30 October 2008

Where We Stand

Less than five days from what is sure to be--for good or ill--the most pivotal election of our generation, I would like to take a final opportunity to say what must be said, to tell you what every Catholic must know... in short, to help you, as a Catholic voter, inform your conscience before you approach your local polling station.

First, as I have said before, the suggestion that abortion is "just one issue among many" is diabolical. Of course, we must not be single-issue voters, but there are issues (i.e. any of the life issues)that carry more weight, morally, than others. The destruction of innocent human life, from conception to natural death, is always an unspeakable crime and must be opposed, over and above any social or economic considerations. Put another way, aborted children cannot benefit from a secure Iraq or low gas prices.

Second, the suggestion that "nothing will really change" regarding abortion is blatantly false. This election is arguably the most important election for the life issues to date, for two reasons: 1) the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) and 2) the Supreme Court.

For those who are not familiar with the Freedom of Choice Act (i.e. most of the voting populace), you can and should read about it here. FOCA is the most permissive piece of abortion legislation since Roe v. Wade; it will lift all state and federal restrictions on abortion and require taxpayer dollars to fund abortions. Senator Obama has sworn to sign the bill into law immediately upon taking office.

Further, the next president could make from two to six Supreme Court appointments, depending on whether or not he is elected to a second term. As the next two Justices who are likely to retire are pro-abortion, it is all the more imperative that a pro-life candidate is elected. The possibility of Roe v. Wade (by all accounts the most shoddy and overturnable legislation in the history of Supreme Court jurisprudence)being overturned, once thought impossible, may well be within sight, but only if a pro-life candidate is elected to the presidency.

This is where we stand. As Catholics, we are required to vote with an informed conscience. And a Catholic cannot, in good conscience, vote for a pro-abotion candidate... without grave cause. But here's the thing: what cause could possibly outweigh the destruction of 45 million human persons, not to mention the countless broken hearts and broken homes, the many women and men who have been deeply wounded, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, by the unspeakable crime of abortion?



Mary Immaculate, patroness of the United States, pray for us!

In His peace.