An open letter to our Catholic Friends on Election Eve

| 2 Comments

Edward Morrissey and Elizabeth Scalia have written an open letter to their fellow Catholics reminding us that the foundation of our faith and of social justice is the sanctity of human life, and its origin. I highly recommend that all Catholics read their Our Faith Begins At Life before heading off to vote:

by Edward Morrissey and Elizabeth "The Anchoress" Scalia

Many of our Catholic friends support Barack Obama in the upcoming election, despite being the most radically pro-abortion presidential candidate in American history.  Other Catholics have publicly declared support for Obama as Catholics, arguing that their faith leads them to choose Obama over the pro-life candidate, John McCain.  We believe that they have overlooked in their arguments of "social justice" the foundation of our faith and of social justice: the sanctity of human life, and its origin.

It is not our intent to argue legalistically from the Catechism to our brethren.  We have both covered that extensively in posts over the last few months.  We want to remind our parishioners of the central fact that social justice has to start with the protection of innocent human life, and that our faith does not allow a trade between abortion and other social-justice policies.

A few months ago Doug Kmiec, a former official with the Reagan administration and prominent Catholic, made a public endorsement of Barack Obama and stated that Obama's noble intentions on a full range of social issues made the Senator's stance on abortion negligible. As Obama addressed every injustice, righted every wrong and wiped the tear from every eye, Kmiec seemed to reason, all of the complex social ills of the ages, from poverty, to war, to the death penalty and human rights would be suitably resolved and abortion would simply fall by the wayside as an issue.

Except, Obama has said himself that his very first act as President will not be some sweeping anti-poverty legislation; it will not be an end to war. "The first thing I'd do as president" Obama told NARAL, "is sign the Freedom of Choice Act".

Kmiec's argument might sound compelling to some - Denver's Archbishop Charles Chaput admits to having reasoned similarly about Jimmy Carter in 1976 - until one considers Obama's priorities. Under the heading of "human rights" Obama has made it clear - despite suggesting that the question of when a baby gets human rights as being "above" his "paygrade" - that in his mind a "woman's right to choose" is a most basic human right; a singular priority. So passionately does Obama believe this that the Senator, who rates a perfect 100% with NARAL, unhesitatingly supports the procedure known as "partial birth abortion," - an act so nakedly inhumane that his own running mate voted to ban it in 2003. And beyond that savagery, Obama has clearly articulated his position that a baby born alive during an attempted abortion should be refused medical attention.

Logically, then, a President Obama - whose presidency, we are told, will usher in a heyday for fundamental human rights - will always support abortion, even at its most extreme, even when its very definition changes to infanticide.  We have already seen Obama protect infanticide in a disturbing attempt to protect abortion in Illinois, and nothing he has said since shows any change of heart on this question.

The "abortion reduction agenda" which Obama mush-mouths and others, like Kmiec, seem to interpret as they wish, is a kind of "trickle down social economics:" once poverty is eradicated - presumably through higher taxes, higher energy prices, higher unemployment and the redistribution of wealth - once all of the priorities of war, famine, capitalism and injustice are taken care of (this would include absolutely ensuring "a woman's right to choose" in any circumstance) and all the complex and messy matters of humanity have been sufficiently resolved, well, then the abortion issue will simply melt away.

Excuse us, but we see this as nothing more than fantasy - the mirror image, in fact, of another fantasy, one that holds that a reversal of Roe v. Wade will simply "solve the problem" of abortion. In each case, the fiction is misplaced because it refuses to look at the human heart. President Bush said in 2005, "a true culture of life cannot be sustained solely by changing laws. We need most of all, to change hearts." He was given grief for that by some pro-lifers, but he was quite correct. Abortion has always existed, and it will always exist, as long as something remains broken within the human heart.

Even beyond this, though, consider why the Church supports social-justice issues.  Our faith does not emphasize fighting poverty and oppression as mere Boy Scout merit badges, or to give Catholics something to do on the weekends.  The emphasis on social justice springs from the foundational belief that all human life is sacred, anointed by God for His purposes, and not ours.  The need for social justice is for us to recognize the spark of divinity in all of us.

Please continue reading Our Faith Begins At Life.

2 Comments

please keep me updated.

Obama is our President for the next 4 years. Where do us anti abortion individuals go from here? I will continue to pray for this nation. I cannot help being upset at the outcome of this election. I've posted on several forums just to vent. How could we do this? Our unborn are at great risk. And all we can do right now is pray pray and more praying. Sych a sad sad sad night!

Talk Back - leave a comment


Receive Updates

Enter your Email



Blogs4Life

button02b.gif

Categories

Archives

Recent Comments

Veeja: "Come What May is not impressive. Not only ..."

Fiona: "Yes, I agree that anyone pro-life should be ..."

Pro-life atheist: "Steve, if it makes you feel any better, ..."

Jayme: "This is a free country, and everyone is ..."

Ronald Johnson: "Yes they should. There are children being murdered ..."

Bekah Ferguson: "Steve Sanborn, you should note that in my ..."

Steve Sanborn: "Bekah, Sinless? It's obvious that I do not ..."

Pro-Life Articles

add your site
RealChoice Jul 4, 2009, 7:18 am
Preserving A Generation Jul 4, 2009, 11:00 am
Hyscience Jul 4, 2009, 11:41 am
Hillbilly White Trash Jul 4, 2009, 6:58 am
Values Voter News Jul 4, 2009, 4:01 am
ScrappleFace Jul 4, 2009, 9:45 am
Salt and Light Jul 4, 2009, 10:26 am
Right Wing News Jul 4, 2009, 11:06 am
PARENTING FREEDOM.com Jul 4, 2009, 9:50 am
Mommy Life Jul 4, 2009, 8:47 am
HicktownPress Jul 4, 2009, 9:41 am
here we are Jul 4, 2009, 3:33 am
A Damsel No Longer in Distress May 2, 2009, 4:22 pm
Thoughts On God, Politics and Man Jul 4, 2009, 10:03 am
Seek His Face Jul 4, 2009, 6:02 am
PARENTING FREEDOM.com Jul 4, 2009, 9:11 am
Missionaries of the Eucharist Jul 4, 2009, 4:07 am
jillstanek.com Jul 4, 2009, 9:50 am
Hyscience Jul 4, 2009, 10:03 am
The Ohio Anglican.blog Jul 3, 2009, 8:01 pm
Stop The ACLU Jul 4, 2009, 9:19 am
Dakota Voice (Blog) Jul 4, 2009, 8:30 am
Cao's Blog Jul 4, 2009, 9:15 am
View from the choir Jul 4, 2009, 4:06 am
View from the choir Jul 4, 2009, 4:38 am
Spero News Jul 4, 2009, 8:36 am
Pro-Life PA by Sue Cirba Jul 4, 2009, 4:17 am
Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 8:47 am
Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 9:04 am
My View of the World Jul 4, 2009, 8:01 am
Multimedia Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 12:27 pm
Mommy Life Jul 4, 2009, 6:42 am
Les Femmes - The Truth Jul 4, 2009, 7:25 am
Les Femmes - The Truth Jul 4, 2009, 3:25 am
Hyscience Jul 4, 2009, 8:38 am
The Judge Report Jul 4, 2009, 8:19 am
Dakota Voice (Blog) Jul 4, 2009, 7:30 am
Dakota Voice (Blog) Jul 4, 2009, 8:00 am
Catholic Church Conservation Jul 4, 2009, 9:50 am
View from the choir Jul 4, 2009, 4:02 am
Sanctus Christopher Jul 4, 2009, 2:03 am
reasoned audacity Jul 4, 2009, 5:27 am
Pro-Life Unity Jul 4, 2009, 12:27 pm
Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 7:46 am
Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 7:58 am
Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 7:54 am
Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 8:07 am
Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 8:00 am
Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 8:10 am
Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 8:09 am
Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 8:10 am
MandM Jul 4, 2009, 3:15 am
The Lewis Crusade Jul 4, 2009, 7:00 am
DFW Catholic.org Jul 4, 2009, 6:20 am
DFW Catholic.org Jul 4, 2009, 6:24 am
DFW Catholic.org Jul 4, 2009, 6:30 am
DFW Catholic.org Jul 4, 2009, 6:39 am
DFW Catholic.org Jul 4, 2009, 6:52 am
DFW Catholic.org Jul 4, 2009, 7:05 am
World Magazine Blog Jul 4, 2009, 7:04 am
Values Voter News Jul 4, 2009, 12:01 am
Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 7:35 am
The Common Room Jul 4, 2009, 1:00 am
DFW Catholic.org Jul 4, 2009, 5:58 am
DFW Catholic.org Jul 4, 2009, 6:02 am
DFW Catholic.org Jul 4, 2009, 6:06 am
DFW Catholic.org Jul 4, 2009, 6:16 am
A Catholic View Jul 4, 2009, 5:00 am
A Catholic View Jul 4, 2009, 5:01 am
Why Mommy Is A Republican Jul 4, 2009, 12:45 am
News Jul 4, 2009, 2:44 pm
My Domestic Church Jul 3, 2009, 11:30 pm
Catholic Fire Jul 3, 2009, 8:30 pm
2SecondsFaster.com Jul 4, 2009, 3:40 am
The Lewis Crusade Jul 4, 2009, 3:00 am
Values Voter News Jul 3, 2009, 8:01 pm
Political Byline Jul 4, 2009, 1:08 am
Pro-Life Unity Jul 4, 2009, 7:08 am
Pro-Life Unity Jul 4, 2009, 6:57 am
Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 2:51 am
Multimedia Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 6:57 am
Multimedia Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 7:08 am
Is Anybody There? Jul 3, 2009, 8:48 pm
Dakota Voice (Blog) Jul 4, 2009, 2:02 am
causa nostrae laetitiae Jul 3, 2009, 9:17 pm
Political Byline Jul 4, 2009, 1:08 am
Is Anybody There? Jul 3, 2009, 8:00 pm
From The Morning Jul 3, 2009, 7:26 pm
FREEDOM EDEN Jul 3, 2009, 8:01 pm
Caffeinated Thoughts Jul 4, 2009, 12:32 am
BIG BLUE WAVE Jul 3, 2009, 8:11 pm
www.TheReaganWing.com Jul 4, 2009, 12:46 am
Right Wing News Jul 4, 2009, 1:23 am
Lutherans & Contraception Apr 3, 2009, 5:00 pm
Kevin McCullough's TownHall Blog Jul 4, 2009, 12:04 am
Is Anybody There? Jul 3, 2009, 7:09 pm
BIG BLUE WAVE Jul 3, 2009, 7:31 pm
Sanctus Christopher Jul 3, 2009, 5:58 pm
Pro-Life Unity Jul 4, 2009, 3:26 am
Political Byline Jul 3, 2009, 10:24 pm
Multimedia Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 3:26 am
Mommy Life Jul 3, 2009, 9:37 pm
Hillbilly White Trash Jul 3, 2009, 5:22 pm
The Lewis Crusade Jul 3, 2009, 11:00 pm
Blowing San #1 Jul 3, 2009, 10:27 pm
Values Voter News Jul 3, 2009, 4:01 pm
RealChoice Jul 3, 2009, 5:37 pm
Political Byline Jul 3, 2009, 10:24 pm
Lutherans & Contraception Jul 3, 2009, 5:46 pm
Les Femmes - The Truth Jul 3, 2009, 8:05 pm
Les Femmes - The Truth Jul 3, 2009, 4:05 pm
Guarino Jul 3, 2009, 9:05 pm
The Lady in the Pew Jul 3, 2009, 9:08 pm
Sudan Watch Jul 3, 2009, 9:21 pm
Blowing San #1 Jul 3, 2009, 9:39 pm
Blowing San #1 Jul 3, 2009, 9:55 pm
Thoughts of a Regular Guy Jul 3, 2009, 4:13 pm
Political Byline Jul 3, 2009, 7:43 pm
The Evangelical Ecologist Jul 3, 2009, 7:20 pm
Stop The ACLU Jul 3, 2009, 9:19 pm
Blowing San #1 Jul 3, 2009, 8:36 pm
Pundit & Pundette Jul 3, 2009, 7:47 pm
Pope Benedict XVI Blog Jul 3, 2009, 2:30 pm
Political Byline Jul 3, 2009, 7:43 pm
NoisyRoom.net Jul 3, 2009, 8:15 pm
Mommy Life Jul 3, 2009, 7:35 pm
MICHNEWS.COM Jul 3, 2009, 11:36 pm
MICHNEWS.COM Jul 3, 2009, 11:40 pm
Kevin Tracy Jul 3, 2009, 7:54 pm
Chris Dickson Jul 3, 2009, 2:14 pm
Caffeinated Thoughts Jul 3, 2009, 7:59 pm
A Catholic View Jul 3, 2009, 6:16 pm
Wells of Hope Jul 3, 2009, 7:37 pm
Verum Serum Jul 3, 2009, 7:21 pm
Rebelution Jul 3, 2009, 6:46 pm
Political Byline Jul 3, 2009, 6:03 pm
Mommy Life Jul 3, 2009, 5:34 pm
Mommy Life Jul 3, 2009, 5:40 pm
MCCL Blog Jul 3, 2009, 6:32 pm
HicktownPress Jul 3, 2009, 6:44 pm
Dr Roy's Thoughts Jul 3, 2009, 6:27 pm
The Chatterbox Chronicles Jul 3, 2009, 1:04 pm
causa nostrae laetitiae Jul 3, 2009, 2:49 pm
Values Voter News Jul 3, 2009, 12:01 pm
Thoughts of a Regular Guy Jul 3, 2009, 1:33 pm
Thoughts of a Regular Guy Jul 3, 2009, 1:58 pm
Right Wing News Jul 3, 2009, 6:47 pm
Right Wing News Jul 3, 2009, 6:45 pm
Right Wing News Jul 3, 2009, 6:55 pm
RealChoice Jul 3, 2009, 1:24 pm
Pundit & Pundette Jul 3, 2009, 5:46 pm
Political Byline Jul 3, 2009, 5:07 pm
Political Byline Jul 3, 2009, 6:03 pm
My Domestic Church Jul 3, 2009, 2:08 pm
Mommy Life Jul 3, 2009, 5:23 pm
jillstanek.com Jul 3, 2009, 7:04 pm
Jeremiah Films Announcements Jul 3, 2009, 6:01 pm
Hyscience Jul 3, 2009, 6:26 pm
Dr. Melissa Clouthier Jul 3, 2009, 5:54 pm
Sudan Watch Jul 3, 2009, 6:18 pm
Sudan Watch Jul 3, 2009, 5:56 pm
Down on the Pharm Jul 3, 2009, 10:44 am
Cao's Blog Jul 3, 2009, 6:15 pm
#!/usr/bin/mom Jul 3, 2009, 3:54 pm
ScrappleFace Jul 3, 2009, 4:41 pm
RealChoice Jul 3, 2009, 12:57 pm
Quo Vadis Jul 3, 2009, 4:57 pm
Political Byline Jul 3, 2009, 5:07 pm
Mount Virtus Jul 3, 2009, 4:43 pm
Moms For Life Jul 3, 2009, 4:27 pm
marvelous medley Jul 3, 2009, 4:46 pm
jillstanek.com Jul 3, 2009, 5:23 pm
jillstanek.com Jul 3, 2009, 6:14 pm
Jeremiah Films Announcements Jul 3, 2009, 4:57 pm
faithmouse Adjunct Blogmentary Jul 3, 2009, 12:31 pm
The Common Room Jul 3, 2009, 11:42 am
The Chatterbox Chronicles Jul 3, 2009, 11:59 am
Caffeinated Thoughts Jul 3, 2009, 4:19 pm
World Magazine Blog Jul 3, 2009, 4:32 pm
Right Wing News Jul 3, 2009, 4:57 pm
Right Wing News Jul 3, 2009, 5:09 pm
Pundit & Pundette Jul 3, 2009, 3:35 pm
Pro-Life PA by Sue Cirba Jul 3, 2009, 12:03 pm
One Mom Jul 3, 2009, 3:49 pm
My View of the World Jul 3, 2009, 3:49 pm
Musing Minds Jun 15, 2009, 1:43 pm
Musing Minds Jun 17, 2009, 3:56 pm
Musing Minds Jun 22, 2009, 3:18 pm
Mommy Life Jul 3, 2009, 2:16 pm
Jakubczyk on Life Jul 3, 2009, 6:12 am
Stop The ACLU Jul 3, 2009, 4:19 pm
Catholic Church Conservation Jul 3, 2009, 7:23 pm