Council chooses to reverse
itself on choice

Philadelphia was a pro-choice city on abortion for a mere week.
One week after narrowly passing a resolution declaring that the city supported abortion rights, City Council rescinded the order.
The 9-8 vote on June 7 had angered Cardinal Justin Rigali, archbishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. He called the city’s pro-choice label "divisive" and "shameful."
The cardinal called on the nine members who supported the original measure — drafted by Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, with the help of Planned Parenthood — to apologize to Philadelphians for offending them. He also said they’d better spend their time protecting and improving the quality of life of citizens.
Councilman Frank Rizzo was so disgusted with the measure’s passage that he offered a resolution rescinding it. Rizzo described the original resolution as "totally unnecessary" and "divisive," adding that it disrespected Roman Catholics and other pro-life people. He said its passage was "a waste of City Council’s time and effort" and simply a case of pandering to a special-interest group.
The councilman argued that a narrow majority of 9-8 does not represent the collective mind of the entire city.
On June 14, Council voted 13-4 to rescind the resolution. Rizzo was joined in the majority by seven others who opposed Reynolds Brown’s resolution. They are Councilwomen Joan Krajewski, Marian Tasco, Anna Verna and Carol Campbell and Councilmen Brian O’Neill, Jack Kelly and Juan Ramos.
In addition, five members who supported the pro-choice position also voted to rescind the resolution. They are Councilmen Dan Savage, Jim Kenney, Frank DiCicco and Wilson Goode Jr. and Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller.
Four members voted in favor of the original resolution and against the effort to rescind it. They are Reynolds Brown, Councilmen Bill Greenlee and Darrell Clarke and Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell.
After the vote, Rigali issued the following statement: "I applaud the members of Philadelphia City Council who worked to rescind last week’s troubling resolution. The members who supported today’s resolution are to be commended for reflecting carefully upon this issue and showing the courage to revisit it.
"I appreciate that Council has considered seriously the sensitivities of all Philadelphians and has rightly voted to take these sensitivities into account. It is my hope that this occasion will lead to a more productive dialogue and ultimately to greater reverence for the sanctity of all human life." ••