Posted on 05/24/2005 5:01:38 PM PDT by sinkspur
PORTLAND, Ore. (CNS) -- Concerned about a possible expansion of the death penalty, Catholic leaders in Oregon have withdrawn their support for an unborn victims of violence bill in the state Legislature. In February, the Oregon Catholic Conference voiced conditional backing for the legislation, which would create separate criminal charges when an unborn child is killed or injured in crimes carried out against the mother. The support was contingent on an amendment which would ensure that the measure would not make the death penalty a more frequent sentencing option. But the conference withdrew its support after a House panel May 2 took up the unamended version. On May 12, the Oregon House of Representatives passed the legislation without the amendment. "The Oregon Catholic Conference must advise the House Judiciary Committee that it cannot support H.B. 2020 ... with the inclusion of the death penalty as a sentencing option," said a May 2 letter from conference director Bob Castagna to the House Judiciary Committee chairman.
Oh good grief. There goes my blood pressure again.
Catholic dominated states = Blue states. Sad.
Not all moral issues have the same moral weight as abortion and euthanasia. For example, if a Catholic were to be at odds with the Holy Father on the application of capital punishment or on the decision to wage war, he would not for that reason be considered unworthy to present himself to receive Holy Communion. While the Church exhorts civil authorities to seek peace, not war, and to exercise discretion and mercy in imposing punishment on criminals, it may still be permissible to take up arms to repel an aggressor or to have recourse to capital punishment. There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about waging war and applying the death penalty, but not however with regard to abortion and euthanasia.
Strictly speaking, "unborn victims of violence" are not the victims of abortion. I suspect this bill, like the one passed in the US Congress, refers to unborn babies who die as a result of mothers who are murdered.
But unless he does something about it, these bishops/clowns are going to keep pulling these nonsense and we Catholics are going to be forced to put up with it.
ping to self for later pingout.
Not even as an option. Pathetic.
I am actually an opponent of capital punishment, but to withhold support for the prolife movement because of misplaced concern over a handful of evil killers is something I cannot wrap my brain around.
Yes, you are right, there will be a number of these cases. But there will also be the cases where the violence or crime committed against a pregnant woman results in miscarrage/death of a fetus but not the death of the mother. Like car accidents where the driver at fault is charged with manslaughter because he/she violated traffic laws or was DUI, and mom lived, but miscarried, etc. Or domestic violence situations where the mom doesn't die, but injuries result in fetal death.
In the past, the death of a fetus could not be used in the charges against the person at fault. This is why this legislation has the leftists up in arms. It comes way too close to abortion.
Liberal Catholics, Methodists, Episcopalians and Prebyterians are a blight on the face of the nation.
They are crypto-Quakers.
Interesting. Their vision certainly isn't 2020.
This is sad. I will call the GOP -- state level chair is a Catholic.
Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Catholic Action Ping List.
Can you help us in Oregon?
Very well said.
I read this yesterday. The Catholic Bishops cannot continue to equate the death penalty with abortion!
So true.
You cannot distinguish between an innocent life, and a guilty one? That seems to be the Catholic Church's 'reasoning' here.
The significance of the bill is in that it recognizes that the unborn can be a victim.
The Catholic church in Oregon has its priorities badly misplaced.
Remnant of Bernardin
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.