WASHINGTON (May 4, 2007)—Cardinal Justin Rigali today welcomed President Bush's pledge that he "will veto any legislation that weakens current Federal policies and laws on abortion, or that encourages destruction of human life at any stage." The President stated his policy May 3 in identical letters to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

"I applaud President Bush for his letter yesterday to congressional leaders, pledging to veto any bill that weakens or rescinds current laws and policies protecting innocent human life," said Cardinal Rigali, Chairman of the Committee for Pro-Life Activities at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

"Equally welcome are the recent letters signed by 34 Senators and 155 members of the House of Representatives, promising to uphold such vetoes," the Cardinal said.

"These pledges help ensure that through the rest of this Administration and this Congress, Americans need not fear that the federal government will pursue new ways to force them to be involved in government-funded abortions, coercive populations programs abroad, or the destruction of embryonic human beings," Cardinal Rigali stated. "Instead we should work together to build respect for human life at its most defenseless stages, and to support women and families facing an unintended pregnancy or caring for family members challenged by age, illness or disability."

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