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“They don’t vote as a block anymore.” These words were recently spoken by Monsignor Joseph Rebman about Catholic voters. Once a powerful demographic, Catholics today are bitterly divided over whether it is acceptable to vote for pro-choice politicians. Many Catholics are proudly progressive, but others insist that abortion is non-negotiable. What are the spiritual implications of a Catholic vote?
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Catholics Can Support Pro Choice Politicians in Good Conscience
- From Jon OBrien
By Jon O'Brien - President, Catholics for Choice
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Out of Context
The rest of the citation so it is not taken out of context.
19. This declaration expressly leaves aside the question of the moment when the spiritual soul is infused. There is not a unanimous tradition on this point and authors are as yet in disagreement. For some it dates from the first instant; for others it could not at least precede nidation. It is not within the competence of science to decide between these views, because the existence of an immortal soul is not a question in its field. It is a philosophical problem from which our moral affirmation remains independent for two reasons: (1) supposing a belated animation, there is still nothing less than a human life, preparing for and calling for a soul in which the nature received from parents is completed, (2) on the other hand, it suffices that this presence of the soul be probable (and one can never prove the contrary) in order that the taking of life involve accepting the risk of killing a man, not only waiting for, but already in possession of his soul.
A Catholic who may think that there is room in Catholic theology for the "acceptance of policies that favor access to the full range of "reproductive health options", (on the contrary, are not healthy emotionally, physically or spiritually) you only need to read what the Church herself teaches on abortion and contraception. The conclusion is clear: There is no room in Catholic theology for the obvious disregard for human life.
- jmjtina
October 20, 2008 2:04AM
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Side: No
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Science can help though...
Logic can be our best friend or our worst friend. Depends on the way we feel about the question being debated. First, if we recognize that the woman's human body naturally aborts a significant portion of conceived eggs than we can relax a bit on the question of induced abortions. Since they happen all the time we need not make a special case.
Second, you presume that there is a soul. I don't and by the way you can never prove you or any one does have a soul. A conundrum, I know but it does swing both ways and so logical consistency would be in favor of no special case.
You also seem to presume that you know god's mind (if such a mind does actually exist) which I will grant for arguments sake, but please inform me how you or anyone could possibly know all the mysterious ways of this god?
Besides, I would argue that there is "no room in catholic theology for the obvious disregard for human life" presented in wars, or even in the holding of WMDs.
We should strive to educate people about sex and contraception so that those who want to have a baby have them when they want them and not because of an accident.
- mangueken
November 26, 2008 9:41PM
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Side: Yes
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I'm not an expert, just an Insurance Agent
I'm grateful for the discussion that is allowed on this site. I dod not have time to read all the comments and debates. When speaking about the right to abortion because it is the law of our land, I also know that at one time, slavery was allowed in our land because it was the law of the land. What about all the issues surrounding the racial discrimanation in this land? Was that not at one time the law of our land? And what was that all worth? The cost of the ink and the paper which made it a law? We don't need human laws to know the law that is written into every human heart. We all know right and wrong and we don't need someone else to tell us. We just need to stop joking ourselves. Thank you for this chance to speak!
- JOB
October 20, 2008 10:37AM
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Side: No
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Can Catholics vote pro-choice?
Joe O'Brien is ostensibly a very confused Catholic. In fact I would submit he is not a Catholic at all, not believing in the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, & certainly is NOT a Roman Catholic. We are God's children. He created all of us, starting from the unborn. It is God's command to love each other as brothers & sisters. We cannot approve the murder of the unborn & love God at the same time. Those notions are incompatible.
- robsonwin
February 2, 2009 9:27PM
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Side: No
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Catholics Can Go To Hell In Good Conscience
Nowadays,Catholics can do whatever they wish in good conscience. At least this is what they choose to believe. This is not what the Catholic Church, established 2009 years ago, believes or teaches, however. The rules were set down by the author of life and death, and to my knowledge, they are still in force. Jiminy Cricket misled many of us, and we need to forget that little bug's teaching about 'always let your conscience be your guide.' Our conscience can mislead us. It's wise to always let the Catechism of the Catholic Church be our guide if we care about pleasing our Lord and preserving our immortal souls. And certainly, don't let the current society trends be our guide. That's just plain foolish. Try to imagine how many trends have come and gone in 2009 years. What if the Church made silly changes to accomodate these trends every time one came along? Be thankful the Church stands firm on God's laws and obey them. Enjoy the treasures of the Church. We have them in abundance. Pray for all our brothers and sisters of other faiths. We are all one family in His eyes.
- stngray
April 22, 2009 5:08PM
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Side: No
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Freedom of thought
Yes, why should people use reason and logic to discover right and wrong when a priest can decide for them?
- Blue Linchpin
May 1, 2009 11:50PM
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Side: Yes
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why not?
They do
- countryboy
July 26, 2009 12:19AM
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Side: Yes
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