In the end, it doesn't break new ground. It's the same story, different candidates. Those Catholics who are seamless garment or otherwise progressive are going to vote for a pro-abortion Catholic and those who are more tradition-minded are likely to vote Republican, who at least mouth pro-life platitudes. Besides, as I said, there is more than one issue at stake for those who care about the culture. It isn't about the abortion issue in a vacuum.
That said, the only thing that might be new is that Obama did horribly among Dem Catholics in the primary. So, he might think he needs to shore up the progressive Catholic vote, but he'd have it anyway against a pro-life Republican. He's only going to increase his negatives in the eyes of pro-lifers, Catholic and other. It is thought that Catholics who oppose the war in Iraq may compromise to end the war, eg, Doug Kmiec. And Obama is going to be the authority to tell us we can vote for him for other reasons than abortion? Oh, I forgot, he's the Messiah. The One.
Mr. Casey’s appearance would be an important signal to Catholics, especially those who follow church teachings and oppose abortion. Mr. Obama could also use his choice of a vice-presidential running mate to reassure Roman Catholics. Among those that his campaign is vetting is Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia, a Roman Catholic whose faith has been part of his political identity. At least three other Catholics have also been mentioned as possible running mates: Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware, Senator Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut and Gov. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas.
Although abortion is central to the political crosscurrents around Catholics — Ms. Sebelius has vetoed a number of bills that would restrict abortion rights in Kansas, prompting the archbishop of Kansas City to suggest that she stop receiving communion — part of Mr. Obama’s strategy is to emphasize that there are other issues on which they can base their votes. It would be a way to address the perception that Mr. Obama has a “Catholic problem.”
Douglas W. Kmiec, a conservative Catholic legal scholar at Pepperdine School of Law, said that although the formal teachings of the American Catholic bishops put primacy on the sanctity of life, including fetuses and embryos, doctrine allows for voting on other grounds, including the Iraq war, which the Vatican has opposed from the start.
***
Um, it was more than a mere "suggestion" from Sebelius' bishop. Geesh.
6 comments:
Not only was it more than a suggestion that Sebelius not receive Communion, she did much more than vetoein a couple of bills. She held a big fund-raiser in the governor's mansion of Planned Parenthood along with that late-abortion specialist from Wichita. She appears at their rallies.
Other than that, I think the writer did a pretty good job. And he didn't quote Tom Reese or that Kissling lady who is no longer head of Catholics for Choice (I understand that org is totally supported by the Ford and Rockefeller Foundations, and has almost no members)
Bridget
I love this article & the words of Knights of Columbus, Carl Anderson which follow!
Obama’s Christianity doubtful because of abortion stand, Star Parker says
Washington DC, Aug 7, 2008 / 01:49 am (CNA).- Star Parker, a black conservative author and activist, has said presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama’s insistence that he is a Christian should be questioned because of his “disregard and disrespect for human life” as evidenced by his support for abortion.
Speaking in an interview with Cybercast News Service, Parker said “Based on his disregard and disrespect for human life, we should question his insistence that he’s a Christian. It is inconsistent with the biblical world view to think that not only is abortion okay, but he goes so far as to support partial-birth abortion.”
A one-time single mother who was once on welfare herself, Parker further argued that Obama’s support for certain welfare policies “will destroy what’s left of the black family.”
Parker, who heads the CURE think-tank focused on race and poverty issues, also declared she would never support someone “just because of their race.”
********* AND
Anderson touched on the U.S. presidential election as well, saying that the question, ‘How should Catholics exercise their responsibilities as citizens?’ must be answered by people working to build a culture of life through a “new politics.”
“Today we constantly hear about change. We must remember that *real change means building a culture of life, and real change means building a civilization of love, and that means truly transforming our politics. In this process of change, dealing with the abortion issue is fundamental,” said Anderson.
Noting that the Knights are a non-partisan organization, Supreme Knight Carl Anderson emphasized that there are “certain moral issues that affect our most fundamental values as Catholics and as citizens.”
“This is especially important since Catholics confront a moral dilemma when deciding how to vote: Can we support a candidate who may be attractive for many reasons but who supports abortion? Some partisan advocates have sought to excuse support for pro-abortion candidates through a complex balancing act. They claim that other issues are important enough to set off a candidate’s support for abortion.”
This type of reasoning is unacceptable for Catholics, Anderson stressed, as he warned that, “We will never succeed in building a culture of life if we continue to vote for politicians who support a culture of death. … It’s time we stop accommodating pro-abortion politicians, and it’s time we start demanding that they accommodate us.”
The head of the Knights also said that the fraternal organization “must be in the forefront of efforts to defend the sanctuary of human life—the institution of marriage.” The work to support marriage and the family “does not end with legislation and referenda,” the Supreme Knight underlined. *****
I sent the above "comments" to Obama's web site...Anderson said that there are 150 million Catholics in the USA...just think what we could do in a solidarity
vote!! I'm concerned about the Hispanic Dem vote of which many are Catholic and it's embarrassing to claim the Obama "Catholic" choices for VP...especially K. Sebellius. "Devoted Catholics," bah humbug.
Peace, Ellen
Peggy...just to clarify...the bishops said that life issues were
"foundational", and many bishops, including the pope, have made clear
that for a Catholic to vote for a pro-abort candidate, there must be
"grave reasons". The Holy Father made clear that abortion is a
non-negotiable, and Card Arinze said he could not think of a reason
grave enough to vote for a pro-abort.
If McCain were pro-abort, it would be possible since we'd be choosing
between the two who hold the same position.
This is not the case.
Obama has a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood & NARAL. He even voted
against the Infant Born Live Act.
McCain has a 70% rating from the Nat'l Right to Life Cmte. He's not
perfect, but he's better than Obama.
The war, immigration, capital punishment, et al...pale in comparison
to the weight of the murder of innocents in the womb.
I believe that voting for Obama is material cooperation with evil and
therefore potentially a very grave sin because of his pro-abortion
views.
Bridget & Ellen,
Good points!
Mickey, yep, you're right, but what the heck constitutes a "grave reason" is the million dollar (and million lives lost!) question. If McC were pro-abortion then we'd be in a tough spot, indeed. Obama might be an acceptable alternative in that case. I agree that the other issues you note do pale in comparison to the lives lost to abortion. Yep, O has 100% NARAL ratings for the past 3 years I noticed.
I also hasten to add that the war in Iraq, capital punishment, and how to address poverty and health care issues are matters of prudential judgment.
Although our bishops and the Vatican were opposed to resuming our offensive in Iraq (after a 12 year cease-fire from 1991...), neither the pope nor the Magesterium declared the war "unjust". In fact, Cardinal Pell of Australia (Perth, I think), agreed that the war was just...
Furthermore, "Faithful Citizenship" makes clear that a single issue is not sufficient to vote for a person, it is sufficient cause to disqualify a candidate.
Obama is for homosexual marriage, embryonic stem cell research, and abortion under any circumstance (up to and including infanticide)...he has disqualified himself from my vote.
FYI: A reader, Barbara, emailed to relate that Casey Jr's NARAL rating is 67%, suggesting that he's only 33% pro-life. I believe that Casey's relying on his father's pro-life record and fudging his own position to get elected.
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