Archbishop Says It's Immoral to Vote for Pro-Choice Candidates

EWTN News ^ | October 29, 2002 | EWTN

[fatguy]

DENVER, Oct 29, 02 (CWNews.com) -- In his second blunt message in as many weeks on the responsibilities of Catholic voters, Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver has insisted the issue of abortion should provide a clear-cut choice.

"I will vote for no candidate Republican, Democrat or third party -- who is actively 'pro-choice,'" the archbishop wrote in his regular weekly column for Denver's archdiocesan newspaper.

Archbishop Chaput dismissed the argument that abortion is only one among many issues to be considered in an election year. He explained: "abortion is separated from other important social issues like affordable housing by a difference in kind, not a difference in degree. Every abortion kills an unborn human life -- every time. No matter what kind of mental gymnastics we use, elective killing has no excuse. We only implicate ourselves by trying to provide one."

In this respect, the archbishop drew a distinction between the abortion issue and other political questions, on which reasonable people might differ. The difference, he said, is that "every abortion is a grave act of violence."

The archbishop repeated his complaint that proponents of legal abortion are seeking to silence Catholics, and others who are opposed to the practice. "The only way to stop this coercion is to send the right men and women to Congress," he said.

Voters cannot remain neutral on the issue, Archbishop Chaput continued. He reasoned: "No violence is ever private. That includes abortion. What we choose to allow, we choose to own."

[DaGman]

This archbishop is wrong. If he truly believed in the ways of Jesus Christ he wouldn't make statements advocating tunnel vision. There are too many other issues that the Catholic Church cares about. He does his congregation a disservice by making statements like this. Interestingly, our priest last Sunday (who is from Poland and grew up behind the Iron Curtain) challeged the congregation by asking if its right for the government to keep everything secret from the people. He didn't say one single word about abortion. Our priest has a better view of the big picture than does this archbishop.

[HitmanLV]

4 out of 5 americans can be wrong about an issue. Their tacit support of something evil can be considered evil in itself by some.

The fact alone that it's 80% of the people with this position doesn't mean it is noble and just.

[Land of the Irish]

The Pope is a firm believer in collegiality and would never humiliate an episcopal conference.

Would the Pope humiliate an episcopal conference if the bishops advocated woman priests, married priests, birth control, man-boy sex?

Episcopal conferences are not infallible, neither are Vatican "pastoral" Councils. Only the Pope is infallible, and then, only when he speaks ex-cathedra.

[Hank Kerchief]

If a Methodist, or Baptist, or any other protestant minister said from the pulpit, "Vote for Pro-Choice Candidates," the IRS would be there in a heart-beat to close down the church and arrest the preacher for violating the separation of church and state and their tax exempt status.

What gives?!

Hank

[End The Hypocrisy]

Constitutional principles can be modified if popular opinion demands it. And I've seen nothing to suggest that the percentage of Americans who are pro-life is anywhere near as large as the percentage who are pro choice. This presents pro-lifers with a dilemma. I'm not taking sides, just sharing an observation.

[The Grammarian]

Is there something wrong with this picture, perhaps?

Yeah. It sets man's depravity as something less than total.

[jart]

you got it, everyone who supports abortion on demand
is evil, it's really very simple.

[jocon307]

"So 65% of Republicans are evil then...are pro choice. And nearly all Democrats are. That means...over 4 out of every 5 Americans is evil. Is there something wrong with this picture, perhaps?"

Why yes, there certainly is something EXTREMELY wrong with this picture. How long will our nation survive when such a large percentage of folks are evil? It is also interesting that suddenly, this election cycle, dems et al are suddenly using the word "abortion" which they previously would never say. As as lapsed Catholic, let me tell you all, I'm quite sure we are headed for the end times now.

Tell me again why it's ok to kill an unborn individual?

[ApesForEvolution]

Actually, I've seen that America is roughly 50-50, and that the 2000 Presidential Election boiled down to one issue: To murder babies or not.

[RobbyS]

Wow!

[RobbyS]

You might have added that "pro-choice" is a shibboleth, which aims at masking the reality that our abortion law is the most "liberal" in the world, more so than Sweden's and that we kill our unborn at a rate that might lead one to conclude that our people are suffering from the starvation.

[epow]

All in all, it would be a very good thing.

It would be an EXCELLENT thing. It's about time all Christians and Jews, clergy and laymen, RC and Orthodox, Protestant and Coptic, Pentacostal and evangelicals, whatever, stood up shoulder to shoulder against this monstrous evil.

I have stood in lines with both Catholics and fellow protestants demonstrating against abortionaries. We have our differences of course, but we were as one on this issue and that's how it should be everywhere. Archbishop Chaput is doing his part, now I'm waiting to hear something as clear and unequivocal from some other quarters. But I'm afraid I'll be waiting a long time to hear it from the mainline protestant denomination leaders, most of them recieved their 30 pieces of silver decades ago.

[ppaul]

This archbishop is wrong. If he truly believed in the ways of Jesus Christ he wouldn't make statements advocating tunnel vision.

Huh?

[shhrubbery!]

So 65% of Republicans are evil then, I guess? I mean, according to http://www.rym.org, that's the percentage of Republicans that are pro choice. And nearly all Democrats are. That means that according to this bishop, over 4 out of every 5 Americans is evil. Is there something wrong with this picture, perhaps?

Probably 4 out of 5 Americans were either pro-slavery, or "pro-choice" about slavery, before the Compromise of 1850 and the Dred Scott decision.

So, yes, to answer your question. There is something wrong with this picture, and that is this: Sometimes the majority IS wrong.

[lsee]

No violence is ever private. That includes abortion.

Luke 12:2 "There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs."

Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

1 Corinthians 6:19 "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."

[epow]

If a Methodist, or Baptist, or any other protestant minister said from the pulpit, "Vote for Pro-Choice Candidates," the IRS would be there in a heart-beat to close down the church and arrest the preacher for violating the separation of church and state and their tax exempt status.

You don't have to worry about a United Methodist pastor condemning abortion. The UMC leadership is pro-abort and I doubt they would tolerate a local pastor speaking against their position.

My Baptist pastor not only says things similar to the archbishop's message from the pulpit, he says it in a weekly newspaper column. He gets plenty of hate mail, but no calls from the IRS. Yet.

Note that the archbishop didn't endorse any candidate. Endorsing a candidate is verboten for churches.(unless of course they're predominately black and endorse Democrats) But white pastors and church officials can still state their opinions on issues without losing IRS exemption.

At least for now. But if Hillary ever darkens the halls of the White House again with her malevolent presense that could change.

[The Iguana]

God bless Archbishop Chaput.

[Saundra Duffy]

Amen!

[wardaddy]

I love it!

[Audit_Jesse]

God Bless you bishop! More church leaders need to be as vocal!