Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- One of the leading Catholic newspapers in the country has issued a new editorial saying John McCain is significantly better on abortion than his likely Democratic opponent Barack Obama. The paper says both deserve scorn for backing embryonic stem cell research but point out that McCain has a very strong pro-life stance on abortion.

The National Catholic Register, in its March issue, looks at the presidential landscape.

It notes that McCain isn't as well liked by conservative Republicans as Obama and Hillary Clinton are liked by liberal Democrats.

However, as Catholics, the editors say they're not as concerned about conservative political philosophy as they are about Catholic teachings. And no Catholic teaching, when it comes to political issues, is more important than opposing abortion.

The Register noted the Catholic bishops have said abortion "must always be rejected and opposed and must never be supported or condoned" and added that the right to life is a fundamental one more important than others.

"In other words, abortion is the preeminent issue. A Catholic’s obligation is to cast the vote that will best advance the culture of life," the editors say.

With that in mind, the Register says there's little choice but to prefer McCain over Obama when it comes to abortion.

"A vote for McCain would be better than a vote for either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton," the editors write.

The Register points out the consequences of supporting Obama or Clinton.

"Both Obama and Clinton have records that are, for all practical purposes, 100% pro-abortion. Obama wouldn't even protect children born alive by mistake during abortion attempts," they wrote.

"If either of them wins ... we will get:

* two more Supreme Court justices who consider abortion a right,

* federally funded abortion on demand, abortion in military hospitals,

* federally funded abortion overseas,

* vicious regulatory attacks on pro-life doctors, nurses, clinics and non-profit groups,

* the repeal of conscience-clause exceptions for doctors and pharmacists,

* efforts to reclassify churches and pro-life activities, threatening their tax-exempt status,

* “the Freedom of Choice Act” (FOCA), which is like the Human Life Bill in reverse — a federal statute mandating abortion on demand in every state,

* the end of abstinence education."

If that laundry list weren't enough, the editors are concerned Obama or Clinton would take the United States down the road of nationalized health care. In other countries, that has led to "rationed care and has brought inexorable pressures against respect for the dignity of human life."

While McCain may not be the "most liked" of the Republican candidates who ran for president this year, the editors said pro-life voters need to move beyond liking a candidate and understanding the consequences of this year's election.

They concluded: "Sometimes it isn't the 'most liked' candidate who wins, but the one whose more principled stand means we'll vote for them whether we like them or not."