Posted on 06/16/2008 3:55:54 PM PDT by tcg
Along with some 30 or so religious leaders, it was my privilege to be in discussion with Senator Obama for several hours last week.
It was a private meeting with intelligent men and women of many faith traditions not all of whom were his supporters. It was not arranged as a photo op or a meet and greet. It was a time to reflect on the meaning of faith.
Obama was poised, civil, articulate, and prepared for a wide-ranging discussion that included questions across the spectrum of issues potentially touched by Christ’s love – which, of course, is everything.
The teaching of the American bishops
Looming ever large in my mind as the meeting begins is naturally the abortion issue. The American bishops have properly reminded us that “a Catholic cannot vote for a candidate who takes a position in favor of an intrinsic evil, such as abortion or racism, if the voter’s intent is to support that position.”
At the same time, the bishops have instructed us that we should not use a candidate’s opposition to abortion “to justify indifference or inattentiveness to other important moral issues involving human life and dignity.”
(Excerpt) Read more at catholic.org ...
I saw the news about Gore’s endorsement today, but not this. I wonder why?
is there a point to this article, seriously? I scanned it but it seems to have escaped me.
Sorry, but my BS meter shorted out half-way through the article. Obama’s “faith” is in his destiny to be prez, nothing else.
Kmiec drank the O’Kool-aid about 8-10 months ago. No one can figure out his rationale (other than ambition and/or hypnosis) for supporting Obama, but Kmiec has never offered a convincing explanation why an abortion opponent should support a politician who aggressively supports taxpayer-funded abortions.
So let’s talk about the vague concepts of the “love of Christ” and everyone have their own relationship with Christ - and then let’s continue to kill fetuses, conduct euthenasia, promote gay marriage, and continue secular attacks on religion.
The goal is to turn these meetings into useless talking shops.
“Moral relativism kills babies and other living things. “
The Nazis started with just getting rid of the “unfit”.
You see no difference ?
A bizarre and shocking thing to say!
Whatever his other weaknesses, McCain's voting record has always been >90% prolife. Obama has been consistently on the very extreme in promoting infanticide. There is no comparison between the two.
Well, pin a rose on you. McCain's views on life are infinitely superior to the other's. They're politicians, each of which leave much to be desired. We're not picking our favorite philosophers, we're choosing a man to run the country.
In this case, that's not a hard choice.
I am so deeply, deeply saddened to realize that Douglas Kmiec appears to have joined the religion of Obama above the religion of Christ.
I read in his word justification after justification. Regret that John McCain isn’t offering him a better alternative. Opposition to war as a reason to continue celebrating the killing of MILLIONS of babies each year.
Of course, I cannot know exactly why Prof. Kmiec seeks to deny all his previous teachings, beliefs and existence and embrace this ‘hope’ of something so different that all other matters of faith will become irrevelant. But whatever personal issue he has not disclosed has obviously caused him to question all he has known before and made him believe that Obama is the path. I cannot join him on this path because I have seen this offered before and I remember the misery it caused.
I pray for Douglas Kmiec. I pray so very, very hard that he can see through the veil of this charismatic false leader and simply put his faith in God instead. Regardless of politics, no man will bring about Peace. And Obama speaks of peace while promoting the ideas we’ve seen result in more death and less peace.
Kmiec is either the biggest sucker and chump in the GOP, or is simply a turncoat seeking power under who he thinks will be the new boss. Either way, he should never wield any power or influence in the GOP... ever again.
The Bishop’s sure left the door open for him to cross over to the dark side.
Obama talks a good game on religion and Kemic falls for it. Give me a atheist who loves America and its history over a pseudo-commie self-professed “Christian” like Obama. Actually I am getting a bit sick of how politicians supposedly have to wear religion on their sleaves. I do not remember Reagan being that explicit about his deep faith. I remember there was a British politician who when asked about faith or inspiration commented he is just a politicia if you meaning out of your life talk to a priest or rabbi.
That comment was written by Kmiec.
Senator Obama's position accepts the existing legal regime which leaves the abortion decision with the mother -- which is all right so long as the mother is persuaded to choose life. Senator McCain's position would leave the decision with the individual states -- which is all right so long as the individual states prohibit abortion.There is so much wrong with that, on a theological, legal, and logical level.Since we are assured of neither, neither position is fully pro-life.
In truth, both positions are pro-choice, with the former focused on the individual and the latter focused on the state. Senator McCain's position is sometimes described as pro-life, but it is more pro-federalism (states being free under the McCain position to decide to permit or disallow abortion as they see fit).
From a standpoint of subsidiarity and prudence, one can make an argument that the Obama position is preferable since it does not arrogate to a higher level that which can be done more effectively below in direct relationship with the mother.
That said, as a constitutional law teacher, I respectfully disagree with both Senator Obama and Senator McCain since the Constitution was intended as a means to enforce and guarantee the unalienable right to life recited in the Declaration of Independence, where of course it is explicitly traced to our Creator.
Theologically, how can one argue that leaving the decision for abortion with the woman is "ok so long as the mother is persuaded to choose life"? The mother must acknowledge that God has forbidden the murder of her child. If the mother even THINKS she has a choice, she has already sinned.
Legally, McCain's position is not "pro-choice", because he also says that he supports states banning abortion. It is "pro-federalism" in that it calls for removing the issue from federal purvue, but in the road toward rectifying the evil perpetrated on our country that is abortion, getting to that point is simply walking down the pro-life path.
I can't argue with his point that the Constitution was meant to protect life. However, I can argue that there are many cases where we allow states to decide how to protect life. For example, each state can decide whether a person is legally allowed to kill someone who has broken into a house. Some states make it legal, others would prosecute the person for taking life.
In other words, the Constitution does not require that every life be protected at the federal level -- it's call for the pursuit of life is a founding principle and governs what should be done, but does not dictate every action that could be taken.
Using a different analogy, the stricture of protecting life does not give the feds the right to ban all activity that threatens to take a life of the person or others. The right to life in the constitution primarily prohibits government action against life, not government action to preserve life.
I say that as a person who wants the federal government to ban abortion, and believes that would certainly be a permissible act under the constitution -- just not a required act.
Logically his argument is it's weakest. He claims "one can make an argument that the Obama position is preferable since it does not arrogate to a higher level that which can be done more effectively below in direct relationship with the mother."
Except McCain's position INCLUDES Obama's position, to the degree the mother chooses life. Doug pretends McCain doesn't support a woman's right to choose life -- which is absurd. McCain supports taking away her right to choose to kill her baby, but if a state decided to keep abortion legal, the mother would still have the choice for life.
So sorry, Doug, I know that Obama sounds good when he reads his speeches, but there is nothing in him that suggests he reaches out to republicans, that he cares one bit about people of faith, or that he has any intention of ending abortion, or slowing it -- remember, this is the man who voted to allow post-birth abortions.
I realise that Doug is with his church on opposition to the death penalty, which Obama opposes and McCain supports. However, I think even Doug could realise that supporting a candidate who allows a million clearly innocent babies to be killed, simply because that candidate would prevent a few dozen clearly guilty criminals from being put to death, simply makes no sense.
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