Bishops must guide their faithful to use their vote to oppose efforts to legalize abortion and euthanasia, Pope Benedict XVI told bishops from Brazil.
“Dear brother bishops, to defend life we must not fear hostility or unpopularity, and we must refuse any compromise or ambiguity which might conform us to the world’s way of thinking,” the pope said Oct. 28 during a meeting with bishops from northeast Brazil.
The bishops were making their “ad limina” visits to report on the status of their dioceses.
If this is successful, huge parts of the Democrat voting block are about to change sides or sit out elections.
Before I get jumped on…yes, I do realize that this is directed at Brazil, but if the Truth is being encouraged there, I see a likely spillover here in the US.
Voting “against abortion” is a lot different than actually doing anything to reduce abortions. The rate of abortions is not linked to its criminalization, and in fact seems lower in countries with greater freedom for women. If people really wanted to reduce abortions, give women two years paid leave and fund their pregnancy.
Or, if you don’t want the government to do this, have churches fund it.
Why not do both? We should outlaw abortion and and fund their pregnancy.
What is the morality for voting “pro-life” when the “anti-abortion” candidate is at heart an unreconstructed social darwinist with regard to the other social justice issues the Roman Church considers important? Or voting for “pro-family” candidates who have difficulty keeping their pants above their knees?
For the Roman Catholic Church, the sanctity of life is a fundamental issue. Other social justice issues are also important, but the church recognizes that people may differ on how to implement them, or whether tax dollars or charitable contributions should support them. The issue of support for Life, from conception to natural death, however, is not negotiable. So the RC Church encourages Catholics to vote on the life issue as one of the basic understandings of the Church and one of the fundamental tenets of the Christian faith.
5. Dan. This being a Protestant country, it is unfortunate that the political lines between philosophies forces Catholics to make these nearly impossible moral choices at the voting booth. Even today the committed Catholic has no home in either political party. There is no Christian Democrat party which is conservative on moral issues and also responsive to the intractable needs of many.
The Catholic Church is not “progressive” or liberal on socio-economic issues but advocates for those who have no resources and no options. The Democrat statist give away program is not Catholic and neither is what you call “social darwinism,” which I think is an inaccurate description.
Anyway, Catholic Social Teaching, a tradition that dates to 1891 with Rerum Novarum, still has no place in American politics.
[blockquote] #5 Or voting for “pro-family†candidates who have difficulty keeping their pants above their knees? [/blockquote]
If a priest’s morality has no effect on the validity of their sacraments, then surely we can vote for a politician’s policies despite the altitude of their trousers?
[blockquote]What is the morality for voting “pro-life†when the “anti-abortion†candidate is at heart an unreconstructed social darwinist…[/blockquote]
Simple…about 30 million fewer murdered babies in our country!
[blockquote]Even today the committed Catholic has no home in either political party.[/blockquote]
This is as it should be.