Abortion & Catholic Politicians

It's been quite a few years now that some Catholic groups have shined a light on how some Catholic politicians are personally opposed to abortion but tacitly support it in their policies and decisions. I find it hard to see how a person can personally oppose abortion but then support it in public policy - but that's been discussed before here and in a lot of other places and that's not what is on my mind this morning anyway.

So President Obama is going to nominate the governor of Kansas (the state I was born & raised in) - Kathleen Sebelius - to be Secretary for Health & Human Services. She's Catholic and supports abortion rights - and so she's controversial and shouldn't be nominated; or so that's how some anti-abortion Catholics see it.

I used to care about pro-choice Catholic politicians, but not really any more. I don't like abortion; I think it's terrible. I volunteer at a crisis pregnancy counseling center, and I support its work. And I think it's that experience that has led me to care less about the protests some Catholic groups put up when such politicians are in the news.        

If we care about reducing or eliminating abortion, we have to care about the women who choose to get those abortions. What led them to the point in their lives where they have to make that decision? I can say from my experience, those events include childhood sexual abuse, drug and alcohol addicitions that lead to sexual promiscuity, fearing the family & social repercussions of being pregnant, poor parenting, economic stress, and direct pressure from boyfriends, spouses and parents.

I truly believe that we will be more effective at reducing the number of abortions if we start caring more about women and the circumstances that lead them to make the decision that abortion is the best choice for them. That means more resources put towards education, counseling, prevention (abstinence or contraception based on your moral compass), health care, jobs, and programs that build the strength of families. For me, being against abortion is all about being for women and their families.

Comments

[Steve Allison]

Beautiful post Steve. If everyone would try to outdo each other in good works in this area instead of shouting louder and louder, perhaps we as a people would make more progress in accomplishing God's will on this matter.

[Jen]

Preach it.

[Rich Leonardi]

I truly believe that we will be more effective at reducing the number of abortions if we start ...

It's worth noting that all Catholics are obligated to work in the public square to defend the rights of the unborn: "As a consequence of the respect and protection which must be ensured for the unborn child from the moment of conception, the law must provide appropriate penal sanctions for every deliberate violation of the child's rights" (CCC 2273.)

[Susan Rose, CSJP]

Amen and blessings on your volunteer ministry.

[Jeff]

Good post, Steve, and thanks again for the great and valuable work that you do with the counseling. There are many who would call you heretical for suggesting such things who've never lifted a finger themselves. Not all, by any means, but many.

Abortion is abhorrent, but I sincerely believe that in the minds of some people, the anti-abortion cause has become identified with the very faith itself, and I think this is skewed thinking if it completely disregards the other important considerations and issues that you've listed.

[Mike L]

You have pretty much expressed my opinion, Steve. First it seems to me that the pro-life political movement is much more interested in passing a law to make abortion illegal than they are in reducing abortions. If you think laws stop people from doing what they want to do, take a look at speed limits and the number of people that drink and drive.

Second, it seems to me that if the money spent on promoting law passage was spent on eliminating the causes of abortion that you mentioned, I think we could do a lot to restore dignity to people and to reduce abortions.

Thanks again,

Mike L

[Steve Bogner]

Hi Steve - Yes perhaps, definitely and positively it would make a difference. Thanks for dropping by!

Jen - :) Thanks.

Rich - Thanks for the CCC quote.

Hi Susan - I play such a small part; there are so many good people there doing a lot of great work.

Jeff - I'm not a counselor there (I would be terrible at that); I'm on the board of directors - something I'm much better suited for! And yes, there is some real skewed thinking out there - skewed both ways.

Hi Mike - I totally agree with your take that laws don't stop people from doing things, or compelling them to do things. It does have an effect, but it's not a panacea nor is it guarantee. Restoring dignity - that's a great way of looking at it - thanks.

[crystal]

Great post, Steve.

[Carol]

Well, pretending for a moment that this matter isn't doubly serious for Sebelius' having abused her power by shielding Tiller the Killer who has truly earned his nickname, we have been told and really shouldn't have needed to be told that there are few sins on this earth that come close to killing life in the womb. So very true is that, that some Bishops want to stop giving over Christ in His Eucharist to Catholic politicians who have not enough respect for the most helpless lives, and all life is from God.

It is not a matter of the "pro-lifers" vs the "pro-aborts" for the most part. For 40 years, people have laid down their lives in so many ways for not only the babes but their moms and dads, but since holy life-long life advocates are quiet, folks think there's a dearth of activity. Not so. Pro-life is in every sector, but this is a battle against dark forces, and thus, protection of life is defied at every turn, at every law, at every sidewalk. If we don't vocally fight representatives in our government as part of our call to be Christ-like, then we ourselves are still asleep,and silent babies are slaughtered in our sleep, and now will be left in linen closets without their murderers being prosecuted, when they survive abortion.

Yes, we need to make life easier for the troubled-pregnant, but what we must also do is restore rights to co-creators (males). If we believe in democracy, we will do this. That movement needs every kind of assistance.

[Matthew]

I think your stance is quite correct in many respects. There are so many different factors that would lead a woman to have an abortion, most of them being external factors that affect our daily lives. However, I also feel that in a democracy you have majorities and minorities and majorities are the ones who end up having the laws and their beliefs put in their favour. I think abortion is abhorrent and a terrible thing, but I also know that if the majority of people in a democracy believe its okay then the majority wins. That should be respected.

I also think that if you read anything by Christine Gudorf, it will show historically that the Catholic Church didn't always have a vocal opinion about abortion or infanticide for that matter.

I'm not trying to stir up any trouble but rather show it from both sides of the coin.