Skip to comments.
Mich. Bishop to Voters: Abortion can Only be Outweighed by an Evil Equivalent "in Number and Kind"
LifeSiteNews ^
| 11/3/08
| Kathleen Gilbert
Posted on 11/03/2008 4:08:01 PM PST by wagglebee
SAGINAW, Michigan, November 3, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Bishop Robert J. Carlson of Saginaw issued a pastoral letter in the eve of the U.S. campaign season, urging Catholics to heed the "special burden on the conscience" imposed by the destruction of innocent life, particularly as found in abortion.
In the first section of his letter, Bishop Carlson poses the question: "Isn't abortion just one issue among others in this election?" He answers, "No. Any serious Catholic voter must recognize abortion as the premier threat to human rights and dignity in our day."
Because abortion consists in the murder of about one million unborn children every year, says the bishop, "A Catholic can, in good conscience, vote for a pro-choice candidate only if other issues outweigh this one in number and in kind."
For example, the abortion issue outweighs the death penalty because abortion ends a far greater number of human lives than the handful killed by the death penalty, and because abortion is a graver kind of evil by targeting only the most innocent form of life, rather than those found guilty in a court of law.
Bishop Carlson notes that there are other serious issues voters must weigh in the presidential election; however, "a Catholic needs to recognize that all issues do not have the same weight.
"Can any other issue, or combination of issues, attain sufficient gravity to outweigh the directly willed destruction of 1 million children every year?"
Turning his attention to Proposal 2, the state ballot initiative to allow the destruction of embryos in ESC research, the bishop affirms that Catholics have a clear duty to reject the proposal.
The bishop condemns Proposal 2 first of all for being "scientifically unnecessary," constrasting the proven track record of adult stem cell research in medicine against the minimal promise of ESC research. He also criticizes the legislation for "going too far" by prohibiting any restraint on such research.
But most importantly, he says, Proposal 2 is based on "morally reprehensible" principles. He quotes one commentator who summed up the danger to human dignity in ESC research: "If a principle is established by which some indisputably human lives do not warrant the protections traditionally associated with the dignity of the human person - because of their size, location, dependency, level of development, burdensomeness to others - it would seem that there are numerous other candidates for the application of the principle," including the handicapped and elderly.
"Finding cures for diseases is surely a great good," writes Bishop Carlson. "But ... there are some things we must never do, like sacrificing our children's lives to extend our own health and well-being."
Last week, Michigan's Governor Jennifer Granholm came under fire from a local bishop when she claimed, as a Catholic, that supporting ESC research is "pro-life."
To read Bishop Carlson's pastoral letter in full, go to:
http://www.saginaw.org/images/election-statement_carlson_102...
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: abortion; catholic; moralabsolutes; prolife
"Can any other issue, or combination of issues, attain sufficient gravity to outweigh the directly willed destruction of 1 million children every year?" And the answer to that can ONLY be NO.
1
posted on
11/03/2008 4:08:03 PM PST
by
wagglebee
To: cgk; Coleus; cpforlife.org; narses; 8mmMauser; NYer; Salvation; Pyro7480
2
posted on
11/03/2008 4:09:15 PM PST
by
wagglebee
("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
To: wagglebee
It's for being a MARXIST and SOCIALIST, STUPID!!!
3
posted on
11/03/2008 4:09:22 PM PST
by
Colonial Warrior
(Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear, or a fool from any direction.)
To: 185JHP; 230FMJ; 50mm; 69ConvertibleFirebird; Aleighanne; Alexander Rubin; ...
4
posted on
11/03/2008 4:10:26 PM PST
by
wagglebee
("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
To: All
5
posted on
11/03/2008 4:18:17 PM PST
by
wagglebee
("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
6
posted on
11/03/2008 4:19:13 PM PST
by
trisham
(Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
To: wagglebee
Good for Bishop Carlson. It would be nice if some of the Saginaw people listen to him.
To: wagglebee
131 Bishops out of 197 and counting!
Bishop Carlson's pastoral letter in full, go to:
The list of U. S. bishops who have spoken out on the priority of the life issues in this election is now over 100. The list now contains 70 individual bishops and three joint statements.
I would like to continue updating this list until the day of the election. I have tried to incorporate all the comments thus far. If I dd not get them all, I apologize. (For a few of the suggestions, I could not find a suitable link.)
Please continue using the comments section to let us know what bishop is not on this list who should be. This would include any bishop who has individually, or jointly, published a statement about this election pointing out the primacy of the life issues.
Thank you for your help.
1. Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver
2. Bishop James Conley, auxiliary of Denver
3. Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C.
4. Justin Cardinal Rigali of Philadelphia, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities
5. Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, chairman of the Committee on Doctrine
6. Edward Cardinal Egan of New York
7. Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo
8. Bishop David Zubik of Pittsburgh
9. Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs
10. Archbishop Jose Gomez of San Antonio
11. Bishop Oscar Cantu, auxiliary of San Antonio
12. Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre
15. Bishop Gregory Aymond of Austin
17. Bishop Thomas Wenski of Orlando
18. Archbishop John Nienstedt of Saint Paul/Minneapolis
19. Francis Cardinal George of Chicago, President of the USCCB
20. Bishop Robert Vasa of Baker
22. Bishop Richard Lennon of Cleveland
25. Bishop Glen Provost of Lake Charles, LA
26. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn
27. Bishop Joseph F. Martino of Scranton
28. Archbishop Raymond Burke, Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura
30. Bishop Peter J. Jugis of Charlotte
31. Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Raleigh
32. Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, KS
33. Bishop Robert Finn of Kansas City-St. Joseph, MO
34. Bishop Robert C. Morlino of Madison, WS
35. Bishop Ronald Gilmore of Dodge City, KS
36. Bishop Paul Coakley of Salina, KS
37. Bishop Michael Jackels of Wichita
38. Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito of Palm Beach
39. Bishop Kevin W. Vann of Fort Worth
40. Bishop Rene H.
Gracida, retired, of Corpus Christi
41. Daniel Cardinal
DiNardo of Houston
42. Bishop Paul S.
Loverde of Arlington
44. Bishop William
Murphy of Rockville Center
45. Bishop Robert
McManus of Worcester
48. Archbishop Edwin
O'Brien of Baltimore
49. Bishop Thomas J.
Olmsted of Phoenix
50. Bishop Thomas D.
Doran of Rockford
51. Bishop Joseph A.
Galante of Camden
52. Bishop Robert J.
Baker of Birmingham
53. Archbishop Alexander J.
Brunett of Seattle
54. Bishop J. Peter
Sartain of Joliet
55. Bishop John M.
Smith of Trenton
56. Bishop Earl
Boyea of Lansing
57. Bishop Leonard R.
Blair of Toledo
58. Bishop Frances J. Dewane of Venice
59. Bishop W. Frances
Malooly of Wilmington
60. Bishop Robert
Morlino of Madison
61. Bishop John
Yanta , retired, of Amarillo
62. Bishop James V.
Johnston of Springfield-Cape Girardeau
63. Archbishop John
Vlazny of Portland
64. Bishop Blase J.
Cupich of Rapid City
65. Bishop Lawrence
Brandt of Greensburg
66. Bishop Dennis M.
Schnurr of Cincinatti
67. Bishop Larry
Silva of Honolulu
68. Bishop Paul
Swain of Sioux Falls
69. Bishop Michael J.
Sheehan of Santa Fe
70. Bishop Eusebius
Beltran of Oklahoma City
71. Bishop Kevin C.
Rhoades of Harrisburg
72-94. Joint Statement by the bishops of New York State (22 bishops)
95-111. Joint
Statement by the bishops of Pennsylvania (16 bishops)
112-116. Joint
Statement by the bishops of Kansas (4 bishops)
117-126. Joint
Statement by the bishops of Florida (9 bishops)
Added by me
8
posted on
11/03/2008 5:48:42 PM PST
by
Salvation
( †With God all things are possible.†)
To: Springman; sergeantdave; cyclotic; netmilsmom; RatsDawg; PGalt; FreedomHammer; queenkathy; ...
If you would like to be added or dropped from the Michigan ping list, please freepmail me.
9
posted on
11/03/2008 6:18:38 PM PST
by
grellis
(SISTERHOOD OF SARAH God. Guns. Hockey.)
To: wagglebee
Last week, Michigan's Governor Jennifer Granholm came under fire from a local bishop when she claimed, as a Catholic, that supporting ESC research is "pro-life." Yet another 'Seamless Garment' Catholic politician.
10
posted on
11/03/2008 10:04:24 PM PST
by
SuziQ
To: wagglebee
Thank you Bishop Carlson.
To: wagglebee
His Excellency, the Most Reverend Robert J. Carlson, is my bishop!
12
posted on
11/04/2008 11:16:24 AM PST
by
BaBaStooey
("Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light." Ephesians 5:14)
To: grellis; AdmSmith; Berosus; Convert from ECUSA; dervish; Ernest_at_the_Beach; Fred Nerks; ...
13
posted on
11/04/2008 4:29:07 PM PST
by
SunkenCiv
(https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/_______Profile finally updated Saturday, October 11, 2008 !!!)
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.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson