12 Claims Every Catholic Should Be Able to Answer: Claim #11

CERC ^ | 2003 | DEAL HUDSON

[NYer]

Freedom of speech is a great thing. Unfortunately, it comes at an unavoidable price: When citizens are free to say what they want, theyll sometimes use that freedom to say some pretty silly things. And thats the case with the 12 claims were about to cover.

Some of them are made over and over, others are rare. Either way, while the proponents of these errors are free to promote them, we as Catholics have a duty to respond.

11.  "Someone can be pro-choice and Catholic at the same time."

While this may be one of the most common myths Catholics hold regarding their faith, it's also one of the most easily dispelled. The Catechism minces no words when talking about abortion: It's listed with homicide under crimes against the fifth commandment, "Thou shalt not kill."

The following passages make this clear: "Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception" (2270). "Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable" (2271). "Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life" (2272).

It can't be stated more plainly than that. Some people might argue, however, that being "pro-choice" doesn't mean being in favor of abortion; lots of people think abortion is wrong but don't want to force that opinion on others.

There's that "what's true for you might not be true for me" argument again. The Church has an answer to that, too: "'The inalienable rights of the person must be recognized and respected by civil society and the political authority. These human rights depend neither on single individuals nor on parents; nor do they represent a concession made by society and the state; they belong to human nature and are inherent in the person by virtue of the creative act from which the person took his origin'" (2273).

The sanctity of life is a universal truth that can never be ignored. Advising someone to get an abortion, or even voting for a politician who would advance the cause of abortion, is a grave sin, because it leads others to mortal sin — what the Catechism calls giving scandal (2284).

The Church stands forcefully and clearly against abortion, and we as Catholics must take our stand as well.

[RnMomof7]

I still think the church ..RC or Protestant should hold those that facilitate abortions

[Grateful2God]

Thank you! I see lots of different groups: social, cultural, religious at the March when I watch it on EWTN each year, and I applaud them all! There is a sense of solidarity there that happens when we come together in a positive way to focus on a common cause.

Thanks for the input! God bless you!

[Grateful2God]

Hold them how? I’m sorry, I’m a little confused. And, especially with the new health care mandates, I really would like to know your opinion!

[NYer]

You betcha they do as they stand there and serve the Eucharist to a known voter and promoter of abortion.

Are you a confessor? Do you know for a fact whether or not this individual has been to confession and repented? Can you read souls?

[RnMomof7]

How do you feel about abortion, sterilization, IVF, contraception, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research, assisted suicide? Honest question. These are all the pro-life issues. What does your denomination/interpretation say? No one stated their opinions and I for one would like to know. Ever take part in a demonstration, counseling, boycott? Rn, how do you feel not only from a faith, but a nurse's position? You have a unique perspective. Can we all agree that these are wrong?

Those are all different issues ..when I look at the list....anything that takes a life is murder IMO.. so that would include abortion , euthanasia (why I hate Hospice),"assisted suicide

I do not see preventing a pregnancy as a sin ...but I do believe that many birth control methods stop implantation not conception .. I do not think IVP is in itself a sin..but I do have serious question on the fate of unused fertilized eggs.. I see do believe it is a sin to harvest and experiment with deceased babies (stem cell)

[RnMomof7]

Did not finish my thought sorry ..I believe there should be church discipline for anyone that votes for or facilitates abortion

[Grateful2God]

These people are in defiance of the Church. If they feel they can’t follow the Church’s stand, they need to find what they want elsewhere. They are already, by definition, out of communion with the Church.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“They are already, by definition, out of communion with the Church.”

But, unless they are excommunicated, are they not still members of the roman denomination? If so, they are pro-choice catholics, however uncomfortable that sounds as a phrase...

[pleasenotcalifornia]

I am glad you wrote this to me as a reminder that although I cannot make to DC. I can go pray in front of the abortion clinic here in Las Vegas. Thanks

[CynicalBear]

Killing from conception to natural death would be against the commandment to not murder.

IVF is very dangerous territory and I wouldn't participate.

embryonic stem cell research - Are you talking about placenta cell or what? By any other definition embryonic would include the killing of a foetus.

Anything beyond that become territory for legalistic error.

[goodwithagun]

Amazing!

[SaxxonWoods]

If the Church stood fast against abortion it would lose a substantial fraction of its adherents.

Nothing will change regarding abortion and the Church, just as nothing has changed since abortion became readily accessible on demand.

[daniel1212]

True, I wonder if many RC Bishops and other clergy really give a damn about abortion.

• [2000-2001] Catholic women had an abortion rate 29 percent higher than Protestants. 43% of women over age 17 in the 2000-2001 survey said they were Protestant, while 27 percent said they were Catholic. 13 percent said they were evangelical or “born-again.” Catholics were more likely to get an abortion: The abortion rate for Catholic women was 22 per 1,000 women; the rate for Protestants was 18 per 1,000 women, Alan Guttmacher Institute http://www.catholicleague.org/research/Catholic_women_and_abortion.htm; http://www.factcheck.org/2007/12/abortions-comparing-catholic-and-protestant-women/

• 75% of white evangelical Protestants consider having an abortion morally wrong, as do 64% of Hispanic Catholics, 58% of black Protestants, 53% of white Catholics, 38% of white mainline Protestants and 25% of religiously unaffiliated adults. http://www.pewforum.org/2013/08/15/abortion-viewed-in-moral-terms/

• White evangelical Protestants are the only major religious group in which a majority (54%) favors completely overturning Roe v. Wade. http://www.pewforum.org/2013/01/16/roe-v-wade-at-40/

• 64% of white evangelical Protestants [blacks make up 6% of all evangelicals] believe abortion should be illegal in all or most cases, as do 52% of Hispanic Catholics, and 41% of white Catholics, and 39% of black Protestants, and 31% of white mainline Protestants. http://www.pewforum.org/2013/01/16/public-opinion-on-abortion-slideshow/

• 31% of faithful Catholics (those who attend church weekly, 2004) say abortion should be legal either in "many" or in "all" cases.. 2004, The Gallup Organization Gallup Survey for Catholics Speak Out: 802 Catholics, May 1992, MOE ± 4%;

• When ask to choose, three-fourths of all Protestant pastors surveyed said [2009] they are pro-life, and 13 percent said they were pro-choice. LifeWay Research; http://www.lifeway.com/ArticleView?storeId=10054&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&article=LifeWay-Research-protestant-pastors-share-views-on-gay-marriage-abortion

• 26 percent of Catholics (2007) polled strongly agree with the Church's unequivocal position on abortion Catholic World Report; survey of 1,000 Catholic Americans by Roper Center for Public Opinion Research at the University of Connecticut; http://www.adoremus.org/397-Roper.html

• 46 percent of Catholics who say they attend mass weekly accept Church teaching on abortion; 43 percent accept the all-male priesthood; and 30 percent see contraception as morally wrong. ^

  52% of Hispanic Catholics say abortion should be illegal in all or most cases, along with 74% of Evangelical Protestants. ^

• 30% of Hispanic Catholics say that having an abortion is morally wrong, compared to 7% who say it is morally acceptable. nearly 59% of evangelical Protestants say that having an abortion is morally wrong, compared to only 4% who say it is morally acceptable. http://publicreligion.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Catholics-and-LGBT-Issues-Survey-Report.pdf

  For those in black Catholic churches, political affiliation or leaning in 2007 was 17%/74% Republican/Democrat, and 11%/76% for black evangelical churches. Opposition to homosexuality 37% by black Catholics and 58% by black evangelicals. Opposition to abortion was 35% by black Catholics and 53% by black evangelicals. 66% of black evangelicals and 36% of black Catholics say they attend services at least weekly. http://www.pewforum.org/A-Religious-Portrait-of-African-Americans.aspx

  Latino evangelicals are more than 20 percentage points more likely than Catholics to say that abortion should be illegal in most or all circumstances. http://www.nhclc.org/news/latino-religion-us-demographic-shifts-and-trend

  96% disapprove of abortion at least conditionally, with 51% (59% in the “Global South,” including Africa) affirming that abortion is always wrong, with 45% saying it is usually wrong. 84% say that society should discourage homosexuality, and 79% say that men should serve as the religious leaders in the marriage and family, and 71% of the leaders are male, yet 75% think that women may be allowed to serve as pastors. (in contrast to historical Protestantism). http://www.pewforum.org/2011/06/22/global-survey-of-evangelical-protestant-leaders/

[Arthur McGowan]

Many do, but most do not.

Only about 12 bishops in the U.S. deny Communion to pro-aborts. That means that all the rest are walking around habitually in the state of mortal sin. By giving Communion to pro-aborts, they approve of abortion.

[defconw]

It continues to amaze me that the Neanderthals who do the most moaning about these alleged pro-choice Catholics taking communion. Firstly, can anyone prove that these particular politicians even attend Mass? There are many people who claim to be Catholic, who only show up at Christmas and Easter or election time when the Cameras roll.

I watch these buffoons at Catholic events, you can tell they don't go to Mass on a regular basis. They still have the gestures and postures that they learned as children. If you watch them you can see they lie about being Catholic, just like they lie about everything else.

At John Paul II's funeral, President Bush had more of a clue then the cultural Catholic who went along.

Furthermore my dear fellow Catholics why do we care what they think? Bunch of bigots that would rather tear down that which they are jealous of, rather than spend their time building up their own church. Enough, stop playing their game. Stop Putting up our Church to their ridicule. Ignore them!

[Grateful2God]

Ok, do you mean whatever church the person belongs to? Have you ever done anything to stand out against these issues? Not rhetorical, nor sarcastic; you are not Catholic, what discipline would be shown to those either of other denominations, or those who are independent?

[Grateful2God]

You obviously do a lot of research in your interpretation. You vehemently criticize what you feeL is wrong. What of those who have or are contemplating these procedures? You said the rest would be legalistic, but did not answer as t to whether or not you have participated in demonstrations or boycotts, what have you done, if anything? Again, not rhetorical, not sarcasm.

[Grateful2God]

Thank you for your answer! But what do you believe according to your denomination/Biblical interpretation? I’m talking belief in God’s Law.

[Grateful2God]

There are levels of excommunication. That for abortion is automatic at that moment. We pray that person will repent and choose to return, and there is a process by which they may. The semantics aren’t the issue, but the soul of the mother and the life of future unwanted babies.

[Grateful2God]

No, I did mean embryonic, not placental.