From .......... National Catholic Reporter

November 10, 1989

By Patricia Lefevere

PRELATE URGES CATHOLICS TO VOTE ANTIABORTION

Newark, N.J., Archbishop Theodore McCarrick ended "Respect Life Month" by releasing a letter - read to an estimated 1.3 million Catholics at all Masses Oct. 28-29 - urging Catholics to elect antiabortion candidates Nov. 7. McCarrick said citizens must use their "great power" to elect people "who will uphold our moral values."

He asked Catholics to vote out of office elected officials who have advocated laws "that cheapen human life or allow human life to be destroyed."

In New Jersey, where more than 40 percent of the electorate is Catholic, abortion has been a key issue in the governor race. Democratic contender Jim Florio, who is pro-choice but said he is open-minded on whether the state should require parental notification for girls under 18, leads in the polls against Republican Jim Courter, who recently moderated his antiabortion position when polls showed the pro-choice stance garnered more support.

- PATRICIA LEFEVERE

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