Flare-Up Over Abortion

No poll rates it as one of the major concerns of American voters. Yet for those who do feel passionately about it--and millions of Americans of all religious and political persuasions do--abortion has already developed into one of the most emotion-laden and explosive issues of the campaign. Last week it flared again as Jimmy Carter underwent an hour's grilling in Washington by six leading Roman Catholic bishops. By seeming to be rattled by them and expressing a willingness to trim his position, he has guaranteed that the issue will continue to haunt him.

While far from alone in opposing abortion, the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. is its most visible and vocal foe--and Carter has been one of the bishops' targets. Acting on the advice of Senator Walter Mondale, Carter sought the meeting with the bishops in an effort to effect a ceasefire. Ever since his victory last January in the Iowa caucuses, he has drawn criticism from right-to-life groups for his refusal to support a constitutional amendment on abortion. These attacks intensified after the Democratic Party adopted a campaign platform that openly rejected amendment attempts to overturn the 1973 Supreme Court decision, which struck down state laws that prohibited abortion during the first six months of pregnancy.

As he faced the six prelates* in a scene that, despite its greater intimacy, could only be reminiscent of John F. Kennedy's 1960 appearance before Protestant ministers in Houston, Southern Baptist Carter reiterated his familiar position. He believes abortion to be morally wrong and opposes it except in cases where a mother's life is threatened or she is a rape victim. At the same time, he does not favor constitutional amendments that would either ban abortions or give the states the right to decide the matter. Under the scrutiny of the bishops, however, Carter wavered. He agreed with them that the Democratic platform went too far in saying that "it is undesirable to amend the U.S. Constitution to overturn the Supreme Court decision in this area." Seeking to be conciliatory, he said that he did not rule out the possibility that some anti-abortion amendment that he could accept might later be drafted. He even asked the bishops if they had any proposals. Their reply: It is not the church's business to draft legislation but to protect human life.

Despite Carter's efforts, the bishops remained unimpressed. Archbishop Joseph Bernardin, president of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, later declared: "We continue to be disappointed with the Governor's position." He added: "Personal opposition is not enough."

This week President Ford will meet with the prelates in Washington. Actually, the Republican position is only marginally more acceptable to the right-to-lifers than Carter's. Ford favors a constitutional amendment that would give the states the right to decide to outlaw abortion if they wish. However, since about half the states have already enacted permissive abortion laws, it is improbable that such an amendment would be ratified by the necessary three-quarters of the states.

Ford would probably oppose abortion more strongly if it were not for his wife Betty. She has repeatedly stated her belief that abortion is a matter for a woman to decide with her doctor. Now, after some coaching from her husband and others on the political volatility of such statements, she has retreated a bit. "I do not believe in abortion on demand," she said two weeks ago, but only "when it is necessary," as when a woman has German measles.

To the Voters, the candidates' positions on this delicate issue will probably be less important than their candor and consistency. In fact, there is good reason to believe that many Catholics are relaxed about abortion and unlikely to vote for or against a candidate on that issue. According to the latest Yankelovich, Skelly & White poll, Catholics are fairly evenly divided: 48% oppose a constitutional amendment banning abortion, v. 43% in favor and 9% undecided. Still, it cannot be a comfortable feeling for Candidate Carter to have the nation's Catholic bishops, who nominally represent some 49 million Americans, be publicly critical of him.

*Archbishop Joseph L. Bernardin of Cincinnati, John Cardinal Carberry of St. Louis, Terence Cardinal Cooke of New York, Archbishop John J. Maguire of New York, Bishop James W. Malone of Youngstown and Bishop James S. Rausch, general secretary of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.

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