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.”
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