Commentators say pro-Obama Catholics misrepresent record
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The Catholic commentators Deacon Keith Fournier and Deal Hudson, in their new column to run daily through the upcoming elections, have warned that some Catholic supporters of President Obama are misrepresenting his record.
Deacon Fournier said “too many Catholics and other Christians have not figured out the consequences we face on November 6, 2012 if we do not properly inform our decision on who we will elect to lead us and vote accordingly.”
He and Hudson said in a Sept. 27 column at Catholic Online that despite their own differences they have joined together to “do absolutely everything we can” to influence “the most important election in our lifetime.”
Deacon Fournier, the editor in chief of Catholic Online, and Hudson, the president of the Pennsylvania Catholics Network and a former Republican consultant on Catholic outreach, said that President Obama’s position on abortion bothers many Catholics if they are informed about it.
A poll from the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List reports that most Catholic swing voters said they would be less likely to vote for President Obama after learning of his vote against a law protecting babies who survive a failed abortion.
However, Deacon Fournier and Hudson said, “Obama and his advisors are paying little attention, hoping that voters will believe the misrepresentations of their surrogates.”
They cited as evidence the report of an unnamed Catholic woman who chairs her parish’s pro-life committee. She said she received a scripted phone call from Catholic supporters of President Obama who denied that the pro-abortion rights president and the abortion provider Planned Parenthood support abortion.
The two commentators also explained the relevance of Catholic social teaching to one’s choice in voting. They stressed the importance of respecting “every human life” whether it is in “the womb, a wheelchair, a jail cell, a hospital room, a hospice, a senior center or a soup kitchen.” [More]
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25 Comments
The catholic church is rife with problems. I wish the male leaders would spend some time trying to correct these problems instead of taking on new ones. I am so hurt to constantly see my faith in the news for immorality etc. Before you jump on the election band wagon, jump on a band wagon to correct the issues we have and have had which originated from within…just saying!
Dennis,
The reason I would want to help any woman fasced with this decision, for whatever reason, would be to help her, by means of christian love, charity, and spiritual and financial support, to have the child, even if she plans to put it up for adoption.
Making abortion illegal will not make the problem magically go away as you assume. If peoples attitudes do not change, the problem will only go underground. In no way am I in favor of abortion. I am only saying that making it illegal will not magical solve the problem. That would be great if that were the solution. I think the question we have to ask ourselves is “Why do people seek abortion as a solution to their problem in the first place?” Once we know the causes we might be able to work as a united society for possible solutions. I do not think that the cause or motive for people seeking an abortion is solely because it is “legal”.
John Francis.
Pro-life Catholics want abortion made illegal so it will move to the back rooms – lived through that period. Simple procedure and takes less than a half-hour in a motel room. Except for a few post procedure side-effects (e.g. – no more babies, infection, death, etc.) – NO PROBLEM.
Catholics that want to make abortion illegal again have lived a very sheltered life.
Yes John Francis – you can not legislate morality and Jesus never told us to try. He told us to reach out and help. If the Church would put as much effort into understanding “why” as they do in trying to get a law passed, they just might help to reduce the number of abortions. But all the emphassi is on the “law” and not acting in the manner Jesus demonstrated.
Abotion is definately wrong. But show me where any pro-life politcal candidate has ever put forth any law that has effectively limited the number of aboortions in this country. The problem of abortion will never be solved by passing laws. It is a moral issue, not a political issue. Peoples’ attitudes have to be changed and laws prohibiting abortion won’t change attitudes. The culture of this country has to change. As long as the USA is based on a culture of greed, selfishness and instant gratification, abortion will always be a problem, in spite of what laws are passed on the books. When it comes to Catholic Social teachings one must remember there is more than one issue on the platter. Statistics have proven where there is more
help available to the poor, the number of abortions have decreased. If we Catholics are so concerned and alarmed about the number of abortions in this country, perhaps that is the road we should pursue if you want to bring about positive results here and now.
John Francis.
Why would you want to help women faced with this decision?
If you make it illegal the problem magically goes away.
If you help them during this traumatic period you might be able to convince them to have the child.
Definitely better to make abortion illegal.
In 2004 Deal Hudson, editor of Crisis magazine resigned as an advisor to the Bush/Cheney Re-election campaign after information surfaced about his departure from Fordham Univesity (1994) after a charnge of sexually abusing a female student. A Fordham administrator said “sexual harrasment is not tolerated” (see Washington Post, Aut 20, 2004. Given their continual attacks on women do the bishops want someone like him in their corner in 2012
Thanks Jake, I forgot those details of Deal Hudson.
These two are not representing the Catholic Church, they are representing their own political leanings. They, like the Bishops, forgo their credibility by a one-sided conversation. There is no credibility in saying that one candidate is better than the other when it comes to pro-life. Neither are. Therefore, these two demonstrate that they have simply become mouthpieces for a political party and are hiding behind religion. Beware of foxes wearing sheeps clothing.
Hi Concerned.
It is nice to see that some Catholics still think for themselves. They know what the Bible teaches and can spot a phony preacher no matter what title or robes they wear.
Dennis, I believe the Bible did mention abortion. The commandment “Thou shall not kill” says it all!
The Early Jews and many today do no believe in ensoulment untill after forty days of conception, that may be a reason some moralists allowed early abortion.
Eileen.
There is a word for abortion (even way back then) and it is never used in the Bible.
The Bible was written, over a period of hundreds of years, by many authors and has hundreds of pages.
The Hippocratic Oath is one of the most widely known of Greek medical texts and existed throughout the time the Bible was written. It still exists today. The Oath specifically directs doctors not to perform abortions. It even uses the Ionic Greek word for abortion.
Now where is the WORD abortion in the Bible?
Do you think God just sort of missed it by mistake?
BTW. I am pretty sure “Thou shall not kill” is one of the Ten Commandments. Number 6 I think.
Dennis that is very true Romney is multiple choice, it depends how the wind is blowing. He is FOR abortion in the case of rape and invest. That is hardly prolife.
Romney has stated he supports abortion.
Hi Tom.
My favorite quote about Romney is from Senator Ted Kennedy.
“I am pro-choice. My opponent (Romney) is multiple choice.”
Romney says anything to get a vote.
Tony, Tony, go and become an Episcopalian already. Now for Obama. Obama has the press and t.v. in his pocket. Day after day they bombared society with Obamas liberism promising the poor, the world. We have the highest unemployment sinse the depression and in four years Obama has made it worse. We just had another 911 with our embassy and ambassador and three other Americans killed, The controled press was told not to highlight it, Obama need votes. “Obama the Charmer” as he reshapes our country into a socialist, atheist counrty. Yes, sadly he has got the Catholics in name only behind him. But we must remember, Hitler, Lenin, Stalin were charmers and great speakers too. They promised to people of their time the world. The way people pay their rent and bills on thr first of the month,did Obama send the muslims in Libia, Egypt, Lebanon our American billion of dollars? Of course.
Mr Hudson and Rev Mr Fournier attempt to function as a magisterium within the magisterium, perhaps because they perceive the bishops’ and the pope’s credibility to be gravely impaired after months, years and decades of clergy sex abuse denial and coverup.
Which it is.
This is the opinion of these two consevative Republicans who claim they know, represent and articulate the social teachings of the church. what Chutspah. I’d rather listen to the nuns on the bus and to my own conscience.
Hi Tony.
I would rather listen to the Nuns on the bus and your conscience as well!
I am tired of these holy rollers. Nobody and I mean NOBODY is for abortion.
The Bible was written between 700 BCE and 1 CE. It does not use the word for abortion even once.
The one page Hippocratic Oath was written between 600 BCE and 500 BCE. It specifically mentions that doctors should not perform abortions.
Why doesn’t the Bible ever mention abortion?
When did the Vatican make abortion the “cause célèbre” – above everything in the Bible and the Ten Commandments?
Oh; the oath which states very clearly that a physician shall do no harm!!
Correct.
Will they actually have any more influence than the bishops, who have been harping on all the same points for months and months?
Guy in collar looks creapy – just saying!