May 10, 2004
Maggie Gallagher wrote recently: "The American Catholics who care deeply about the church's teachings on abortion or marriage are probably already out of the Kerry camp." I want to disagree with this statement.
To start, I am pro-life all the way and anti-contraception. Who needs contraception when NFP (Natural Family Planning) is more effective, safe and morally sound when practiced right? I also attend Mass every weekend, all holy days of obligation, and many feast days. I consider myself a practicing concientous Catholic.
It does bother me that John Kerry supports abortion (while being personally opposed) but what other choice is there? Is the current resident of the White House really a better choice than Kerry?
It is obvious that many Catholics cannot see past the abortion debate. People who do not consider any issue other than abortion should be considered irresponsible when they vote based just on this fact. There are many more issues important to us Catholics, not just abortion (though abortion is a serious and grevious issue that we have to confront.)
The platform of the Republucan Party has nothing to attract us Catholics who are humanists, or who support peace and social well-being, other than being anti-abortion. Before the abortion debate (early 70's), Catholics overwhelmingly voted Democratic because of the above mentioned issues. Then many Catholics held their social issues dear to them and voted that way. Even as recently as the last presidential election, 55 percent of Catholics voted Democratic despite the abortion debate. This shows that the body of the church has many issues other than stonewalling and not considering anything other than the abortion debate.
The Church allows politicians to advance and vote on abortion restriction bills that, in reality don't go very far to restrict abortion. This is allowed under the guise that small steps are better than no steps toward the day when abortion is not even considered. Why shouldn't the body of the church be allowed to have the same matter of conscience? Shouldn't we be allowed to vote for a party or individuals based on their entire platform, record, or moral convictions? Shouldn't the idea of steps toward a goal also be allowed to us as individuals in the body of the church?
Why should moral individuals feel constrained to vote for a party, platform or individual solely based on one item in his or her platform? Shouldn't we evaluate them fully, considering all of their attributes and qualities? Should moral conscientous Catholics vote for a party, platform or individual that is so contrary to many other convictions the individual holds? Issues like state sponsored killing (capital punishment) intense eagerness for war and very little regard for the well being of the poor or elderly.
There are many other issues than just these. Why should we be compelled to vote for someone who cannot say he is sorry for killing so many innocents and taking us into a war based on fabrications and lies?
The Democratic Party will one day be the party of Pro-Life, it has to. The Democratic party has traditionally been the party of the poor, the weak, those in need, and the little person. The Democratic Party is also the party of human rights. It is only natural that this party will eventually allow for the worth of an unborn individual.
Activists are working from within to change the Democratic Party. They are already petitioning the national convention this year to allow speakers from thr pro-life persuasion. Reform will start from within, and Catholics again will have a party that they can vote for in good conscience, including Democratic candidates who support life from conception until natural death.
Maggie Gallagher wrote recently: "The American Catholics who care deeply about the church's teachings on abortion or marriage are probably already out of the Kerry camp." I want to disagree with this statement.
To start, I am pro-life all the way and anti-contraception. Who needs contraception when NFP (Natural Family Planning) is more effective, safe and morally sound when practiced right? I also attend Mass every weekend, all holy days of obligation, and many feast days. I consider myself a practicing concientous Catholic.
It does bother me that John Kerry supports abortion (while being personally opposed) but what other choice is there? Is the current resident of the White House really a better choice than Kerry?
It is obvious that many Catholics cannot see past the abortion debate. People who do not consider any issue other than abortion should be considered irresponsible when they vote based just on this fact. There are many more issues important to us Catholics, not just abortion (though abortion is a serious and grevious issue that we have to confront.)
The platform of the Republucan Party has nothing to attract us Catholics who are humanists, or who support peace and social well-being, other than being anti-abortion. Before the abortion debate (early 70's), Catholics overwhelmingly voted Democratic because of the above mentioned issues. Then many Catholics held their social issues dear to them and voted that way. Even as recently as the last presidential election, 55 percent of Catholics voted Democratic despite the abortion debate. This shows that the body of the church has many issues other than stonewalling and not considering anything other than the abortion debate.
The Church allows politicians to advance and vote on abortion restriction bills that, in reality don't go very far to restrict abortion. This is allowed under the guise that small steps are better than no steps toward the day when abortion is not even considered. Why shouldn't the body of the church be allowed to have the same matter of conscience? Shouldn't we be allowed to vote for a party or individuals based on their entire platform, record, or moral convictions? Shouldn't the idea of steps toward a goal also be allowed to us as individuals in the body of the church?
Why should moral individuals feel constrained to vote for a party, platform or individual solely based on one item in his or her platform? Shouldn't we evaluate them fully, considering all of their attributes and qualities? Should moral conscientous Catholics vote for a party, platform or individual that is so contrary to many other convictions the individual holds? Issues like state sponsored killing (capital punishment) intense eagerness for war and very little regard for the well being of the poor or elderly.
There are many other issues than just these. Why should we be compelled to vote for someone who cannot say he is sorry for killing so many innocents and taking us into a war based on fabrications and lies?
The Democratic Party will one day be the party of Pro-Life, it has to. The Democratic party has traditionally been the party of the poor, the weak, those in need, and the little person. The Democratic Party is also the party of human rights. It is only natural that this party will eventually allow for the worth of an unborn individual.
Activists are working from within to change the Democratic Party. They are already petitioning the national convention this year to allow speakers from thr pro-life persuasion. Reform will start from within, and Catholics again will have a party that they can vote for in good conscience, including Democratic candidates who support life from conception until natural death.
posted by Mark at 8:27 AM
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