Bridging The Abortion Divide

[NVMojo]

This past week, 55 Catholic Democrats in Congress issued an unprecedented statement of principles. Never before have they worn their religion so openly on their sleeves. Unlike evangelicals, Catholics have tended to downplay their religious affiliation. Perhaps it’s a function of the memory of the anti-Catholic bias John F. Kennedy faced; perhaps it stems from a desire to keep your head down when disagreeing with the bishops on that litmus test issue, abortion. Whatever it is, these Democrats, led by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, are silent no more. What brought on this declaration and why is it important?


For starters, a bit of history. The 2004 elections were particularly bruising for pro-choice Catholics. John Kerry was put on “wafer watch,” with the media camping outside whatever church he went to for mass each week, hoping he would be denied communion. Kerry himself handled questions about his pro-choice position as badly as he handled questions about the war in Iraq, much to the disappointment of the many knowledgeable theologians whose good advice was ignored.


While the vast majority of U.S. Catholic bishops spoke out against the conservative minority who called for denying communion to pro-choice Catholic candidates, the dozen or so bishops who said they were ready to deny candidates communion got the press coverage. In fact, no Catholic bishop acted on this threat; Catholic office holders who were in favor of abortion and the other so-called “non-negotiables” (stem cell research, gay marriage, euthanasia and human cloning) were able to receive communion at will. Cooler heads, such as that of Washington, DC Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, prevailed.

more...

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/03/10/bridging_the_abortion_divide.php

[Dhalgren]

1. "Pro-lifers for Choice" - I have absolutely no problem with this

stance. The "for choice" part is all that I am concerned with. If certain people want to work to broaden the "choices" that any woman may face when making her decision, then I see no problem with that, either. Everyone is entitled to their own personal feelings, opinions, and attitudes regarding the concept of abortion, as long as it is recognized that the ultimate decision-maker in the event is the woman, herself.

[Warpy]

2. The one good thing I took away from Catholic school

was the admonition to "listen to that still, small voice within." Call it messages from god, call it going with your gut, it rarely steers you wrong.

That teaching is highly subversive to thundering authority that attempts to proclaim absolutes and dictate the minutiae of your life from on high. It's why Catholics, on the whole, tend to be both liberal and pragmatic.

I'm not a bit surprised by this letter, or that both pro and anti choice people signed it. It's pure Catholic subversion.

[Kailassa]

3. It's not "pro-life", both sides are that. It's "anti-choice."

Bridging the divide is easy. You accept my right to bear a baby, (which of course you do,) and I accept your right to avoid bearing one.

Surely one's own moral dilemmas are complex enough? I've never understood why some folks want to carry the burden of other people's moral dilemmas as well.