate on cutting the legal time limit contrasted with Mr Blair’s view that there was no pressing need for a change. The Prime Minister made clear that there would be no change under Labour, arguing that women would be “criminalised”.

The Church backs the Jew over the crypto-Catholic...

Posted by Orrin Judd at March 14, 2005 10:56 PM