The Bishops’ Fateful Decision Respecting the Unborn

Crisis Magazine ^ | 10/22/14 | Mark Gallagher

[marshmallow]

In 1973 the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision legalized abortion. It was projected that the decision would not just replace illegal abortions with legal ones, but that the total number of abortions would dramatically increase (it turned out by approximately a million a year). It was clear that there were only two remedies: the Supreme Court reversing it; or a constitutional amendment proposed by Congress and ratified by the states to overturn it. This required the election of presidents who would nominate Supreme Court justices not interested in creating constitutional rights to legal abortion, and the election of pro-life members of Congress to confirm the justices, and to propose a constitutional amendment. Elections were the key. How were the bishops to proceed?

The bishops’ conference staff provided two conflicting recommendations. As their pro-life lobbyist, I recommended that the bishops conduct a major campaign to educate and correctly form the consciences of American Catholics to their responsibility to elect candidates who support the Common Good, which is protecting the human life and respecting the human dignity of every person created by God (including the unborn). And those candidates who refused to support the Common Good would be morally unacceptable for public office. The laity’s responsibility included being involved in their political party so that Common Good candidates would be recruited and nominated for office.

The Social Development and World Peace staff at the bishops’ conference disagreed with this approach. They dealt with the economy, poverty, food policy, housing, human rights, military expenditures, and U.S. foreign policy, and felt their goals and prudential judgments were more reflected by the Democrats in Congress. I was told sometime later of their concern that Roe v. Wade would cause Catholics to seek the protection of the unborn by voting for Republicans (most were pro-life....

[Friendofgeorge]

If Liberal Blacks, Catholics and Protestants...or any one of the 3 did not vote Democrat going back to the mid 60`s or thereabouts, abortion would be illegal, there would be no gay marriage, we would have God`s Word in the classroom/public square etc.

I am glad I wont have to answer

[who_would_fardels_bear]

The bishops can never throw their full support behind abortion, gay marriage, government supplied contraception, etc.

Because of this they have put themselves in a very difficult position. At some point they will be required to cave to secular policy and risk the mass exodus of the laity, or they will have to finally stand up for the truth and risk the loss of tax exemption, government funding of their ministries, fines, and jail time.