How can voting for any particular presidential candidate change the climate of death in this nation? As a life-long Roman Catholic, I firmly believe in life from conception until its’ natural end. But by choosing either candidate how does that make me pro-life or pro-choice? Has either candidate stated they will take further strides to write legislation to protect the unborn? Has either candidate stated they will introduce legislation to stop executions? If I vote Republican I’m voting to protect the unborn. If I vote Democratic I’m voting to stop executions. The argument can be made there are only a few executions compared to the many abortions, but isn’t ALL life sacred?
In either case, Democrat or Republican, I don’t see or hear them saying I’ll will introduce legislation to protect life. We can’t be hypocrites and say we abhor abortion and say capital punishment acceptable. Who are the winners in a society of death? I would say no one. As a nation we have become apathetic. For example, in the past 4 years our nation has so accepted this notion we have allowed torture, we even glorify it on TV. I haven’t heard anyone speak up and condemn the character Jack Bauer or the show 24, which promotes a society of death and torture. It is one thing to entertain it is another to glamorize a knee-cap being shot-off. Our national conscience been that dulled to the point where we don’t care anymore about life. We have become all about our personal agendas and what material items I can get. It is all about me and my point and not about God who shed his grace on us. Back to the point, which party has the patent, copyright, or trademark on keeping all life sacred? As Roman Catholics we are asked to make an informed and conscientious decision, but which one is good, honorable, and true (Philippians 4:8)? I can’t tell. I agree choose life, all life!
The Republicans have flat out said they want to overturn Roe. Democrates have never stated a true desire to end executions. Democrates being against the Death penality is almost a myth that’s been built up, having nothing to do with voting facts.
I pray and continue to pray that anti-social justice and single issue political agendas would stay out of these comments. Unfortuately we have seen endorsements and condemnations of candidates from a small vocal minority in the catholic media in blatant violation of the tenets put forth in faithfulcitizenship.org
May God bless us all with the discretion to keep Jesus’s ministry of love, compassion, unity and social justice in a multitude of areas paramount in our lives without pandering to partisan fear, smears, hate and divisiveness.
Bob this is the quandary for us who want to be completely faithful to God. I have made my personal decision to defend those who are absolutely innocent and work towards defending all other forms of life after that battle is won. Each of us must search God’s own truth and then translate that in our personal lives of faith and action. Thus for myself I will choose to defeat Anti-Life (Pro-Abortion) forces of the culture of Death and then work to defend all forms of life as God Calls us to do.
Yes, there will always be quandries and as such no candidate that we will agree with 100%. We also have to realize that there are many Catholics(some in the church heirachy) that respectfully believe that large scale abortion reduction & restrictions is much more realistic and would bring forth more life than waiting decades for renewed criminal sanctions. Even if Roe v Wade was overturned it still would be legal in 30 states so women that had enough money would travel and only the poorest would be left. Then there is also the question of should young mothers be made criminals and sentenced to jail.
There are no easy answers I’m afraid. Unfortuately right now you have a ‘culture of death’ candidate that has by his own hands personally bombed & killed thousands of innocent children, women, men & elderly in an unjust war based on lies in the 60’s. This same candidate also supported & voted for the wide scale bombing and slaughter of hundreds of thousands of innocent lives in an unjust war based on lies in Iraq.
Bob, this problem has come to the foreground because of the pro-abortion stance clearly defined by voting record and actual words of the democratic candidate. That can’t be said about the republican candidate.
I feel badly that we’ve not done more before, but at least NOW something is being said and something can be done about it.
When have we had a chance to do anything, each of us, to help stop abortion? Now’s the opportunity!
Please take it.
We need your insight and desire to correct the errors of society and we need it NOW at this time for this big window of opportunity.
And we’ll need it in the future for more opportunities.
Thanks, Fr. Bill, for your clear explanation of what is important. I agree.
Don’t fool yourself. It is no accident that the founding fathers put LIFE ahead of liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Without it, you have nothing else.
Jeff, isolated rogue internet opinions on a carefully & deeply thought out document agreed to by all the american Catholic bishops aren’t worth much and certainly are not a large consensus by the heirachy of the church.
Read the entirety of The American Council Of Bishops Faithful Citizenship here:
It specifically says that people that work in the church shall not endorse or condemn any particular candidate.
It also emphasizes a consistant ethic of life across a very wide spectrum and catholic teaching on social justice.
In fact it is anything but ‘flawed’ but a long researched, scholarly work agreed to by all the Bishops that comes forth with the loving spirit of Jesus.
Thanks for providing your feedback. Like you I agree we need to help protect the most vulnerable. Those who don’t have a voice of their own.
May God continue to bless this great land. I pray that God may provide insight, wisdom, and above all LOVE in all we all do and especially to the new leaders of United States.
Fr. Bill,
How can voting for any particular presidential candidate change the climate of death in this nation? As a life-long Roman Catholic, I firmly believe in life from conception until its’ natural end. But by choosing either candidate how does that make me pro-life or pro-choice? Has either candidate stated they will take further strides to write legislation to protect the unborn? Has either candidate stated they will introduce legislation to stop executions? If I vote Republican I’m voting to protect the unborn. If I vote Democratic I’m voting to stop executions. The argument can be made there are only a few executions compared to the many abortions, but isn’t ALL life sacred?
In either case, Democrat or Republican, I don’t see or hear them saying I’ll will introduce legislation to protect life. We can’t be hypocrites and say we abhor abortion and say capital punishment acceptable. Who are the winners in a society of death? I would say no one. As a nation we have become apathetic. For example, in the past 4 years our nation has so accepted this notion we have allowed torture, we even glorify it on TV. I haven’t heard anyone speak up and condemn the character Jack Bauer or the show 24, which promotes a society of death and torture. It is one thing to entertain it is another to glamorize a knee-cap being shot-off. Our national conscience been that dulled to the point where we don’t care anymore about life. We have become all about our personal agendas and what material items I can get. It is all about me and my point and not about God who shed his grace on us. Back to the point, which party has the patent, copyright, or trademark on keeping all life sacred? As Roman Catholics we are asked to make an informed and conscientious decision, but which one is good, honorable, and true (Philippians 4:8)? I can’t tell. I agree choose life, all life!
B Quad | pax tecum
The Republicans have flat out said they want to overturn Roe. Democrates have never stated a true desire to end executions. Democrates being against the Death penality is almost a myth that’s been built up, having nothing to do with voting facts.
I pray and continue to pray that anti-social justice and single issue political agendas would stay out of these comments. Unfortuately we have seen endorsements and condemnations of candidates from a small vocal minority in the catholic media in blatant violation of the tenets put forth in faithfulcitizenship.org
May God bless us all with the discretion to keep Jesus’s ministry of love, compassion, unity and social justice in a multitude of areas paramount in our lives without pandering to partisan fear, smears, hate and divisiveness.
Bob this is the quandary for us who want to be completely faithful to God. I have made my personal decision to defend those who are absolutely innocent and work towards defending all other forms of life after that battle is won. Each of us must search God’s own truth and then translate that in our personal lives of faith and action. Thus for myself I will choose to defeat Anti-Life (Pro-Abortion) forces of the culture of Death and then work to defend all forms of life as God Calls us to do.
Peace,
Fr. Bill
Yes, there will always be quandries and as such no candidate that we will agree with 100%. We also have to realize that there are many Catholics(some in the church heirachy) that respectfully believe that large scale abortion reduction & restrictions is much more realistic and would bring forth more life than waiting decades for renewed criminal sanctions. Even if Roe v Wade was overturned it still would be legal in 30 states so women that had enough money would travel and only the poorest would be left. Then there is also the question of should young mothers be made criminals and sentenced to jail.
There are no easy answers I’m afraid. Unfortuately right now you have a ‘culture of death’ candidate that has by his own hands personally bombed & killed thousands of innocent children, women, men & elderly in an unjust war based on lies in the 60’s. This same candidate also supported & voted for the wide scale bombing and slaughter of hundreds of thousands of innocent lives in an unjust war based on lies in Iraq.
Bob, this problem has come to the foreground because of the pro-abortion stance clearly defined by voting record and actual words of the democratic candidate. That can’t be said about the republican candidate.
I feel badly that we’ve not done more before, but at least NOW something is being said and something can be done about it.
When have we had a chance to do anything, each of us, to help stop abortion? Now’s the opportunity!
Please take it.
We need your insight and desire to correct the errors of society and we need it NOW at this time for this big window of opportunity.
And we’ll need it in the future for more opportunities.
Thanks, Fr. Bill, for your clear explanation of what is important. I agree.
Regarding Faithful Citizenship: “The document itself is deeply flawed, and lends itself readily to the very kind of misuse that is at issue.”
http://catholicexchange.com/2008/10/30/114309/
Don’t fool yourself. It is no accident that the founding fathers put LIFE ahead of liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Without it, you have nothing else.
Jeff, isolated rogue internet opinions on a carefully & deeply thought out document agreed to by all the american Catholic bishops aren’t worth much and certainly are not a large consensus by the heirachy of the church.
Read the entirety of The American Council Of Bishops Faithful Citizenship here:
http://faithfulcitizenship.org/
It specifically says that people that work in the church shall not endorse or condemn any particular candidate.
It also emphasizes a consistant ethic of life across a very wide spectrum and catholic teaching on social justice.
In fact it is anything but ‘flawed’ but a long researched, scholarly work agreed to by all the Bishops that comes forth with the loving spirit of Jesus.
Fr Bill, et al.,
Thanks for providing your feedback. Like you I agree we need to help protect the most vulnerable. Those who don’t have a voice of their own.
May God continue to bless this great land. I pray that God may provide insight, wisdom, and above all LOVE in all we all do and especially to the new leaders of United States.
B Quad | pax vobiscum