Tuesday, August 12, 2008

The Pope Speaks


"The Church does not tell people how to vote. Nor does it endorse any political party. There is often room for legitimate differences of opinion because it can be difficult to judge which policies – and especially which packages of policies – will contribute best to making “human life more human”

--- Pope John Paul II

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Kurt,
His Holiness Pope Benedict 16 wrote, before his elevation: 3. Not all moral issues have the same moral weight as abortion and euthanasia. For example, if a Catholic were to be at odds with the Holy Father on the application of capital punishment or on the decision to wage war, he would not for that reason be considered unworthy to present himself to receive Holy Communion. While the Church exhorts civil authorities to seek peace, not war, and to exercise discretion and mercy in imposing punishment on criminals, it may still be permissible to take up arms to repel an aggressor or to have recourse to capital punishment. There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about waging war and applying the death penalty, but not however with regard to abortion and euthanasia.

An end to abortion, not a freeing up of it, would allow a lot more human life to flourish.

Philothea

Anonymous said...

Wow, if that it isn't a misrepresentation of a statement. Sure there is legitimate diffence of opinion, on certain issues. Pope John Paul II also made sure that certain things are no longer open for discussion, like the intrinsic evil of abortion.

Milehimama @ Mama Says said...

I think that not endorsing the wholesale slaughter of human life will "make human life more human."

6.9 MILLION Americans have been killed with the approval of many of legislators since 2003, Obama included. In fact, he has stated he will definitely make sure it continues to happen.

Anonymous said...

Does the Pope really refer to himself in the third person?

Katherine said...

The evil of abortion is not open to debate in the Catholic Church. Nor is the evil of unjust wars or oppression of the poor. The best political strategies towards these principles is a matter of discernment.

Anonymous said...

Katherine,
You are selling your soul for a mess of pottage.

Philothea

Anonymous said...

Katherine,
You write: "The evil of abortion is not open to debate in the Catholic Church. Nor is the evil of unjust wars or oppression of the poor. The best political strategies towards these principles is a matter of discernment."

Over one million unborn babies are killed each year. Did you know that one-third of those babies are of African-American descent?

Did you know that Planned Parenthood was started by a woman who wrote: "We should hire three or four colored ministers, preferably with social-service backgrounds, and with engaging personalities. The most successful educational approach to the Negro is through a religious appeal. We don't want the word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population. and the minister is the man who can straighten out that idea if it ever occurs to any of their more rebellious members," (Margaret Sanger's December 19, 1939 letter to Dr. Clarence Gamble) and "Birth control must lead ultimately to a cleaner race" (Margaret Sanger. Woman, Morality, and Birth Control). (from: http://www.eadshome.com/MargaretSanger.htm)

Do you not think that African-American babies being killed at over twice their representation in the population is ... racist? Doesn't this seem like the hardest oppression of all?

So, it seems to me that one of the most onerous forms of racism and oppression will be fostered rather than mitigated by your candidate Barack Obama.

Philothea

Katherine said...

Philothea,

I certainly share your concern at the high rates of abortion in the African American community. I don't agree it is because African American women are cruel or less moral than white women. The abortion rate is clear evidence that we need more than just criminalization of abortion, but help, otureach and support to women in these situations.

BTW, Margaret Sanger did not beleive in abortion.

Anonymous said...

Give me a break! Hmmmm....I wonder just what the Holy Father meant?! Twisting words, work of the evil one! Shame on you.

EC Gefroh said...

"BTW, Margaret Sanger did not believe in abortion." Excuse me????? Could you please elaborate or cite your sources to proof this statement?

Katherine said...

In her autobiography, Margaret Sanger wrote about her birth control lectures:

"To each group we explained what contraception was; that abortion was the wrong way—no matter how early it was performed it was taking life; that contraception was the better way, the safer way—it took a little time, a little trouble, but was well worth while in the long run, because life had not yet begun."

Anonymous said...

Ahhh, Katherine.

She was opposed to abortion only because the consequences of illegal abortion were so dire.

"The most merciful thing that a large family does to one of its infant members is to kill it."
Margaret Sanger, Women and the New Race
(Eugenics Publ. Co., 1920, 1923)

Philothea

Anonymous said...

Margaret Sanger is in the 7th Level of hell!!!!