Actor Martin Sheen Backs Out of Pro-Abortion March Sponsorship
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Actor Martin Sheen has backed out of being listed as an endorser for the pro-abortion march sponsored by leading abortion advocacy groups. Whether the listing of him as a sponsor was accidental or if Sheen didn't know the march's purpose is to support abortion is still a question.
That Sheen, who plays a fictitious president on the hit NBC drama "West Wing," was listed as a sponsor of the pro-abortion march was a surprise. Though he holds liberal views on other political issues, Sheen is a longtime pro-life supporter.
In 2001, Sheen was listed by Feminists for Life, a pro-woman group, as a "Remarkable Pro-Life Man," along with actor Ben Stein, Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), and columnist George Will. Sheen's wife Janet signed off on the article.
Sheen has also been a longtime supporter of the Seamless Garment Network, a pro-life group that also opposes war, poverty, abortion, racism, and capital punishment.
Calls from LifeNews.com to Glennis Liberty, Sheen's publicist, were not returned by press time.
However, Serrin Foster, the president of Feminists for Life, suspects that Sheen or a representative may have signed up to be a sponsor of the march because of other political issues, not realizing that its main thrust is promoting abortion.
[Full Story]
Well I guess that is possible. The "March for Women's Lives" doesn't realy sound like what it really is the "March to continue killing children in the womb."
Known as 
I have been following the situation with the "Seamless Garment" folks (www.consistentlife.org) and they have been trying to get to the bottom of the confusion. I would rather think his name had been placed on the supporter's list in error; that sort of thing has happened before.
Why are we always so cynical saying "I guess that is possible" or "I hope so".
Take Sheen's response at face value...star's names get put on lists all the time without their consent, and sometimes things they lend their names to are not presented with the full truth or knowledge as to what the star is getting into.
I am no big defender of the Hollywood set, but I tend to try and believe people are telling the truth and try to rejoice when they come down on the moral pro-life side of things.
Sheesh! Just when I had written Martin Sheen off as a Kerry style "Catholic"...
FWIW, I've heard tell (third hand, of course, I know people who've worked with him, but I haven't myself) that while he's really Lefty on most social issues, it derives from a very Liberation Theology/Social Justice understanding of his Faith.
I always assumed he be pro-abortion, because I wrote him off as simply a Leftist. Seems that was an error.
I'm not too happy either about the "Million Mom March" or something that's intended to have a bunch of women who know absolutely nothing about guns 'edu-ma-cate' people who know nothing about guns about guns (as well as protest).
I travesty, if you ask me. These same people should be supporting the REAL pro-life agenda, not play into the hands of the liberals.
What refreshing news for a change!
I don't think Sheen is Pro-Life...I have read interviews by him that indicate he is definitely pro-death. I don't know where the report is getting the information about him being a long time pro-lifer...but from what I have read that is totally wrong...
Try HERE for example:
http://www.progressive.org/july03/intv0703.html
That should say enough about our "president"
Peace, all.
Hmm. Sounds like wishful thinking that Sheen is "pro-death," whatever the heck that means. By the same definition, so are W and Rummy.
Fact is, lots of liberals are pro-life. Get used to it.
Todd,
Lot's of liberals are pro-life? I would like nothing better for that to be true. If it was true I wouldn't need to get use to it, I would praise it. But lots is definitely not a majority. Look at every single liberal news magazine and broadcast and they are all for abortion. Look at the National Catholic Reporter which by all accounts is liberal and they are solidly pro-abortion.
If liberals are so pro-life why do they keep putting in pro-abortion democrats? If you think liberals are so pro-life then go to any Democratic message board and talk against abortion and see the results. Why do abortion groups only give their money to liberals if they are so pro-life?
I am quite happy that so far the people in St. Blogs that identify themselves as liberals are also pro-life, but this just does not hold true to the general Catholic public.
I would rejoice if I was able to choose between two or more pro-life candidates in a local or national election.
I am glad to hear that Martin Sheen is Pro-Life,
and is not in the March for Women's Lives!
Regarding this march, what do these people feel
about the rights of the UNBORN WOMEN? I for one
would like to hear what their reply, if any,
would be.
Peace, Jeff.
Lots of people advertise themselves as pro-life, but aren't. I may not like it, but I don't get worked up about it either.
"I would rejoice if I was able to choose between two or more pro-life candidates in a local or national election."
I'd be happy with just one. The last candidate I would consider close to pro-life was Jimmy Carter.
Mr. Carter is not a very good example in this case. He is extremely quiet about the pro-life views he is reported to have. As president (and I voted for him) he never mentioned abortion, never pushed to prevent the government from paying for abortions.
Since then he has never spoken out against abortion. No appearances at the March for Life. As an elder statesman for the Democratic party he could do great good by reminding his party about the about abortion and could be a conscience for the party. He had done none of this and puts his support behind fully pro-abortion politicians.
He is no Gov. Casey or Ray Flynn.
Jeff:
As president (Carter) (and I voted for him) he never mentioned abortion, never pushed to prevent the government from paying for abortions.
Carter and his HEW secretary Joseph Califano (incidentally, a pro-life liberal, both politically and personally) actually did stop the government from funding medicaid abortions....
See an interesting recent article on Califano and his views at http://www.nationalcatholicreporter.org/washington/wnb042104.htm
or at my weblog at http://catholicpackerfan.blogspot.com/2004_04_01_catholicpackerfan_archive.html#108280181712397400
God Bless,
John
Although, this is a 4 year old posting, I will add my two cents anyway. I am happy to read that Martin Sheen backed out of the pro abortion march. However, I have read that he is personally opposed to abortion, but will not judge a woman's right to have one. Does anyone know if he has since had the courage to come out with a strong pro life position?
Thank God that Mr. Sheen didn't sell out! I have much respect for him!!
I respect Martin Sheen. He seems to be an honest individual who sincerely cares about social justice. The problem is that our political system has bifurcated the issues of social justice and respect for life into "conservative" and "liberal" ideologies. I consider myself Pro-Life, not merely anti-abortion. This means I oppose ALL forms of intentional killing. So, this leaves me at odds with both mainstream political parties. But, I do personally believe that - judging by the numbers - abortion is the greatest human rights violation of our time. Martin Sheen was heavily influenced by devout Pro-Life Catholics such as Dorothy Day and the Berrigan brothers. I trust that their Pro-Life convictions were not lost to him. Perhaps he is quietly persuading many of his Democratic comrades of the importance and value of unborn life. But I agree that it would be great to see him stop hedging his bets, rhetorically speaking. He has stood up for his convictions, however, by putting his life and safety on the line. Not like the limousine liberals of today's Hollywood!