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Archbishop Blasts Plan to Sterilize Poor

Lawmaker's proposal 'an egregious affront, blatantly antilife'

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 26, 2008 8:01 PM CDT

(Newser) – The Archbishop of New Orleans slammed a Louisiana lawmaker yesterday for a plan to sterilize the poor, the Times-Picayune reports. Archbishop Alfred Hughes called it "an egregious affront to those targeted and blatantly anti-life." State Rep. John Labruzzo floated the idea this week to fight poverty by paying men and women $1,000 each to undergo sterilization or a vasectomy.

Tax incentives may also be a way to get the college-educated to have more kids, Labruzzo said. Hughes attacked both sterilization and the idea of altering birth rates to limit a part of the population. Vasectomy are tubal ligation are both opposed by the Catholic church. "Our lawmakers would do better to focus on policies that promote education and achievement to counteract poverty and the bigotry of low expectations," Hughes said

Archbishop Alfred Hughes has opposed a plan to pay the poor to be sterilized, calling "blatantly antilife." (Getty Images)

New Orleans Archbishop The Most Reverend Alfred Hughes, right, blesses Gov.-elect Bobby Jindal and his family Sunday, Jan. 13, 2008 in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Tim Mueller)

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Archbishop Blasts Plan to Sterilize Poor

Lawmaker's proposal 'an egregious affront, blatantly antilife'

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Archbishop Blasts Plan to Sterilize Poor

Lawmaker's proposal 'an egregious affront, blatantly antilife'

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Catholic Church • Louisiana • vasectomy • sterilization

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Vatican Leaks Expose a Mutiny Within

Leaks shed light on Holy See power struggle

Stewart: Really? Santorum 's the Frontrunner?

'Daily Show' host also baffled over contraception controversy

Catholics Blast Nicki Minaj's Grammy Stunt

Catholic League: Academy would never allow similar insult to Judaism, Islam

Lawyer: 200 Sex Abuse Priests Hiding in California

Church needs to alert communities, says Ray Boucher

Bishops: Birth Control Change Not Good Enough

President's compromise is still 'unacceptable'

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

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More News

What is Newser?