Bishop Malone leads all-out effort against governor's abortion expansion bill

Using every communications vehicle available, including television, radio, social media and the pulpit, Bishop Richard J. Malone is urging Catholics to oppose Governor Andrew Cuomo's effort to increase the availability of abortion in New York.

In his weekly video message (http://tinyurl.com/n6jn2tq) produced by Daybreak TV Productions of the Diocese of Buffalo, the bishop said the legislation "Would ease restrictions in state law on late-term abortion and runs the serious risk of broadly expanding abortion access at all stages of pregnancy."

He called on Western New Yorkers to stand together with the leadership in Albany who share this conviction that there is no need for such a bill to become law.

"Our efforts should focus on the fundamental instinct to enhance and promote the life and dignity of all human beings from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death," Malone said.

"We support the first nine points in the governor's agenda that enhance the true dignity of women," Malone said. "Our position on these issues is consistent with all the efforts of the Catholic Church throughout the world to enhance the dignity of women. However, the direct taking of the life of a child in the womb in no way enhances a woman's dignity."

The bishop's message will be read at all Masses in the diocese the weekend of June 8-9. It has also been posted on diocesan Facebook pages and Twitter feeds.

Malone is calling on Catholics to contact the governor and their elected state officials through the New York State Catholic Conference Catholic Advocacy Network (www.nyscatholic.org).