Why should we reduce the need for abortion?
May 23, 2009 Five Non-Negotiable Issues, Obama Administration
It’s always a fascinating practice to take a look at the public relations job politicians do on the campaign trail. It’s always a challenge in a job where living in the gray might give you a chance on issues that are black and white, if only because it appears that you are both sides. When it comes to abortion it seems that there are two positions:
- Pro-life: mostly or completely against abortion. (I lump in mostly because there are politicians who want to make exceptions for rape/incest, which I believe is wrong, but they are otherwise on target.)
- Those that believe that abortion is a personal choice, but they want to reduce the need for abortion.
This begs the question: if there is nothing wrong with abortion, why would we waste our time and effort to reduce the need for it? Clearly the politician does find something wrong with abortion or they would simply throw the issue out with the trash. Next time you get the opportunity to confront one of these abortion reductionist politicians, ask them why they are even bothering. The answer could be quite interesting.
Steele is a good pick
Jan 30, 2009 Five Non-Negotiable Issues
The RNC has chosen a new leader. Pro-life, and otherwise solid. Here’s an encouraging post at RedState.
Tags: Five Non-Negotiable Issues, Michael Steele, pro-life, RNC
Who, really, is intolerant?
Jan 30, 2009 Five Non-Negotiable Issues
Quite often political discussions on issues with moral relevance (even if the arguments against them have far reach into areas other than religious belief) are quickly squashed by a comment to the effect of “Catholics are not tolerant of other views.” Even if that were the case, that doesn’t score any points in favor of “choice” in the example of abortion. The idea that Catholics are intolerant (false as it is) is a non sequitur to such a discussion.
Ironically, at the point where a person brings this kind of a statement into the mix on abortion, it is generally the statement-maker who is the intolerant one. An example of this comes with the news today that the Academy of Holy Angels has stripped an award that it had given to a local lawyer who has worked on behalf of the DFL on abortion rights issues. The award placed AHA alum, Paul Thissen, into the “Activities Hall of Fame” which is recognition for people who ”through their citizenship and achievements, have brought honor to themselves, their school and the community.” Clearly if you are tolerant of others’ beliefs you also would extend that right to Catholics who do not hold that there is “honor” in supporting abortion rights.
I think this point is often missed on both sides of the coin. Catholics, ever punished with such accusations of intolerance, are increasingly sensitive and looking for ways to prove otherwise. At varying rates they are giving up the views they once held in the name of tolerance. On the other side of the coin, they are unable to look in the mirror and realize that tolerance is a two-way street. If someone should be allowed to have the view that abortion should be legal in this country there is no need to worry, they do have that right — even when the law is one way we are allowed to believe the opposite should be true — but so, too, do Catholics have the right to disagree with that view and keep their highest honors for people who uphold their own standards. It has never been a secret that the Church is pro-life. The only fault AHA might have in this was not coming to this conclusion before causing the commotion it did. (Then again, this might be good for a point. God works in mysterious ways.)
Update: The Trog also weighs in. He has a more personal connection to all of it.
Tags: Abortion, Academy of Holy Angels, Five Non-Negotiable Issues, Intolerance, The Trog, Thissen
Church, Obama to clash early and often
Jan 28, 2009 Five Non-Negotiable Issues, Obama Administration
One of Obama’s first moves as President of the United States was to punch the Catholic people of his country in the face, reneg on his promise to do all he can to limit the need for abortions, and overturn key life-saving orders the Bush Administration had held. If Obama thinks he’s going to get the free pass that many other politicians have gotten (including many so-called Catholics), he’s got another think coming. It’s clear that the Church is toughening up.
“My impression is they’ve gotten more militant and assertive on the life issue, where they’re more willing to say we’re not just going to state our position and look the other way,” said Richard Esenberg, a law professor at Marquette University whose expertise includes religion. He noted that Catholic politicians have been excommunicated in recent years for not supporting positions consistent with the church’s teachings.
It is very important that Church avoid scandal and make an example of someone who professes to be Catholic, yet holds a public view that is not in accordance with the Holy See. The true Catholics will feel emboldened and will come to the Church’s defense, while the so-called Catholics will take notice and question their own political priorities.
“Among the many good things that he could have done, Barack Obama instead chose the worst,” said Monsignor Elio Sgreccia, a top official with the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy for Life.
“If this is one of President Obama’s first acts, I have to say, in all due respect, that we’re heading quickly toward disappointment,” said Monsignor Rino Fisichella, who heads the Academy.
I believe the Church’s leaders not only have the right, but the duty to do all they can to make Her followers understand the weight and severity of putting political affiliation at a higher priority than their own eternal soul. It is time to forget about tax exemptions. If the Church needs to spell out who a Catholic voter should vote for in our country, for instance, they should do so without regard to money. You can put no pricetag on souls, and God has always promised to provide everything needed and “the gates of hell should not prevail against it.”
To all Catholics: It is time to stand up and fight for what we know is right. Engage in conversation, pray, pray, pray, donate to worthy (and only worthy) causes, and pray. Teach your children well and, more importantly, know what your children are being taught. And pray. This is not for us in this lifetime but our reward shall be in heaven.
Tags: Catholic, Esenberg, Five Non-Negotiable Issues, Holy See, Obama
The 5 Non-Negotiable Political Issues
Jan 26, 2009 Five Non-Negotiable Issues, Obama Administration
In order to give readers a good basis for where I am coming from politically, I think I should point out what I am referring to when I refer to (and I will often) the five non-negotiable political issues for Christian Voters. These are outline in greater detail in the Catholic Voters Guide, but the fact is that any Christian who votes for a candidate who supports any of these five sins against human dignity is in material cooperation for evil and is thus committing a mortal sin (one that places your eternal soul in danger).
The issues:
- Abortion
- Euthanasia
- Embryonic Stem Cell Research
- Human Cloning
- Homosexual Marriage
All five of these things are intrinsically evil; that is, they are evil in every case without exception. As is stated in the Worthiness to Receive Holy Communion General Principles document, Pope Benedict (then Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger) addresses the difference in the weight of political issues:
Not all moral issues have the same moral weight as abortion and euthanasia. For example, if a Catholic were to be at odds with the Holy Father on the application of capital punishment or on the decision to wage war, he would not for that reason be considered unworthy to present himself to receive Holy Communion. While the Church exhorts civil authorities to seek peace, not war, and to exercise discretion and mercy in imposing punishment on criminals, it may still be permissible to take up arms to repel an aggressor or to have recourse to capital punishment. There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about waging war and applying the death penalty, but not however with regard to abortion and euthanasia.
This is a crucial distinction, as the argument usually follows a “how can you support the war” or “how can you support capital punishment” alongside championing the unborn child line, and clearly they are on an uneven field and not set up for good comparison. (As it happens, I am against the death penalty in this country as I find it entirely unnecessary, but the fact is that someone can disagree with me and we can both be in communion with the Church.)
I hope you will find this initial post helpful in understanding where I am coming from. This entire site will not be about abortion in politics, but I will refer often to the five non-negotiable issues and especially in a time with a President as against these five principles as any we have ever seen in our nation’s history.
Tags: Abortion, Cloning, Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Euthanasia, Five Non-Negotiable Issues, Homosexual Marriage, Pope Benedict, Ratzinger, Voting
