By John-Henry Westen
WASHINGTON, DC, January 14, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Pro-life and pro-family leaders in the U.S. are backing a variety of GOP candidates for the Presidential nomination. Today Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute founder and President Austin Ruse and his wife Cathy (Former chief pro-life spokesman for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops) threw their support behind Senator John McCain.
U.S. pro-life and pro-family leaders have come out in favor of a whole host of GOP candidates with major endorsements going to Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson and John McCain. Conspicuously absent from the list is Rudy Guiliani.
Stephen Mosher, head of the Population Research Institute (PRI) has noted Huckabee as the most pro-life candidate, and Douglas R. Scott, Jr., president of Life Decisions International (LDI) has urged Catholics and Protestants to come together to back him.
The National Right to Life Coalition has thrown its support behind Fred Thompson.
International Right to Life President Jack Wilke, and Free Congress Foundation head Paul Weyrich have endorsed Mitt Romney.
Today the Ruses joined former Presidential contender Sam Brownback in supporting the McCain candidacy. Austin Ruse told LifeSiteNews.com that while he didn't agree with everything McCain stands for, he believes McCain is the best candidate, especially considering his stand on Islamic terrorism.
Ruse however did not express a negative view of any of the main GOP contenders mentioned above, except Rudy Giuliani.
For the most part, explained Ruse, differing opinions among life and family leaders on the main GOP contenders is based on perceived electability, experience, and issues external to strict life and family concerns, such as Islamic terrorism and foreign policy.
However, said Ruse, Giuliani is ruled out because of his anti-life and anti-family stances.
