Why Catholics for Bush? (Part 2)

Life. That one word, life, sums up for serious Catholics why they support President Bush. From conception to natural death, all life is precious and should be protected. The president's views and positions, though not perfect, are closer to Church teaching than any other president's since the Roe v. Wade ruling in 1973. And given the views and stands of his opponent, President Bush is the best choice for Catholics in November.

A list of accomplishments:

-Will soon sign Unborn Victims of Violence Act
-Signed the Partial Birth Abortion Act
-Signed the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act (prohibits doctors from killing babies that survive botched abortions)
-Signed the Adoption Promotion Act (increase incentives for states that encourage the adoption of older children)
-Promises to sign the Child Custody Protection Act (makes it a crime to take a minor across state lines for a secret abortion, if this abridges her parents right to be involved under their home-state law)
-Promises to sign the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act (prohibits state and local governments from discriminating against hospitals and other health care providers for refusing to participate in abortions)
-Promises to sign any comprehensive and effective ban on human cloning
-Placed "limits" on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research
-Reinstituted the Mexico City policy (prohibiting federal funding for international abortion providers)
-Directed Department of HHS that Medicaid would no longer cover the abortion pill RU486
-Directed Department of HHS to draft a new policy allowing states to provide medical coverage under CHIPs to unborn children
-Directed Department of Justice to rule that federally controlled substances cannot be used to assist suicides
-Budgeted increased funding for abstinence education to be on par with contraceptive education spending
-Doubled the adoption tax credit from $5,000 to $10,000 per child for adoption expenses
-Directed Department of HHS to Award $8.6 million in Adoption Awareness Grants (raise awareness about adoption as an option for pregnant women)
-Nominated federal judges who would be open to overturning Roe v. Wade
-Promises to nominate federal justices to the Supreme Court who would be open to overturning Roe v. Wade
-Proclaimed National Sanctity of Human Life Day (in 2002, 2003, 2004)
-Proclaimed National Adoption Month (in 2002, 2003)
-Supports Military Abortion Ban
-Stopped efforts to include the right to abortion at the UN Child Summit (2002)
-Established Bioethics Council (to increase understanding of how medicine and science interface with the dignity of life)
-Vocally supports crisis pregnancy centers, and adoption, and parental notification laws

These are subtle, but significant victories. Though we may wish the president would do more, given the political constraints (usually the Senate, and sometimes the federal judiciary) and cultural divisions (think Blue state voters) this is important and welcome progress.

We can only hope and pray there will be more to come after the president is re-elected.