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Catholic Voters and 2008
http://www.catholicexchange.com/2008/08/09/113442/ ^ | August 9, 2008 | Russell Shaw

Posted on 08/14/2008 8:36:50 PM PDT by Salvation

Catholic Voters and 2008

August 9th, 2008 by Russell Shaw

Are Douglas Kmiec and Father Michael Pfleger destined to be the representative Catholic voters of the election of 2008? It could be.

Kmiec is the California law professor with conservative, prolife credentials who early this year made a name for himself by publicly declaring his support for Sen. Barack Obama. The Democrat, Kmiec claimed (on what basis is unknown), could be counted on take a reasonable position on abortion.

Father Pfleger is the Chicago pastor who got his 15 minutes of fame during primary season by trashing Hillary Clinton from the pulpit of what was — up till then — Obama’s liberal Protestant church.

Different as they are in many ways, both men were early and vociferous Obama fans who spoke as Catholics.

While I question neither their sincerity nor their right as citizens to support whomever they wish, it’s impossible to ignore the real-life implications of their choice.

Professor Kmiec to the contrary notwithstanding, Obama is an aggressive abortion supporter who promises that as president he’d sign the notorious Freedom of Choice Act making abortion on demand a matter of federal law and who as a member the Illinois legislature opposed a measure requiring that efforts be made to save the lives of children born via botched abortions.

If elected, Obama says, he will nominate to the Supreme Court people who support Roe v. Wade, the court’s 1973 abortion decision. As a senator, he voted against confirming prolife Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Samuel Alito. For good measure, he opposes vouchers for parochial school parents and students and rejects amending the Constitution to bar legal recognition of same-sex marriage. And of course he promises “change.” Change indeed.

Can a Catholic vote in good conscience for someone who holds positions like these? Consider what the American bishops said in their pre-election document Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, published last year:

A Catholic cannot vote for a candidate who takes a position in favor of an intrinsic evil, such as abortion or racism, if the voter’s intent is to support that position. In such cases a Catholic would be guilty of formal cooperation in grave evil….

There may be times when a Catholic who rejects a candidate’s unacceptable position may decide to vote for that candidate for other morally grave reasons. Voting in this way would be permissible only for truly grave moral reasons, not to advance narrow interests or partisan preferences or to ignore a fundamental moral evil.

That leaves a small loophole — the possibility that someone might vote for a pro-choice candidate for a proportionate reason outweighing the evil of abortion. But the loophole was effectively closed by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Denver. Mulling the question of what might qualify as a “proportionate” reason in a case like the present one, he simply said he couldn’t think of anything that would outweigh the grave moral obligation to work for an end to the evil of legalized abortion that has poisoned American life for over 30 years.

I can think of no better advice for Catholics weighing their choices in this election who truly want to do the right thing than to read-carefully and prayerfully — the American bishops’ document Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship and, if they have time, Archbishop Chaput’s admirable new book on Catholics and politics, Render Unto Caesar.

The first, which is available in English and Spanish, can be ordered from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops at 1-800-235-8722. Archbishop Chaput’s book is published by Doubleday and available in bookstores and at online outlets.

 

Russell Shaw is a freelance writer from Washington, D.C. You can email him at RShaw10290@aol.com.



TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; Moral Issues; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: 2008; barackobama; catholic; catholiclist; electionpresident; elections
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For a discussion in this election year.
1 posted on 08/14/2008 8:36:50 PM PDT by Salvation
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To: nickcarraway; Lady In Blue; NYer; ELS; Pyro7480; livius; Catholicguy; RobbyS; markomalley; ...
Catholic Discussion Ping!

Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Catholic Discussion Ping List.

2 posted on 08/14/2008 8:38:14 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: antonius

3 posted on 08/14/2008 8:39:37 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All

**he simply said he couldn’t think of anything that would outweigh the grave moral obligation to work for an end to the evil of legalized abortion that has poisoned American life for over 30 years.**

Archbishop Chaput bump!


4 posted on 08/14/2008 8:40:56 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All
No Catholic CAN vote for the baby killer, Obama without committing grave sin.

enter the Table of Contents of the Catechism of the Catholic Church here

1: CCC Search Result - Paragraph # 2271  (618 bytes )  preview document matches
1 Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion,
URL: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2271.htm
97%**********

2: CCC Search Result - Paragraph # 2272  (580 bytes )  preview document matches
2 Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life. "A
URL: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2272.htm
96%**********

3: CCC Search Result - Paragraph # 2322  (290 bytes )  preview document matches
2 From its conception, the child has the right to life. Direct abortion, that is, abortion willed as an end or as a means, is a "criminal" practice (GS 27 § 3),
URL: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2322.htm
96%**********

4: CCC Search Result - Paragraph # 2274  (554 bytes )  preview document matches
gravely opposed to the moral law when this is done with the thought of possibly inducing an abortion, depending upon the results: a diagnosis must not be the equivalent
URL: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2274.htm

5 posted on 08/14/2008 8:42:22 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All
Catholic Voters and 2008
Barack Obama Supports the Murder of Newborn Infants

Obama Lied About Abortion Record
What Barack Obama defended three times: Live Birth Abortion
[OPEN] Supreme K of C Calls for Real "Change" on Abortion and Catholic Revolt against Obama Nation
Obama's Catholic Problem ( Linda Chavez )
Obama’s View on Abortion May Divide Catholics ( "May Divide?" )

Obama loses 26 points among Catholics
Barack Obama's Wife Michelle to Join Hillary Clinton at Pro-Abortion Dinner
OPINION: Senator Obama and the Wall of the Womb
Barack Obama's Pledge to Overturn Every Pro-Life Abortion Law One Year Old
Obama Worse than Clintons on Abortion Says National Right to Life Leader Interview-SCOTUS Critical

Roman Catholics for Obama '08
OBAMA TO CATHOLICS: NO VOUCHERS
How can Catholics for Obama rationalize their support for the pro-choice candidate?
Obama’s director of Catholic Outreach ‘dodges’ opportunity to reach Catholics
Barack Obama Slams John McCain For Opposing Abortion, Activist Judges

Catholics and Obama
COMMENTARY: Quandry for Catholics At Election Time
The Latest Refinement (Obama on Abortion)
CNN Runs Biased News Story Covering Up Barack Obama’s Pro-Abortion Record
Jill Stanek: Obama's biggest lie about supporting infanticide
The Battle for Catholic Voters

New Report Indicates Voters Most Interested in Barack Obama’s Position on Abortion
Deal Hudson: Obama and Infanticide?
Ad asks Obama: ‘If fatherhood begins at conception, when does life begin?’
Embryonic stem-cell research immoral, unnecessary, bishops say
Catholics should not vote for Obama
Catholic Caucus: It is a sin to vote/support Obama/DNC [abortion]

More Catholics leaning towards Democrats, poll reports (really not Catholics)
The Catholic-Obama Problem (Pope Benedict XVI instructs Catholics about pro-abortion candidates)
Obama's Abortion Bombshell: Unrestricted Abortion....
NARAL Catholics Line Up for Obama
Editorial: Disagreeing with Doug Kmiec One More Time
State-Funded Embryo Research "Makes Taxpayers Complicit in Killing", say Bishops

McCain Meets Privately with Fr. Pavone - Says Constitutional Right to Life Applies to Unborn
Faithful Citizenship: “Catholic Vote” is very sought after
Has Obama dissolved his Catholic advisory council?
Commentary: Faithful Citizenship and the Formed Conscience
Catholic League: Where's Obama's 'Catholic Advisory Council'? [Not to be found!]
Right-wing Christians beginning to lean left (Misleading headline)

Catholics Debate Obama Vote
US Bishops Urge Voters to Give Priority to Life [Ecumenical]
Corralling the Catholic vote: Political necessity or pipe dream?
DOUG KMIEC: Catholic Reasons for Hope in the General Election
EDITORIAL: Why This Catholic Dreads the Campaign
The Catholic-Obama Problem (Pope Benedict XVI instructs Catholics about pro-abortion candidates)
Thoughts On ‘Roman Catholics For Obama’

How Obama's Catholics Will Dodge the Infanticide Question
Catholic Pro-Life Leader Feuds With Barack Obama's "Catholic" Backers
McCain and the Pope: McCain cannot win in November without the Catholic vote (Reagan re-visited?)
Catholics Cannot Vote for Pols Who Support Abortion, Except for Morally Grave Reasons: KY Bishops

6 posted on 08/14/2008 8:45:06 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All; Salvation

I heard the Rasmussen guy on Hannity’s radio show today say that he GUESSES (thankfully is just a guess) that Senator McCain might pick Mitt Romney or Charlie Crist.

While Romney is not my favorite, I could live with that, but I am very nervous that McCain might pick Charlie Crist.

Gov. Crist cannot be trusted on pro-life issues. For instance, awhile back I heard Laura Ingraham say that FL was going to have some kind of law about showing pregnant women ultrasounds, and other information. Laura said that Gov. Crist did not support this in the past, but he might support it now because he wants to be the VP running mate. Gov. Crist is not a sincere pro-lifer.

And as Attorney General, Gov. Crist did not help Terri Schiavo, and later called Judge Greer a hero.


7 posted on 08/14/2008 8:58:22 PM PDT by Sun (Pray that God sends us good leaders. Please say a prayer now.)
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To: Salvation

Info bump.


8 posted on 08/14/2008 9:17:21 PM PDT by Ciexyz
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To: Salvation
I do not see how a Catholic could ever be Pro-Abortion. How can these men who claim to be Catholic support a Pro-Abortion candidate over one that speaks out against Abortion?? The only Reasonable Position on Abortion is to be AGAINEST IT.
9 posted on 08/14/2008 9:17:34 PM PDT by Peacekeeper357 (God provided food for every bird but he didn't put it in their nest.)
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To: Salvation

Lots of links in this post, thanks for the info.


10 posted on 08/14/2008 9:34:30 PM PDT by Ciexyz
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To: Sun

**And as Attorney General, Gov. Crist did not help Terri Schiavo, and later called Judge Greer a hero.**

That’s not good news at all.


11 posted on 08/14/2008 9:45:20 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Peacekeeper357

It’s the lack of teaching in the form of discipline from bishops and the vatican.

Freegards


12 posted on 08/14/2008 10:41:46 PM PDT by Ransomed (Son of Ransomed says Keep the Faith!)
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To: Salvation
Kmiec is the California law professor with conservative, prolife credentials who early this year made a name for himself by publicly declaring his support for Sen. Barack Obama. The Democrat, Kmiec claimed (on what basis is unknown), could be counted on take a reasonable position on abortion.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

These two sentences are one great big OXYMORON!!!

Catholic? Catholic representative? Conservative? Pro-life and supporting pro-abortion Obama?

How can any of this be a “reasonable position”?

13 posted on 08/14/2008 10:56:42 PM PDT by wintertime (Good ideas win! Why? Because people are NOT stupid)
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To: Ransomed
I believe that ending the life of a conceived human being is murder. No one can or will ever prove that life does not begin at the moment of conception.

My belief is based on my God-given ability to reason.

Though I attended twelve plus years of Catholic schooling, I don't rely on the bishops of the church to tell me how and what I should think.

That the church did not defrock every bishop who abetted and covered up for sexual abuse speaks volumes. Has every priest found guilty of sexual abuse been thrown out of the priesthood.

If not, why not?

I, as one of the laity, have not or would not sink to that depth. I'll rely on my own conscience; the church has to find honesty.

14 posted on 08/15/2008 2:06:21 AM PDT by IIntense (o)
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To: Salvation
No Catholic CAN vote for the baby killer, Obama without committing grave sin.

AMEN to THAT!

15 posted on 08/15/2008 6:21:59 AM PDT by Fudd Fan (Keep Scott Garrett in Congress - NJ 5th!)
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To: Salvation

Of interest. Who are the pro-life Catholics on McCain’s short list for VP?


16 posted on 08/15/2008 6:56:12 AM PDT by ex-snook ("But above all things, truth beareth away the victory.")
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To: IIntense

A person can absolutely come to the conclusion that abortion deprives a person of their inalienable rights without any Church’s guidance.

The Church is made up of flawed men. I want these flawed men to enforce the truth of what the Church teaches, that abortion is baby butchery, and support for baby butchery is a grave sin that seperates one from the Body of Christ. I’m not sure what your problem is with that.

Freegards


17 posted on 08/15/2008 7:05:01 AM PDT by Ransomed (Son of Ransomed says Keep the Faith!)
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To: Salvation
Father Pfleger is the Chicago pastor who got his 15 minutes of fame during primary season by trashing Hillary Clinton from the pulpit of what was — up till then — Obama’s liberal Protestant church.
'father' Pfleger (disrespect intentional) is an embarrassment to the Catholic Church. He's openly disobeyed the past two Cardinals of the Chicago diocese. He should have been defrocked looooong ago.

His antics mimic one who bought their divinity degree, ordination papers, through an add in the back pages of a scandal magazine for $20.00.

18 posted on 08/15/2008 7:42:18 AM PDT by Condor51 (I have guns in my nightstand because a Cop won't fit)
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To: ex-snook

Not privy to such information. Too bad..........LOL!


19 posted on 08/15/2008 8:31:27 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Ransomed
...support for baby butchery is a grave sin...

I'm not sure if clergy who permit pro-choice Catholic politicians, e.g., to receive communion are actually guilty of "supporting" the pro-choice agenda. According to Church teachings though, these politicians should be turned away.

I'm not sure what your problem is with that.

What problem?

20 posted on 08/15/2008 3:50:30 PM PDT by IIntense (o)
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