I made two posts last week and this week concerning Michael Steele’s possible bid for RNC Chairman and how excited I was about him running. Today, Catholic bloggers and pro-lifers are passing around a story that is definitely making me rethink support for Steele.

In this interview on Meet the Press, Steele refuses to say that he supports overturning Roe. This is extremely troubling, and is an absolute non-starter with me and other pro-lifers…

From Creative Minority Report:

According to his own statements, Steele is against overturning Roe V. Wade. He is also against a Constitutional Amendment banning abortion. He also rather disingenuously calls abortion an issue that should be handled by the states even though the states can’t really restrict abortion in any meaningful way until Roe is overturned.

Here is the transcript of the Meet the Press interview:

MR. RUSSERT: …Mr. Steele, if you’re United States Senator, would you vote for a constitutional amendment to outlaw abortion?

LT. GOV. STEELE: I don’t — vote for a constitutional amendment to outlaw abortion? I think we’d have to have that get to the Supreme Court, wouldn’t we? I haven’t seen that bill proposed. I don’t think…

MR. RUSSERT: That’s been introduced in the Senate.

LT. GOV. STEELE: I don’t think anyone’s going to propose that this day.

MR. RUSSERT: So you wouldn’t do that?

LT. GOV. STEELE: No.

MR. RUSSERT: Would, would you encourage — would you hope the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe vs. Wade?

LT. GOV. STEELE: I think that that’s a matter that’s going to rightly belong to the courts to decide ultimately whether or not that, that issue should be addressed. The, the Court has taken a position, which I agree, stare decisis, which means that the law is as it is and, and so this is a matter that’s ultimately going to be adjudicated at the states. We’re seeing that. The states are beginning to decide for themselves on, on this and a host of other issues. And the Supreme Court would ultimately decide that.

MR. RUSSERT: But you hope that the Court keeps Roe v. Wade in place?

LT. GOV. STEELE: I think the Court will evaluate the law as society progresses, as the Court is supposed to do.

MR. RUSSERT: But what’s your position? Do you want them to sustain it or overturn it?

LT. GOV. STEELE: Well, I think, I think, I think Roe vs. Wade, Roe vs. Wade is a, is a matter that should’ve been left to the states to decide, ultimately. But it, it is where it is today, and the courts will ultimately decide whether or not this, this gets addressed by the states, goes back to the states in some form or they overturn it outright.

MR. RUSSERT: Is is your desire to keep it in place?

LT. GOV. STEELE: My desire is that we follow what stare decisis is at this point, yes.

From Fr. Frank Pavone, director of Priests for Life, reports from his blog:

During the opening address from Cardinal George, the President of the Bishops’ Conference, the line which drew spontaneous and sustained applause from the body of bishops during the speech was this one:

“The common good can never be adequately incarnated in any society when those waiting to be born can be legally killed at choice.”

After the applause, he went on to say,

“If the Supreme Court’s Dred Scott decision that African Americans were other people’s property and somehow less than persons were still settled constitutional law, Mr. Obama would not be president of the United States.”

Today, the Vatican “fired off a warning shot” to Obama on embryonic stem-cell research, with the Vatican’s Health Minister calling embryonic stem-cell research “good for nothing” and that the life-destructive research “serves no purpose.”

The Vatican has fired a warning shot over the bows of Barack Obama in response to the President-elect’s intention to lift the US ban on embryonic stem cell research.

Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan of Mexico, who acts as the Vatican health minister, said that stem cells taken from human embryos and involving the destruction of the embryos “serve no purpose”.

Asked whether the Vatican was concerned about reports that Mr Obama might reverse the Bush Administration’s ban, the cardinal said that embryonic stem cell research had not resulted in any significant health cure so far and was “good for nothing”.

According to the Ohio Department of Health, abortions are at an all-time low in Ohio since abortion was legalized in 1973. And, under the Bush presidency, abortions have dropped from 38,140 to 30,859, a drop of nearly 20%!

The cause? A combination of federal restrictions under the Bush administration and state restrictions on abortion, including informed consent law, parental consent law, and a new ultrasound law.

“Reaching a record low in reported abortions marks a milestone for pro-life efforts in Ohio,” said Mike Gonidakis, executive director of Ohio Right to Life.

“We believe we’ve won the debate over whether it’s a baby. There is a general change in philosophy among people these days. They see it’s a baby.”

He also mentioned a new state law requiring doctors to give women the opportunity to view an ultrasound of their fetus before undergoing an abortion and older laws requiring a 24-hour wait and parental notification.

According to Americans United for Life, Ohio ranks 12th in the America in terms of having laws that protect innocent human life.

Let us pray that we can successfully block Obama’s Freedom of Choice Act, which void all restrictions in every state in the nation, including those that have reduced abortion in Ohio.

I just heard rumblings of Michael Steel’s name being floated for RNC Chairman on the Politico.

I would be 100% fully behind Steele, a 100% pro-life African American who spent three years in Catholic seminary. I heard him speak at my father’s law firm back in 2006 when he put up an incredible and impressive run for U.S. Senate in Maryland.

Keep him in your prayers, he would make an excellent leader in a time the Republican Party desperately needs one.

The groups meets as Steele is being floated by some to serve as the next RNC chair. Similar soundings were made in 2006 after the Marylander lost a Senate run against Ben Cardin.

Sources close to Steele say some state Republican chairmen have contacted him about the position and he’s interested in playing some kind of role in the party’s rebuilding. He’s currently a Fox News contributor.

UPDATE: A Draft Michael Steele website has popped up…

Today, Catholics for McCain was mentioned in a story today from the Catholic News Service, Catholic leaders congratulate Obama, offer prayers for administration:

“I am sure, like me, you are disappointed with tonight’s results,” said a posting on the Catholics for McCain Web site by Billy Valentine, a student at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, in Ohio, and president of Catholic Students for McCain.

Valentine said the Web site will “most likely change in name and become more of a grass-roots issue-advocacy group. We will also start tracking key 2010 races to make sure we elect pro-lifers in key races.” However, he noted that “for the nine different political races I have seriously been involved in over the past two years, only one has resulted in victory. It is tough to take. It is not easy.”

He also exhorted readers, “Continue to pray. Continue to be involved. Continue to fight for the unborn.”

Congressman Chris Smith, our pro-life leader in the House, will be on “The World Over” with Raymond Arroyo LIVE at 8 PM tonight on EWTN to discuss the election results and where the pro-life movement should go from here.

I had the honor to work for Congressman Chris Smith this past summer in New Jersey on his re-election campaign. I can tell you first-hand, he is a workhorse and is Barack Obama’s worst nightmare.

In a campaign season full of disappointments, he is a bright spot. Despite being targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Chris Smith crushed his opponent with a 66% to 33% victory.

Make sure to tune in tonight!

Cindy and John McCain sent this letter out today to their supporters thanking us for our hard work and dedication to their Presidential campaign.  

I thought it was well thought out and well said.

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Cindy and I would like to take a moment to thank you for your loyal and steadfast support during the course of this campaign. Governor Palin, her husband Todd, our families, friends and campaign staff extend our deep appreciation for your tireless dedication, support and friendship.

It is the end of a long journey and your support through the ups and downs has meant more to us than you may ever know.

Although we were disappointed with the results, we must move beyond this campaign and work together to get our country moving again.

It is our sincere hope that you will join us in putting our country first and continue to work to keep our nation safe, free and prosperous.

We urge you to join us in not just congratulating Senator Obama, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together as a nation. Whatever our differences may be, we are all fellow Americans.

We are truly blessed to live in this great country and call ourselves Americans, and we will forever be her loyal servants.

Today, let there be no reason now for any American to fail to cherish their citizenship in this, the greatest nation on Earth.

With warm gratitude,
Cindy and John McCain

Priests for Life also introduced a new website called Pro-Life Strategy, which is a networking website meant to help folks acquire the necessary resources to become involved in the Pro-life movement. I encourage everyone to sign up there to receive more information, as we as pro-lifers need to come together.

Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, gave a reflection on the recent election and where America can go from here.

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Some great news was released today in California, whereby marriage between a man and a woman passed with  52.1% of the vote, against 47.9% opposed. This is a tremendous day for the protection of marriage between a man and a woman in our country.

This will no doubt deal a crippling blow to the gay rights activist movement trying to destroy the sanctity of marriage in our country. Marriage will indeed remain between one man and one woman in California.

Read more about the Proposition 8 fight…

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