Comments on: Catholic questions heading into Respect Life Sunday

By: Policraticus

Policraticus — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:14:07 +0000

I haven’t been on the blog for the past few days. There are many assumptions that Christopher, Zach, and Adrienne carry that either need to be argued for or argued against. That said, I will expose the errors of their assumptions later this afternoon in a separate post. I see that their errors stem from a relativising of Catholic teaching on political life, which they largely seem unconscious of.

By: Sam Rocha

Sam Rocha — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:50:15 +0000

Poli, very nice post indeed.

By: Gerald A. Naus

Gerald A. Naus — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:13:14 +0000

Democrats run today’s plantations, from L.A. to Oakland, D.C and Detroit.

By: jeremy

jeremy — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:29:11 +0000

There is no abortion equivalent to the slave trade. No one raids other countries in search of unborn babies to abort. Every case of abortion is a personal choice.

Everyone who bought a slave made a personal choice. The fact that someone makes a personal choice does not make it right.

religious right tries to make an analogy to slavery, when it is doubtful they would have been abolitionists during the run-up to the Civil War
Maybe in your mind. However, those who would seek to know God and know the Will of God would have a hard time squaring pro-slavery beliefs with Jesus’s two main commandments.

Also, the same could be said of the democrats, who fought the hardest for segregation. That is a mighty broad brush you are painting with.

By: David Nickol

David Nickol — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:47:44 +0000

Being enslaved, they have no rights and cannot advocate for themselves. It takes those who are “free” to fight for them. We are the modern day abolitionists.

The unborn are not “enslaved.”

There is no abortion equivalent to the slave trade. No one raids other countries in search of unborn babies to abort. Every case of abortion is a personal choice.

Also, it is ironic that the religious right tries to make an analogy to slavery, when it is doubtful they would have been abolitionists during the run-up to the Civil War, and when they are the least likely at present to want to face up to and deal with the aftermath of slavery, which is still one of the major problems in the United States.

By: Zach

Zach — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:20:31 +0000

Michael how in your politics do you account for pluralism?

I don’t think the Republican party fits “nicely” with Catholicism. I do think the American system of mixed government has many good things which are consonant with Catholicism. I also think we can work from within the parties to change them. The parties do, in some ways, reflect the concerns of Catholic voters. No party would be perfect – even a Catholic party would likely not be united in aim and principles.

By: Zippy

Zippy — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:13:17 +0000

Your argument should be that you do not believe that voting for either Obama or McCain could have any good effect sufficient to justify the cooperation in evil that such an act would entail. I would like to hear why you believe that is the case. Exactly. Remote material cooperation with evil is not a sin in the presence of a proportionate reason. It is sinful when there is no proportionate reason (and simply giving a reason and saying that it is proportionate does not mean that there is in fact a proportionate reason).

By: Michael J. Iafrate

Michael J. Iafrate — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 02:27:38 +0000

Zach – The three party system of Canada seems to work pretty well. Secondly, many people do not vote precisely because of the absurdity of the two party system. Thirdly, I think it’s strange that you would defend a system whose two parties are not able in any discernible way to reflect the concerns of Catholic voters. Unless, of course, you happen to think that Republican party fits nicely with Catholic values.

By: JB

JB — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 02:05:16 +0000

2 party system only works if they, collectively, represent the people well. This is not longer the case. Instead the people are being forced to alter themselves to fit within the mold of this party or that one.

By: Zach

Zach — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 01:22:24 +0000

Michael, I have to say I think you have it exactly backwards. The two party system is what makes our votes count. If we had 3, 4, or 100 political parties, almost all of our votes would be less effective. There is an article available here which details some of the reasons I believe this. Section 4 addresses direct election and the two party system.

By: JB

JB — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 23:39:10 +0000

Nancy,

Your a quite welcome. I have dealt with similar frustrations, although probably not to the same extent that you have, so I can sympathize.

God bless and Pax Christi

By: Nancy Chase

Nancy Chase — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 23:23:09 +0000

JB:

Thank you for taking time to respond so kindly (and intelligently) to me. I sincerely appreciate it.