Comments on: Catholics and abortion: A test of faith (Part I)

By: Catholics and abortion: Single-issue voting? (Part III) « Whosoever Desires

Catholics and abortion: Single-issue voting? (Part III) « Whosoever Desires — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 13:58:54 +0000

[...] argued that for both theological and practical reasons, Catholics should prioritize opposition to abortion above other political [...]

By: Anthony Lusvardi, SJ

Anthony Lusvardi, SJ — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 15:01:53 +0000

Yes, a very fair point, Rachel. Post #2, I think, addresses some of these issues, at least indirectly, but I’m glad you brought them up here too.

By: Rachel Lu

Rachel Lu — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 18:48:25 +0000

While I certainly see your point here, Tony, I wanted to observe that, for me, much of the horror of abortion lies in the fact that it is *the parents themselves* who choose to end their own child’s life. However seriously we take Our Lord’s injunction to care for “the least of these”, we all have to face hard questions about how best to allocate our limited time and resources, and often we must decide between helping those who are most needy, and helping those for whom we have special responsibilities. Often we can agree that a person ought to be helped, but the question of *who* should do the job remains unclear.

There is no such uncertainty here. The victims of abortion are murdered by the very people who gave them life. They are rejected by the ones whose love should be most assured, who should be most intimately concerned with their well-being. If this atrocity doesn’t move us, what will?

This might be redundant, since I know you’re planning two more posts on this, but I think it’s important to emphasize that this isn’t *just* a standing-on-principle sort of thing. The murder of millions by their own parents really *is* the most monstrous thing to happen in our country in the last several decades.

By: Anthony Lusvardi, SJ

Anthony Lusvardi, SJ — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 02:41:01 +0000

Qualis,

Actually, I think I might have that movie on my Netflix cue… I’ll bump it up the list and try to watch it soon.

Tony

By: Qualis Rex

Qualis Rex — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 01:06:10 +0000

Anthony, Pete & Robert, there’s a movie I saw on the flight home from Europe on BA (which means you will most likely never see it released here in the US) called “Agora”. It’s historical fiction and you can search it on IMDB if interested. While the film is blatantly anti-organized religion, it had some very poignant moments. There is one scene when a Roman Governor, Orestes who had converted to Christianity from being a staunch pagan was confronted by his long-time friend, Synesius, who had also been elevated to bishop. The point of the scene was despite the very difficult decision ahead, the bishop makes it clear to Orestes that if he really DOES believe in everything he claimed to, the decision is difficult, but clear. While I don’t agree with many of the premises of the film, I do recommend it as it really did capture the eternal struggle/coexistence between religion and politics very well. And it is in fact pertinent to the situations, specifically regarding the issue of abortion, we face today.

By: Pete Lake

Pete Lake — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 23:09:43 +0000

Anthony, well done. I agree with two posts above as well. “It is a matter of how we will answer the Son of Man when we meet him on the last day.” Powerful ending and brings the issue to a head for those who wish to nuance it away or belittle its significance or even pretend it is not an issue at all. The line about answering the Son of Man reminds me of St. Ignatius in the Exercises when he asks the exercisant to imagine himself on his deathbed what he wishes he would have done.

By: Robert

Robert — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 08:49:02 +0000

Qualis Rex I heartily support your views on this matter. Curious to see where this will go in PART 2.

By: Qualis Rex

Qualis Rex — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 17:54:46 +0000

A very hearty “Happy MLK-BDay” to you, Anton. Your point is so well taken here; we cannot reduce our Catholic identity to the abortion issue. Yet the abortion issue is absolutely a lithmus test for our Catholic identity. Do we believe what Our Lord said about doing to the “least of my brothers?” Do we believe He will return to judge the living and the dead? Do we believe in the sin of omission? If the answer is ‘yes’ to any ONE of such questions, no believing (!) Catholic can support abortion in any way. And this includes politicians who openly support it, IMHO.

I happen to live in a state where being pro-abortion is a requirement to getting elected in either party. So, I seldom vote for individual candidates these days as I simply cannot do so in good conscience.