Posted on 07/13/2008 1:24:13 PM PDT by library user
In his column of June 24, Wall Street Journal writer William McGurn looked at the mostly NARAL-friendly Catholics named to the Obama campaign’s National Catholic Advisory Council. Noting that Obama enjoys a NARAL approval rating of 100%, and that — while in the Illinois State Senate — he voted against a measure similar in intent to the unanimously approved 2002 Federal Born Alive Act, McGurn wonders how the council and other Catholics for Obama can rationalize support for a candidate who stands in such profound contrast to the church’s firm teaching that abortion is “an intrinsic evil.”
The…line of argument is the They’re-Just-As-Bad-As-We-Are defense. Thus the Web sites that go on and on about Catholic social teaching on war and poverty and greed and the death penalty…the implication being, of course, that…simply by enumerating all these concerns, you can somehow balance out the Democratic Party’s singular commitment to abortion on demand. [link and emphasis mine]
On the surface, that argument seems reasonable — so reasonable, in fact, that the ardently pro-life Archbishop Charles Chaput, of Denver, writes of forming his own conscience in just such a way in 1976:
I knew Carter was wrong in his views about Roe and soft toward permissive abortion. But even as a priest, I justified working for him because…he was right on so many more of the “Catholic” issues than his opponent seemed to be. The moral calculus looked easy.
The moral calculus does look easy until one considers that war, torture, the death penalty, poverty, racism, and even the excesses of capitalism — those evils so well defined in Catholic social teaching, and of concern to Catholics of all political persuasions — are fully present in the act of abortion.
Consider:
War is a struggle between two evolving powers over who will have dominance; whether just or unjust, it involves the murder of the innocent and the disruption of families. War introduces pain, fire, violence, savagery and torture into societies.
Abortion is a struggle between two evolving powers over who will have dominance; whether “justified” or not, it involves the murder of the innocent and the disruption of families. A vacuum abortion, saline abortion or a D&C introduces pain, fire, and a limb-shredding, relentless violence deep into the very being of a woman’s body, within her very womb. A partial birth abortion, which involves inserting a scissor into the base of the skull of a partially delivered fetus, then suctioning out its brain before fully withdrawing the fetus from the birth canal, embodies the sort of savagery and real torture which is the most abhorrent part of any war.
The death penalty is a legal execution of an individual judged guilty of heinous acts against the larger society; convicts are sometimes discovered to have been innocent of the charges made against them only after their lives have been taken. Many consider even the most “humane” means of execution to be cruel and inhuman, and even when the convict is guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt, it may be well-argued that killing a murderer does not bring back the victim and that “two wrongs do not make a right.”
In an abortion, the fetus is as subject to the death penalty as anyone ever so ordered by a jury; the fetus is always innocent. Even the most “humane” means of abortion — whatever that might be — involves cruel and inhuman measures. And even if the fetus — in its innocence — is the product of a violent and “guilty” conception, it may be well-argued that one merciless violation cannot be healed by a second — equally merciless — violation and that “two wrongs do not make a right.”
Poverty steals hope, exposes the helpless to political, sexual, and economic exploitation (from friend and foe) and defers dreams. It breaks rather than builds and reduces human beings to the status of mere “votes” or “workers” or “things.”
Abortion destroys a hopeful life, exposes the mother and fetus to political, sexual, and economic exploitation (from friend and foe) and defers dreams. It destroys what is being built and reduces a thriving being, species human, to the status of mere “products of conception” and “blobs of tissue.”
Racism is the superficial and unjust rejection and/or exploitation of another human being or group of people based on race. Racism works to suppress; it denies opportunity and feeds stereotypes (”your kind are not good enough!”) Racism has inspired exclusionary rhetoric and genocidal movements, as may be found in the supremacist literature of the KKK. Racism exists to diminish another human.
Abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood have been observed agreeing to a superficial and unjust request to apply donated money toward the destruction of fetuses of a specified race. Abortion works to suppress; it denies opportunity and feeds stereotypes (”your kind are too good/too poor/too promising to be “punished” with a baby!). Abortion has inspired exclusionary rhetoric and genocidal movements as may be found in the elitist literature of Margaret Sanger. Abortion exists to diminish another human.
Capitalism in the imperfect enterprise system by which free markets provide jobs, goods, and services in order to stir economic growth. Its excesses often result in — among other things — unlicensed or unscrupulous practices and the exploitation of the worker, in pursuit of maximum profit.
Abortion providers are capitalist enterprises that often indulge in — among other things — unlicensed and unscrupulous practices and the exploitation of women in difficult circumstances, in pursuit of maximum profit.
A Catholic conscience is a complex thing that must rely on more than bumper stickers and impassioned rhetoric. Catholicism does not reject reason for faith but demands integration of the two, and prayerful discernment, before taking any action. It serves both prayer and reason to consider that abortion is not separate from the evils of war, torture, poverty and the rest, but of a piece with them. In fact, abortion supersedes those issues by dint of its personal nature. Government policy affects war, poverty, and the rest, while abortion is — like the casting of a vote — a personal choice. But it is a personal choice for the physical and intellectual internalization of war, and of torture, and of the death penalty, and of poverty, and of racism, and of capitalistic exploitation.
Thus weighed, the only counterbalance is life.
I am glad to hear you are against abortion in all cases, which distinguishes you from McCain.
Catholic Teaching is very clear on the subject, which you know by now.
The life of the adopted child McCain saved is not any more precious than the many he helped to kill through legislation. Period.
Innocenet life is just that in the eyes of God. No difference. That’s what counts. Murdering an innocent child is not acceptable to God however you wish to describe, whether one be “perfect” or “good”. That’s relativism. Catholic moral theology is pretty clear on that.
Liars, thieves, adulterers, etc shall not inherit the kingdom of God. It matters not what kind of liars, what level of thieves, or in what fashion one commits adultery to disquality oneself from the kingdom of God.
The same goes for abortion. It matters not how one nuances abortion, to kill an innocent life remains the guilty as such. Your excusing McCain is not valid. It matters not whether he is only an individual, a congressman, or the president, except the gravity of sin progresses with responsibility.
We do not and cannot lessen the sin just because McCain is running for office.
Your denomination might overlook McCain’s non-prolife status but God will not, therefore Catholicism can’t. Catholics cannot pick and choose what is morally right or wrong.
By your foul logic, since McCain adopted a child, then how many more ways would you allow him to kill innocent unborn children? He has a trump card over a serious sin now because that one act of adoption? Are you the final arbitar or God? Don’t answer that, I know the answer. How about if you go out to donate some money to charities, would that allow you to rob banks with impunity? Get real.
Doesn’t matter how you dice it, McCain is a murderer by legislation. There is no way you can manipulate that fact. You may be able to fool your Lutheran denomination but you won’t be able to fool catholics.
On that fateful day November 4th, many Americans will be called back to the Judgement Seat in front of God, when he will ask “did you vote for a murderer”. You’d better be prepared to answer that, even tho Nov 4th may not be the day you go.
Old time catholic Americans practices this....”God, country, and family”
I guess Lutherans like yourself practices “presidential candidate, myself, and my opinion”.
Some past CINO (catholic in name only) politicians often used to say “I personally don’t believe in abortion but....”. By endorsing McCain’s abortion stance put you in the same group of hypocrites.
Sorry if you find it harsh but catholics don’t mince words. Ask, and you will get straight answers.
A wise man once taught me ... “the Truth shall set you free, but it probably won’t win you many friends.”
I was right in that you really didn’t want to search for the catholic truth on the issue of abortion because you wouldn’t like the results.
Once again, for all the lurkers, McCain is NOT prolife, neither is Obama.
Thanks.
Ask, and you shall receive.
I’m just wondering Mr Lucky, you know how to research Google don’t you?
Anyway, there you have it, McCain the Murderer by legislation for funding of Embryonic Stem Cell research. Count 1. Satisfied?
Now what are you going to tell McCain’s adopted child? His father is prolife? Do away the conscience if you wish.
btw, I didn’t just give you my “subjective view”, it is Catholic Teachings that you asked for and received. Belittle us as a group if you want to be accurate.
One more time for the lurkers ... McCain is NOT prolife, neither is Obama.
Having said that, the choice is either McCain or Obama. For sport, why don't you see if you can read Mr. Obama's position statements on life issues without barfing. Take a look at:
http://www.ontheissues.org/Social/Barak_Obama_Abortion.htm
Mr Lucky. I am well aware of what Obama is about wrt life issues, he is absolutely horrible.
In reality, there is the “write in candidate” option for me and everyone else. I am more inclined to do that.
Why? Because when I finally go in front of the Judgment Seat and have to answer, I would rather answer “I did not vote for either one murderers” than “I voted for the less lethal muderer because I did not want the other guy to win”. It is conviction of my faith in what I believe in, nothing to do with winning an election or not.
To me, helping to murder just one innocent unborn child is enough reason not to vote for McCain, and he needs to know that. Enough people feel the same way and he just might change, since he goes with whichever way the wind blows.
If you are truly concerned, then do you best to first educate people. Second, educate McCain and show him the reality of losing all the consciencious votes. If that becomes a spoiler situation and makes Obama a winner, too bad for McCain, if all he cares about is only winning or losing.
On the other hand, if McCain truly turns prolife from this point on, then HISTORY will declare him the winner for eternity, no matter how this election turns out.
Pray hard before you vote.
God bless.
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