[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 82 (Thursday, June 12, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1195]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CLARIFICATION BY FATHER DRINAN

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. HON. MARTIN T. MEEHAN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 12, 1997

  Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that Jesuit 
Father and Georgetown University Law Center Prof. Robert F. Drinan has 
withdrawn statements he made in a New York Times article of June 4, 
1996, on legislation to ban so-called partial-birth abortion. At the 
request of the Most Reverend John R. McNamara, regional bishop for 
Massachusetts' Merrimack region, I am submitting for the Record the 
text of Father Drinan's statement of May 12, 1997, clarifying his 
position on abortion.

       Articles that I wrote in the New York Times on June 4, 
     1996, and in the National Catholic Reporter on May 31, 1996, 
     were used in ways I did not intend. I withdraw those 
     statements and any statement that could be understood to cast 
     doubt on the Church's firm condemnation of abortion--a 
     doctrine that I totally support.
       Moreover, new information about the true nature and 
     widespread use of partial-birth abortion renders my 
     statements on that issue in 1996 factually incorrect.
       I do not believe that every moral evil should be outlawed. 
     I do, however, see abortion--particularly partial-birth 
     abortionas--a grave evil and can understand why Church 
     leaders are urging lawmakers to ban it. I do not want 
     anything to impede that effort. On the contrary, I join in 
     that effort and stand ready to promote laws and public 
     policies that aim to protect vulnerable human life from 
     conception until natural death. I support the Catholic 
     bishops in their efforts to exercise moral leadership in the 
     fight against abortion.

     

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