Preservation of Life Emphasized by New Bishop

In his first public comments about the denial of Communion to Assemblywoman Lucy Killea because of her pro-choice abortion views, San Diego’s incoming Roman Catholic bishop said Thursday that he hopes he will never have to impose such a sanction.

But Bishop Robert H. Brom left the impression that the restriction will remain in place unless Killea changes her mind, and he made clear that he steadfastly supports the church’s anti-abortion stand, saying the preservation of life is more important than liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Speaking at a luncheon sponsored by the San Diego Press Club, Brom declined to speak in detail about the Killea affair, touching on the matter generally, as he did other topics, including the San Diego diocese’s relationship with its Latino constituency.

“I’m someone who is really, really new on the block. . . . I’m learning about the diocese of San Diego, I’m learning about the city of San Diego, I’m learning about Southern California, and yet I know . . . (everyone) is asking, ‘Just what does this guy stand for?’ ” he said.

Brom was the bishop of Duluth, Minn., for six years before he was named last May to succeed San Diego Bishop Leo T. Maher. But Brom won’t take over until next July. He has spent the past several months taking Spanish lessons in Cuernavaca, Mexico, and is phasing into his job gradually.

Maher’s decision two weeks ago to bar Killea from Communion because of her pro-choice stance drew nationwide publicity, as Killea became the first Catholic public official to be so severely sanctioned for her abortion views.

Democrat Killea, who became an overnight national media star and whose candidacy in a special state Senate election has become the latest lightning rod in the volatile abortion debate, has said she will abide by Maher’s directive but will not change her political philosophy.

” . . . No bishop ever wants to impose sanctions, unless he really feels he has to,” said Brom, adding that he accepts the position of the Catholic bishops committee against abortion. “I would hope that I would never have to impose a sanction.”

Asked specifically what he would do with the Killea matter once he becomes bishop, Brom replied: “If the occasion would so require, I would invite Lucy Killea to come and see me. We would close the door, and we would have a talk.”

If Killea stuck to her pro-choice views? “She would make a statement when she left the room,” Brom said.

The incoming bishop was less guarded in talking about his support for life. Although not referring directly to the church’s stand on abortion, he talked of the church’s “unpopular contemporary messages” and the “truth” that life is sacred. Alluding to some of the inalienable rights contained in the Declaration of Independence--specifically life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness--Brom said there is a logic to their sequential order.

“Life first and then liberty and then the pursuit of happiness,” he said. “I am so radically for life that, if one must give up a moment of happiness in behalf of life, then let it be, because the truth of life and the dignity of life is more radical than the right to happiness and so on.

“I’m proud to say that I am for life as the most radical right, so that the protection of life from direct attack is a fundamental human and moral imperative, not an exclusively Catholic belief. These are days when the truth is taking a beating,” Brom said.

As for the perception that the San Diego diocese has been insensitive to the concerns of Latinos in an array of areas, such as immigration and literacy--at least in contrast to the activism practiced in the diocese of Los Angeles--Brom said he is aware of the impression but doesn’t believe it is justified.

“I’m aware of that reality that there is some suggestion that the diocese of San Diego has not lived up to what should be a healthy commitment to the Hispanic community, but I have no evidence to substantiate that,” he said. “On the contrary, I’ve only been informed over these last days (about) what the diocese has done and is doing, and I’m impressed with that.”

At the same time, he said, more needs to be done because the number of Latinos in the diocese has grown dramatically during the past decade. His commitment to learn Spanish, and his urging that all priests in the diocese do likewise, is a symbol, Brom said, of the priority he has placed on relations with the Latino community.

“When we look now at the Catholic population of San Diego, we’re saying we’re not 400,000, we’re more like 600,000 or 700,000, and maybe more than that, and at least 40%, if not 50%, Spanish-speaking,” he said.

Brom has a plan in the works that calls for “increased ministry with the Hispanics in the diocese of San Diego; not ministry to Hispanics, ministry with Hispanics.”