Catholic bishops sever ties to Texas Right to Life, exposing rift

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By: Chuck Lindell

According to a written directive, Texas Right to Life has engaged in misleading attacks against political candidates, lied about the Catholic Church’s position on legislation at the state Capitol and opposed church-supported bills by arguing that they don’t go far enough to limit abortions.
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“This is really big,” Wright said. “It’s very, very unfortunate that it came to this. But for our organization, and me personally, to be maligned and slandered for several years, and for our candidates and people who work in good faith to advance good policy down in Austin to be unfairly and maliciously attacked, that hasn’t been good for our movement, either.
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The directive also encouraged Catholics to remain active in opposing abortion and endorsed participation in Texans for Life Alliance, Texas Alliance for Life and “pro-life groups which engage in respectful legislative advocacy.”

When a 100 score isn’t enough: The fuzzy math behind all those political mailers | Fort Worth Star Telegram

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By: Bud Kennedy

Much of the conflict is over whether Texas should focus on passing laws that might survive federal court review, or try to impose stricter restrictions that would probably be overturned in court.

“Part of the dispute,” the bishops wrote, “is rooted in Texas Right to Life’s rejection of incremental pro-life reforms. … An incremental reform is one which improves the current situation but does not reform the status quo as much as we might desire.”

In the last session of the Texas Legislature, Empower Texans urged lawmakers to consider a bill by state Rep. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington, that would make abortion a crime and openly defy federal rulings or enforcement.

“Some of their goals are not well-founded in law,” said Joe Pojman of the Austin-based Texas Alliance for Life, another active anti-abortion group along with Wright’s group.

Texas Bishops warn against endorsements by Texas Right to Life, which backs candidates in several local races | Amarillo Globe-News

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By: Jeff Farris

Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops has issued a strongly worded caution against the pro-life group Texas Right to Life, which has endorsed primary candidates in several local races.

The bishops on Thursday warned parishioners about volunteering for the organization and advised parishes and Catholic schools to stop participating in the anti-abortion group’s activities or letting it use their sites to hold events. The bishops’ concerns centered on conflicts dealing with pro-life and end-of-life reform and the Texas Right to Life’s voter guide.
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The bishops made a point in their statement that Texas Right to Life “is not to be confused” with Texas Alliance for Life or Texans for Life Coalition, which “remain consistent with the bishops’ positions,” they wrote.

Churches should sever ties with anti-abortion group, Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops says | Dallas Morning News

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By: Jackie Wang, Austin Bureau

The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops issued an advisory Thursday asking parishes not to participate in volunteer efforts with anti-abortion group Texas Right to Life.

“We write to inform you of our concerns with Texas Right to Life and we urge parishes not to participate in their activities or allow the organization to use parish sites,” the bishops said in their advisory.

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The bishops clarified that the Texas Alliance for Life and the Texans for Life Coalition maintain positions consistent with their own.

Texas Right to Life spokeswoman Melissa Conway did not respond to a request for comment at the time of publication.

Beilue: Empower Texans — It’s like a season of ‘House of Cards’ | Amarillo Glob-News

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By: JON MARK BEILUE

Because of that, Price in this current primary campaign has been criticized in mailers and on social media by Texas Right To Life as “voting to continue to abort babies.” It’s laughably absurd.

“There are always set-up votes typically on the budget and bills like this — hot-button, red-meat topics — that get these crazy amendments,” Price said. “You take a principled vote and you know it’s going to cause you headaches, but you do it because you know it’s right. You can see them from a mile away.”

Odd that Price would find himself defending his pro-life stance. He had scored 90 percent and 100 percent in the last two sessions with that group. Another pro-life and less extremist group, Texas Alliance for Life, endorses Price, saying “to call Four Price anything but pro-life is dishonest and false.”