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Be aware of what your legislature is trying to do! Here is a letter from the Bishop. We must pray and be faithful in the endevor!!
March 14, 2007 My dear Catholic faithful: I would be derelict in my duties as your bishop if I failed to bring to your attention two troubling initiatives that are being proposed in our State of Maine Legislature this year. These new initiatives, the funding of abortion through taxpayer dollars, and the funding of embryonic stem cell research are, in the eyes of the Church among the greatest moral evils of our age. All evils are not equal, and the deliberate taking of human life at a time when it is most vulnerable, whether that be at the cell development stage or during pregnancy, can never be justified in conscience or in law. As early as the first Century A.D., the Church condemned the moral evil of abortion. “You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish” (DIDACHE, 2:2). This teaching is unchangeable.
Allow me to elaborate on what is being proposed: On the abortion issue, the legislative proposal would have the taxpayers of Maine fund abortion services for those who do not have the financial resources to pay for them. This would be a first for our State. To date, funding for abortions through state dollars has been prohibited in Maine. Federal funds through Medicaid are available only in cases of rape, incest, or if the pregnancy is of great risk to the mother’s life. These circumstances occur in less than 2% of abortions nationwide. If this initiative were to succeed, the State of Maine would, by virtue of this legislative action, force against our conscience all Maine people, including you and me, to fund abortions and thus participate in this great evil. Maine, sadly, is well known to have some of the most permissive abortion policies in the nation. Regarding the embryonic stem cell issue, we understand that the Legislature is proposing to invest financially in embryonic stem cell research and development in Maine. The issue of stem cell research can be confusing. Fundamentally, there are two types of stem cell research; one involves using cells from adults and umbilical cord blood, the other involves the destruction of human embryos. It is the latter type, the destruction of embryos for what is termed embryonic stem cell research, which is being proposed for funding that we must all oppose. Embryonic stem cell research, like abortion, involves the direct taking of human life. The only element that distinguishes the two is the stage of development at which life is extinguished. The moral and ethical dimensions are, of course, the prime reasons why we must all be opposed to this destructive form of research. However, there are also sound, practical, scientific reasons to discourage this embryonic type of research and to promote adult stem cell research. It might surprise you to learn that with all the publicity surrounding embryonic stem cell research, not one cure has resulted from this research to date. Many scientists tell us that it will be decades before they will see any significant advances, if ever. On the other hand, umbilical cord blood stem cells have successfully treated thousands of patients with dozens of diseases. Simply informing you of these two shockingly offensive legislative initiatives is not nearly enough. We, you and I, need to turn our outrage over what is being proposed into meaningful action that can reverse the direction of this lethal legislation. In the days ahead, our Office of Public Affairs will be working at developing mechanisms to keep you informed about the progress of these initiatives and will assist you in making your objections known to your representatives in Augusta. We will be using our diocesan website www.portlanddiocese.net as our primary form of communication for Catholics in Maine. We will keep you updated and provide you with the necessary links to facilitate this cause. I implore you to take up your responsibility, first as a Catholic and second as a citizen, to speak out against these actions that threaten innocent human life at it most vulnerable point. Know that you are in my prayers. Please pray for me as we take on these difficult challenges in the name of the Lord of Life.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Rev. Richard J. Malone, Th.D.
11th Bishop of Portland | 
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