Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence, Rhode Island, has issued a
statement in which he has criticized the late Nelson Mandela’s support for legal
abortion. While there is “much to admire in Mandela’s long life and public service,” most notably his support for human rights, the South African leader’s career was also notable for “his shameful promotion of abortion,” the bishop said.
He continued: “While we pray for the peaceful repose of President Mandela’s immortal soul and the forgiveness of his sins, we can only regret that his noble defense of human dignity did not include the youngest members of our human family, unborn children.”