Right to Be a 1-Issue Voter?

Zenit ^ | 10/3/08 | Zenit

[wagglebee]

US Bishop Clarifies Reasoning of Pro-life Ballot

SCRANTON, Pennsylvania, OCT. 3, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Issues beside abortion should be taken into account when voting, but should not be given the same relevance unless they carry the same level of moral gravity, says the bishop of Scranton.

In a letter to be read at all Masses this weekend in the diocese, Bishop Joseph Martino considers the argument: "As wrong as abortion is, I don't think it is the only relevant 'life' issue that should be considered when deciding for whom to vote."

The prelate clarifies: "This reasoning is sound only if other issues carry the same moral weight as abortion does, such as in the case of euthanasia and destruction of embryos for research purposes. Health care, education, economic security, immigration and taxes are very important concerns. […] However, the solutions to problems in these areas do not usually involve a rejection of the sanctity of human life in the way that abortion does."

As proof of the point, Bishop Martino said, "Consider this: The finest health and education systems, the fairest immigration laws and the soundest economy do nothing for the child who never sees the light of day. It is a tragic irony that 'pro-choice' candidates have come to support homicide -- the gravest injustice a society can tolerate -- in the name of 'social justice.'"

The 62-year-old bishop went on to say that even the just war theory "has moral force because it is grounded in the principle that innocent human life must be protected and defended."

He continued, "Now, a person may, in good faith, misapply just war criteria leading him to mistakenly believe that an unjust war is just, but he or she still knows that innocent human life may not be harmed on purpose. A person who supports permissive abortion laws, however, rejects the truth that innocent human life may never be destroyed."

The Church's primary task of helping men and women reach salvation means "it is incumbent upon bishops to correct Catholics who are in error regarding these matters. Furthermore, public officials who are Catholic and who persist in public support for abortion and other intrinsic evils should not partake in or be admitted to the sacrament of holy Communion," Bishop Martino added.

Precedents

Bishop Martino concluded by recalling the example of a German bishop who similarly spoke out in defense of the innocent in 1941: He gave a homily condemning the Nazis for killing the mentally ill.

"Should he have opposed the war and remained silent about the murder of the mentally ill? No person of conscience can fail to understand why Bishop von Galen spoke as he did," Bishop Martino said.

And he added: "My dear friends, I beg you not to be misled by confusion and lies. Our Lord, Jesus Christ, does not ask us to follow him to Calvary only for us to be afraid of contradicting a few bystanders along the way. He does not ask us to take up his cross only to have us leave it at the voting booth door.

"Recently, Pope Benedict XVI said that 'God is so humble that he uses us to spread his word.' The gospel of life, which we have the privilege of proclaiming, resonates in the heart of every person -- believer and nonbeliever -- because it fulfills the heart's most profound desire.

"Let us with one voice continue to speak the language of love and affirm the right of every human being to have the value of his or her life, from conception to natural death, respected to the highest degree."

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On the Net:

Full text of Bishop Martino's letter: www.zenit.org/article-23793?l=english

[wagglebee]

And he added: "My dear friends, I beg you not to be misled by confusion and lies. Our Lord, Jesus Christ, does not ask us to follow him to Calvary only for us to be afraid of contradicting a few bystanders along the way. He does not ask us to take up his cross only to have us leave it at the voting booth door."

Amen!

[wagglebee]

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[wagglebee]

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[LiberConservative]

This is America. You can be an any issue voter you want to be. The elite, “moderate” “Republican” party has yet to understand this.

Governor Palin is the first major politician to reflect my opinion on abortion: it's wrong, even in a case of rape or incest.

It's not a "single issue" with me, but if it's yours, God Bless you.

[Tax-chick]

It's not a "single issue" with me, but if it's yours, God Bless you.

I often find that, if a politician is on the wrong side of the pro-life issues, he's wrong on other issues, as well. Perhaps both problems are symptomatic of poor thinking skills.

[Viking2002]

Yeah, I'm voting on one issue. The issue being, if The Sedition gains power - which they'll steal before they earn it - they'll plunge this Republic into chaos, civil war, and ultimately a New Dark Ages. Kerry, Gore, and Hitlary combined couldn't do the fatal damage that The Obamanation will do in four short years. They're creatures of the Beltway. They'll tack toward the center in order to empower themselves and push their back-room agenda. Obama is a different animal. He comes from a Godless death cult that truly does want to destroy everything that this country and Western Civilization has come to hold in esteem for the last 2,000+ years. I recently told 2ndDivisionVet that if he'd have come up to me six months ago and told me that McCain was the last, best hope for us, I'd have tasered his ass and duct-taped him to a fence post until Christmas. But if McCain loses, 2012 may end up having more significance to the Mayan calendar than we jokingly laugh off.

[wagglebee]

I often find that, if a politician is on the wrong side of the pro-life issues, he's wrong on other issues, as well. Perhaps both problems are symptomatic of poor thinking skills.

I remember a year ago when all of the Rooty Rooters were complaining about "single issue voters" having their "foot on the neck of the GOP." It turned out that THEY were the single issue voters, they despised conservatism and wanted conservative to vote for Rooty because he was mayor of NYC on 9/11/01.

[wagglebee]

Kerry, Gore, and Hitlary combined couldn't do the fatal damage that The Obamanation will do in four short years. They're creatures of the Beltway. They'll tack toward the center in order to empower themselves and push their back-room agenda. Obama is a different animal. He comes from a Godless death cult that truly does want to destroy everything that this country and Western Civilization has come to hold in esteem for the last 2,000+ years.

I couldn't agree more!

[Tax-chick]

Well, Rudy is an example. I wouldn’t vote for him for President because he’s pro-abortion. However, I also wouldn’t vote for him because he’s a gun grabber; because he favors, imo, excessive regulation of business; because he’s a tax-and-spender; because he favors expanded privileges for homosexuals; and because he’s from New York. (So sue me ... he wasn’t even on my primary ballot, so it’s not my fault.)

Good on law-and-order, though. I’d probably vote for him for Mayor of Charlotte, if I lived in the city limits and he was a candidate.

[narses]

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Obama Says A Baby Is A Punishment

Obama: “If they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”

[narses]

Obama Says A Baby Is A Punishment

Obama: “If they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”

[narses]

Obama Doesn’t Want His Daughters Punished with a Baby

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNzmly28Bmg

CNN on Obama’s Infant Born Alive Act Rejection

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPZCXcTwZPY

Jill Stanek on Obama and Born Alive Infant Protection Act (MUST SEE)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIdbYjmbFzo

Obama Cover-up Revealed On Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Bill

http://www.nrlc.org/ObamaBAIPA/ObamaCoverup.html

Explosive Audio Found Obama arguing against BAIPA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypDwNpgIUQc

Babies left to die!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIdbYjmbFzo

[MHGinTN]

Great post, sage words. But ... don’t taser him, bro.

[Florida native]

"Right to be 1 issue voter?"

I have no problem with that, so why not? As for abortion, my feeling is...

If one does not care about the least of us, I have a hard time believing that one cares about the rest of us.

[wagglebee]

If one does not care about the least of us, I have a hard time believing that one cares about the rest of us.

And a person who will not so much as raise a finger to save a defenseless infant CAN NEVER be trusted to defend a nation.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

Country First, my FRiends. Country First. For without a strong national defense, what else will matter? We’ll all be snuffed out, including those in the womb, the trees, the whales, the caribou...

[NoLibZone]

If the religious can excuse killing, children than they worship satan.

[Lady Heron]

Oh, I vote on more than one issue, but if you can't pass that first issue (LIFE) I do not even look farther.

That first issue tells me all I ever need to know about whether you even qualify morally to lead anything.

[Florida native]

And a person who will not so much as raise a finger to save a defenseless infant CAN NEVER be trusted to defend a nation.

Right on!

[TurtleStink]

please be informed about how bad a baby killer Obama is. get the facts and be able to stump that family member, co worker, church member, or boyfriend, friend or relative of a neighbor that gets in your face about how great the O is. go to this link and get the facts in a short, succint piece of Obama’s baby killing history. Puke and then file it away as ammunition on this Hitler Creep.

http://jmoorhead.blogspot.com/2008/08/obama-on-infanticide-abortion.html