A Pastoral Appeal from Cardinal Maida to the Catholics of the Archdiocese of Detroit

January 2004

My Brothers and Sisters in the Lord:

In the coming weeks and months, the Archdiocese of Detroit will play a critical role toward ending partial-birth abortion in Michigan. The Michigan Catholic Conference, the public policy voice of the Church in our state, has joined a coalition to conduct a citizen’s override of Governor Granholm’s veto of the Legal Birth Definition Act. Last October the bishops of Michigan advocated for the passage of this legislation. As I stated at that time, without a determination of when a child is legally born, every partially born child in Michigan is at risk. My reason for writing to you today is to encourage your involvement in this important and critical endeavor.

Beginning this month, "The People’s Override" campaign will be collecting approximately 250,000 signatures of registered voters in Michigan needed to place the bill back before the Legislature. As the Governor does not have authority to override citizen-initiated legislation, with legislative approval of the initiative, residents of our state will have successfully outlawed partial-birth abortion in Michigan.

Here in the Archdiocese, the petition drive will be taking place in our parishes on the weekends of January 24, 31 and February 7, 2004. For additional information on "The People’s Override," you may telephone the Archdiocese (313-237-5800) or consult our website at: www.AODonline.org.

Please consider joining these efforts and add your name to this petition drive that will bring an end to partial-birth abortion in our state and help preserve the great treasure God has given us, the gift of life itself.

Sincerely yours in the Lord,

Adam Cardinal Maida

Archbishop of Detroit