Why would a Catholic nun advance a “pro-life” view against the death penalty while refusing to speak against killing innocent children by abortion? I have asked myself this question repeatedly over the past several days while searching for quotes from Sister Helen Prejean, who is speaking in Bakersfield later this week. Although I am not a member of a Catholic church, I have a high respect for many Catholic teachings, and particularly appreciate the Catholic Church’s long record of consistency regarding life issues such as abortion.

We learned of Sr. Prejean’s visit from Joel Torczon, our friend and dedicated pro-life volunteer who also happens to be a member of St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church, one of the churches where Prejean will be speaking. Torczon wrote a letter to the editor of the Bakersfield Californian expressing concerns about Prejean’s views in the context of the “consistent life ethic.”

While Prejean’s compassionate approach toward criminals who are condemned to die has influenced many, including even the Pope, to raise their voices in opposition to the death penalty, her consistent refusal to address abortion has led others (such as Judie Brown of American Life League) to the conclusion that Prejean “defies Church teaching on the inviolability of every innocent person’s life from conception.”

I searched in vain for a direct quote from Prejean relating to abortion, until I found what she said in this April 14, 1996, interview published in Our Sunday Visitor:

“Abortion is much more complex than a mere choice, because the crosshairs of this decision are in the woman’s body, and the woman decides this. I think for us to really answer the abortion question so that women don’t have them, we really have to look seriously at the whole thing of birth control, family planning, and not having unwanted pregnancies.”

Some have responded to this controversy by emphasizing that Prejean’s calling is to speak out against the death penalty, not to speak out against abortion. While I doubt that anybody would expect Prejean to talk more about abortion than the death penalty, it seems to me that when she totally ignores abortion, her message becomes fatally unbalanced, especially in view of the official Catholic position on these life issues.

I expressed my concerns about Prejean to Bishop Armando Ochoa and several local priests, including Msgr. Ronald Swett, who is hosting Prejean at St. Philip’s. None of the priests I contacted expressed any opposition to Prejean.

To put Prejean’s refusal to address abortion into perspective, I prepared this document quoting several important Catholic voices. The document concludes with a quote from Prejean herself: “The more vulnerable life is, the more we have to be there for it.” While perhaps Prejean did not originally intend for her quote to be used in reference to abortion, isn’t it appropriate to consider whether innocent children in their mothers’ wombs are in fact more vulnerable than convicted criminals on death row? If so, isn’t Prejean violating her own principles by failing to “be there for” the victims of abortion?

I asked Msgr. Swett to consider distributing these quotes to those who will attend Prejean’s talk at St. Philip’s. It was my hope that if this information were to be provided to Prejean’s audience, her words would be put into an appropriate context which would provide the necessary balance.  In spite of his finding that this document accurately reflects the Catholic Church’s teaching on the life issues, Msgr. Swett responded “We will not be handing out your flyer. Besides, I have gotten only support for her presence at St. Philip’s other than your e-mail and a couple of others that were forwarded to the bishop.”

The Catholic church makes important distinctions between abortion and the death penalty: abortion is an “intrinsic evil” and is one of the “five non-negotiable issues.” The death penalty is not considered to be an intrinsic evil, nor is it considered to be a non-negotiable issue.

There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about waging war and applying the death penalty, but not however with regard to abortion and euthanasia.

– Pope Benedict XVI (when he was known as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger)

Does Prejean’s silence represent discretion or scandal? Consider the fact that Prejean associates with abortion advocates such as the ACLU and Call to Action, and speaks at campaign events for the Democratic Party, which includes abortion in its platform. (Prejean’s own website prominently features a video of Prejean speaking at a Democratic Party event which is prominently labeled “Campaign 2008.”)

Even during her visit to Bakersfield this week, Prejean plans to speak at a pro-abortion church (First Congregational Church, which is part of the United Church of Christ, a strong supporter of abortion since 1971). If she follows what appears to be her typical speaking pattern, she will not say anything to challenge the views of these “Christian” abortion supporters.

Because of Msgr. Swett’s statement that he has been receiving overwhelming support for hosting Sr. Prejean, it may be appropriate to tell him if you object to Prejean’s invitation to speak at St. Philip’s (especially if you are a member of St. Philip’s).

If you are interested in helping promote a balanced pro-life perspective to those who plan to attend Prejean’s Bakersfield speaking engagements, please contact Joel Torczon (661-665-2316 or jtorczon -at- aol.com).