While leaders of the Maryland Catholic Conference were pleased that Gov. Martin J. O’Malley included money in his budget for nonpublic school students, they expressed deep disappointment that he boosted funding for embryonic-stem-cell research and did not support a proposed abortion alternatives program promoted by Cardinal William H. Keeler.
Nancy Fortier Paltell, MCC associate director for respect for life, called it “very sad” that Gov. O’Malley is devoting substantially more money to scientific research that is “unethical.” She has called for funding non-embryonic stemcell research.
Ms. Paltell was also displeased that the new governor provided no money for an abortion alternatives program that would have aided women in crisis pregnancies who choose to have their babies.
“It’s really sad to see that the administration saw fit to continue to provide money for abortion, but I didn’t see anything for assisting agencies that support women in crisis pregnancies,” said Ms. Paltell, referring specifically to a new women’s services program pushed by Cardinal Keeler and the state’s Catholic bishops. Catholic leaders had asked for $1 million in funding for the proposed program.
From Catholic Review 1/25/2007 p3
