Cardinal Egan urges judges to protect life, help Catholic schools

    At the annual Red Mass Oct. 3 for members of the legal profession, Cardinal Edward Egan, the former archbishop of New York, urged elected officials and members of the legal profession to protect unborn human life and find ways to help keep Catholic schools affordable, especially for the needy. Cardinal Egan, who stopped at the front pew to shake hands with New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, said recent videos  by National Geographic from inside a mother’s womb offer graphic evidence of the humanity of the unborn. “In the 15th and 16th week (of gestation), you can see the baby waving, sucking its thumb and even smiling,” Cardinal Egan said. “But my favorite is seeing one twin socking the other twin in the jaw in return for a kick in the buttocks.” As for education, he cited the academic success of New York Catholic schools, especially ones in the inner city that serve an indigent population. He said there are legally approved ways to offer poor families the choice of a Catholic education.