Washington, DC- Today, Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, slammed Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid for the comments he made at the Jefferson Memorial regarding the constitutional option.

"Sen. Reid's statement that supporters of the constitutional option do not share the priorities of the American people show just how far removed from reality Senate Democrats are," Pavone said. "Reid obviously does not understand that the American people see these filibusters for what they are: a witch-hunt. Senate Democrats have shown that they intend to prevent anyone whose religious convictions command a respect for life from serving in the highest courts in the land."

Catholic teaching throughout the centuries makes it clear that legislators are not permitted to privatize fundamental human rights. The acknowledgement of those rights, starting with life itself, is not a matter of private belief, but rather of public duty. A faithful Catholic, in order to remain one, must translate "beliefs" about the sanctity of life into concrete actions to protect it. Anything less is a violation of the Faith.

Fr. Pavone continued, "Most Americans have rejected the proposition that 'Catholics Need Not Apply'. The Senate must do the same, whether the Democrats want to or not."

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