031074 ncr Threat to unborn poses threat to all defenseless

VATICAN CITY (NC) The Church in the United States is striving to stop abortion on demand because a threat to the unborn poses a threat to all defenseless persons, Bishop James Rausch, general secretary of the United States Catholic Conference, said in an interview on Vatican Radio.

"Every threat to the rights of the unborn is also an attempt on the life of the poor, the aged and the mentally retarded," he said.

"Therefore we are exerting every effort in the American Church to get a constitutional amendment to protect the life of the unborn."

Bishop Rausch said that four U.S. cardinals will soon testify before a Senate committee in Washington on the question of abortion.

Those invited to testify are Cardinals John Krol of Philadelphia, John Cody of Chicago, Timothy Manning of Los Angeles and Humberto Medeiros of Boston.

Abortion is obviously "one of the major concerns of the Church in our country," said Bishop Rausch.

The 45-year-old native of St. Cloud, Minn., spoke of two other concerns of the Church in the United States: the Holy Year and the next regional meetings of the American Bishops.

The bishop said he felt that the Holy Year had received "a most positive response in the United States, particularly the theme of reconciliation."

People are aware that the Second Vatican Council called for a change in structures, but are now asking what does that mean for me personally, the bishops said.

" People more and more are asking themselves in this year of jubilee: how can I become an instrument of reconciliation in the Church and in society?" the bishop said.

As for the regional meetings of bishops, to be held a few weeks after Easter around the country, the bishop said the theme to be explored is the use of mass media in evangelization.