by
Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
April 6,
2005
The Vatican (LifeNews.com) -- The leading candidates who could
become the next Pope and leader of the Catholic Church have one thing
in common -- they all take a pro-life stance on key issues such as abortion
and euthanasia:
Brazilian Cardinal Claudio Hummes is a 70-year-old Franciscan priest who leads the Sao Paolo Archdiocese. Monsignor Dario Bevilacqua, spokesman for the diocese told the Associated Press that "he has always been in line with the Vatican's official position" on pro-life issues.
Cardinal Francis Arinze, 72, of Nigeria, would be the first place pope since the 5th century. He takes a strong stance in opposition to abortion. In April 2002, he compared abortion, euthanasia and genetic experiments to the September 11 terrorist attacks, saying they all share a "contempt for human life." In remarks made to those celebrating a Buddhist festival, he said they should oppose "a culture of death, in which abortion, euthanasia and genetic experiments on human life itself have already obtained or are on the way to obtaining legal recognition."
Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi of Milan, Italy is another frontrunner. He is a strong pro-life advocate, having helped prepare Pope John Paul's encyclical on human life issues, "Evangelium Vitae." Tettamanzi also wrote an online book about medical ethics.
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio a 68-year-old Jesuit has been the archbishop of Buenos Aires since 1998. He is credited with leading a number of pro-life initiatives and, in June 2003, spoke out against a proposal by some Argentina lawmakers to legalize abortion in cases when the unborn child is disabled. "An anencephalic baby is a sick human being," he said. "But being sick does not make him any less human, because he is the fruit of human procreation, with human form and a human destiny."
Cardinal Christoph Schonborn of Vienna is another possible pope who enjoys support from some of the more conservative European cardinals. However, at 58 years old, he may be seen as too young to some who don't want another pope to serve 26 years. In a February 2004 talk, Schonborn lauded efforts by Catholics and Muslims to work together against allowing the United Nations to declare an international right to abortion.
Cardinal Camillo Ruini, who toiled for years in Pope John Paul II's shadow as papal vicar of Rome, is seen as more of a long-shot candidate. Ruini has fought efforts to allow euthanasia in Italy and is seen as strongly supporting John Paul's strongly pro-life views. He defend efforts to stop a genetic screening law in Italy that would have prompted abortions, saying "many men and women who today live their lives with joy and positive results would never have been born."
Cardinal Nicolas Lopez Rodriguez of the Dominican Republic is a strong voice on pro-life issues and has sharply criticized abortion and population control programs that include forced sterilization, comparing them to the work of "death squads." He condemned UN efforts to encourage abortion as an international right, calling it a "perverse international plan."
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany could become a candidate for those who want more of a transitional pope tying in Pope John Paul II with a pope from outside of Europe. He headed the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which spells out the Catholic Church's positions on issues such as abortion.
Cardinal Godfried Danneels of Belgium found himself in an interesting situation when, in an interview on Dutch television, he said AIDS patients should abstain from sex, but added they have a moral obligation to use a condom if they do engage in intercourse. The pro-abortion dissent group "Catholics" for a Free Choice tried to exploit the statement and claim the cardinal backed using condoms. He rebuffed the effort, calling the abortion advocacy group "deplorable."
