On the eve of today’s annual March for Life today marking the 40th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, Cardinal J. Francis Stafford in this interview laments how the Supreme Court’s Roe “intervention” changed not only America, but American Catholic thinking as well. Interestingly, he sees Roe as a culmination of a process set in motion “with the adventure of John Kennedy,” which had so engaged American Catholics such as himself. In his case, it all ended with a “profound sense of disillusionment.”

“Where did this come from? Why did this happen?” he asks. Questions to ponder today, and for more for Cardinal Stafford, check out this companion piece from the excellent Catholic News Service.

UPDATE: Part 2 of the interview with Cardinal Stafford is now available.