President George W. Bush to Get Cardinal O’Connor Pro-Life Award From Legatus
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
January 8, 2010
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — Former President George W. Bush will receive the prestigious Cardinal John J. O’Connor Pro-Life Award from the Catholic business group Legatus at a February gala event. The organization says Bush was consistent in his promotion of the pro-life ethic as president.
The group noted that, in one of his last acts as president, before pro-abortion Barack Obama took over the White House, Bush declared Jan. 18, 2009, as “National Sanctity of Human Life Day."
In that proclamation, Bush said “the most basic duty of government is to protect the life of the innocent.”
Kathleen Eaton, the chair of the Legatus summit, where Bush will receive the award, said the proclamation "was the culmination of eight years of pro-life policies."
She hailed Bush for "opposition to embryonic stem-cell research, the appointment of two pro-life Supreme Court Justices, an executive order barring federal funds to be used for abortion-related projects abroad, and a rule protecting federally funded health employees from taking part in abortion or practices that conflict with their faith."
Bush will accept the award and address Legatus members for the first time since leaving office one year ago, Eaton noted on the group’s web site.
The former president previously spoke at Legatus’ first annual pro-life conference in Washington, D.C, in early 2001 shortly after taking office as the nation’s 43rd president.
The Summit’s theme, Challenging the Culture, and having Bush as its award recipient is exciting Legatus members, Eaton said.
“I’ve been speaking to a number of Legatus chapters about the Summit, and people are really excited,” she said. “It’s been a rough year on a number of fronts, and they really need this shot in the arm. They want to come together to pray and learn more about what the Church is saying on different issues.”
Last October, a Canadian pro-life group gave Bush the first pro-life award he has received since leaving office. The Saskatchewan Pro-Life Association presented the president with the award while he was in town to give an address
The group said in a statement that it "had the distinct privilege to present a humble word of thanks to President George W. Bush for his very public determination to protect the unborn while he served two terms as President of the United States."
Bush received the Humanity of the Unborn Child Pro-Life Award and a plaque that states it is "presented with sincere gratitude to President George W. Bush on the occasion of your visit to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada on October 21, 2009."
The award is presented "in recognition of your resolve and initiatives in the protection of human life" and features a quote from Pope Benedict XVI saying, “Openness to life is at the center of true development."
During his presidency, Bush is credited with signing the Mexico City Policy to stop the use of taxpayer dollars in foreign nations from promoting and performing abortions.
He also promoted adoption and parental notification laws, encouraged teen abstinence, signed into law the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, and signed legislation in 2003 to ban the cruel practice of partial birth abortion.
Bush also signed the Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004 to protect pregnant women and their unborn children.
Previous recipients of the award include Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life, Fr. Thomas Euteneuer of Human Life International, Judie Brown of American Life League, Sen. Rick Santorum, Sen. Sam Brownback, and Rep. Henry Hyde.
Related web sites:
Legatus – https://www.legatus.org
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