Wednesday, January 17, 2018
Catholic bishop to skip anti-abortion march because death penalty advocate Attorney General Rutledge is keynote speaker
Posted By Max Brantley on Wed, Jan 17, 2018 at 2:43 PM
The Arkansas Catholic reports that Bishop Anthony Taylor of the Diocese of Little Rock will not participate in the annual March for Life anti-abortion demonstration Sunday because the keynote speaker will be Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, who supports the death penalty.
Taylor led the opening prayer last year. He will participate in masses that day that
He said in a letter to the diocese members about his decision not to participate:
The reason is that Arkansas Right to Life has chosen as the keynote speaker for the rally a person who has good anti-abortion credentials but otherwise is decidedly not an appropriate pro-life speaker, namely Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, who this last year worked tirelessly to secure the execution of four criminals who posed no further threat to society. You will recall that the Diocese of Little Rock was very vocal in appealing for clemency for these four men, but we were opposed at every turn by Attorney General Rutledge.I asked Rutledge's office for a reaction and received this statement:
For this reason, I asked Arkansas Right to Life to choose a more appropriate keynote speaker, indicating that I could not participate in what was supposed to be a pro-life event otherwise. But Arkansas Right to Life has refused to do so. You are certainly still free to participate, but this is the reason we are not promoting the Rally for Life at the State Capitol this year. I imagine that many of you may choose to go ahead and participate in the march but then skip the rally.
“As you know, the Church teaches a consistent ethic of life in which human life and human dignity must be protected from the first moment of conception to natural death and every stage in between. This means, among other things, that all lives have inherent God-given dignity. Even people who have been sentenced to death possess this dignity, which is why capital punishment must be abolished.
"I look forward to being the keynote at this year's March for Life and encourage anyone interested in protecting the sanctity of life for the unborn to participate."
Comments (9)
Showing 1-9 of 9
More by Max Brantley
-
Saturday's open line
Here's the open line.
- Feb 23, 2019
-
LRPD names man killed and officer in fatal shooting
The Little Rock Police Department this afternoon said Bradley Blackshire, 30, of Little Rock was killed by Patrol Officer Charles Starks after a car driven by Blackshire struck Starks about 11 a.m. at Twelfth and Rodney Parham.
- Feb 23, 2019
-
Satanists sign up to keep Highway 300 clean
KFSM reports on Satanic Arkansas's joining the state anti-litter program, with a commitment to police a stretch of Highway 300 near Roland in Pulaski County.
- Feb 23, 2019
- More »
Readers also liked…
-
Rep. Mary Bentley's website now supports gay rights
Somebody has cybersquatted on Republican Rep. Mary Bentley's website, replacing her messaging with a call for equal rights for LGBTQ people.
- Jul 18, 2017
-
Greenbrier's paddling of student protester goes worldwide
The paddling of Greenbrier High School students who joined in te national school walkout Wednesday has produced headlines worldwide.
- Mar 17, 2018
-
Sarah Huckabee Sanders becomes White House press secretary
Sarah Huckabee Sanders, daughter of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, is the new White House press secretary.
- Jul 21, 2017
Slideshows
-
Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Inaugural events
Site Index
News
Cover Story / Arkansas Reporter / The Week That Was / The Observer / Editorial / Max Brantley / Ernest Dumas / Gene Lyons / Jay Barth / Words / Guest Writer / Letters
Entertainment
A&E Feature / To-Do List / In Brief / Movie Reviews / Music Reviews / Theater Reviews / A&E News / Art Notes / Media / Dining Reviews / Dining Guide / Calendar / Gallery Listings
Fox16 News
Little Rock Police Investigate Deadly Hit & Run https://t.co/SRYkqFajuZ #ARNews https://t.co/w9Jkvey6G2
KARK4News
THEATER REVIEW: Chicago came to the Arkansas Rep revived stage and a packed house Friday night, and it made for a s… https://t.co/BiIrriINc4
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
BREAKING: Little Rock police investigating a deadly hit and run accident at University and Teeway.
KATV News
Razorbacks Finish Runner-Up At SEC
Arkansas Razorbacks - News
Most Recent Comments
-
Re: Saturday's open line
In case any of you are interested, or even if you're not, Ryan Gosling did…
- on February 23, 2019
-
Re: Satanists sign up to keep Highway 300 clean
I meant to say that Rapert was double cocky, not double young. Or something... Satan…
- on February 23, 2019
-
Re: Saturday's open line
I didn't anticipate this much sympathy for coyotes...hmmmm.
- on February 23, 2019
This Week's Cover
Quick Links
Special Publications
RSS
Facebook
Twitter