Posted on 07/18/2015 4:45:11 PM PDT by Alex Murphy
As a lifelong Catholic, I pray daily for the abolishment of abortion, and like many Catholics I have attended the rallies, marched in the rain, donated money, and from the sidewalks of Planned Parenthood worn the heckling as a badge of honor.
In 2010 I was elected to the Iowa Senate as the first Republican to represent Sioux City in over 30 years, and I am proud to say that I am a Catholic, a husband, and a father who believes that abortion is murder, and that there is no such thing as an “exception” when it comes to the unborn.
During my time in the Legislature many people, many Catholics, have asked: Why can’t we have a true debate on “the life issue” in the Iowa Legislature?
My answer is simple, but very uncomfortable to many people, including many Catholics.
Over the past five years I have seen dozens of strategic pro-life bills fail in the Democratic-controlled Iowa Senate, and it has been nearly two decades since a meaningful vote on life has been cast in Iowa. The historical reality is that the Democratic Party has controlled at least one branch of state government since 1999 and has demonstrated the ability to block any and all pro-life legislation.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, about now many of you may be saying to yourselves, “Well, enough of this article, this guy is just playing politics.” Actually, I’m not, and I am writing specifically to you, my Democratic friends, and I am asking you as a fellow Catholic to please finish this article, then judge. Please.
The uncomfortable truth is that neither well-intended prayer, nor Saturday morning marches nor financial donations will end the practice of abortion. This mission is no longer about awareness or science; it is about will, our Catholic will, as this fight for the unborn rests irrefutably at the ballot box.
My fellow Christians, when it comes to proactively legislating to end the practice of abortion, there is a clear and undeniable difference between the Republican and Democratic Party in America today. Clear and undeniable.
Now don’t get mad, and let’s quickly defuse the political emotion of Republicans vs. Democrats by simply looking at these two political parties as two organizations - one organization that fights for the abolishment of abortion, let's call it organization “A," while the second, organization “B," works to protect the practice of abortion.
Question: As Catholics, which organization should we be supporting?
Answer: Based upon our core Catholic principles, we Catholics undeniably should be supporting “Organization A." Yes?!?!
In Iowa, there are approximately 3.1 million people. Statistics from the Iowa Catholic Conference show that approximately 16 percent, or just under 500,000 Iowans, are declared Catholics, and approximately 53 percent of Caucasian Catholics and 67 percent of Latino Catholics identify and vote with the Democratic Party.
If we as Catholics are truly sincere about ending abortion, then we as Catholics have to recognize the clear and collective power we statistically possess at the ballot box. I’m not preaching politics, I’m simply pointing out the math.
Until we as a Catholic family begin to hold ourselves privately and publicly accountable to life at the ballot box, our communal plea for the protection of life remains shallow and disingenuous.
Ouch, but that is truth.
As Catholics, how can we collectively sit in the pew and pray for life, then stand at the ballot box and individually vote against it? If this is making some uncomfortable, good. If this reads judgmental, it should. I believe we Catholics must recognize the solution, and work the problem. Any priest or member of our clergy who is voting with the Democratic Party is not leading by example, and simply living and preaching a lie. “Not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.” 1 Peter 5:3
Abortion in this country will only be abolished through the legislative process, and that begins by Catholics electing representatives, an organization, that will aggressively pursue a pro-life agenda. Only then will a domino of judicial rulings pave the way back to the U.S. Supreme Court where this horrific tragedy started.
This is the reality. Can we Catholics handle the truth?
We Catholics are proud, we pray, we march, we donate, and we are extremely visible as it pertains to the defense of life, but even though these actions are honorable, and aid in public opinion, they are self-appeasing, and not solution-oriented.
How do we Catholics end abortion? By looking in the mirror.
Salvation, are you laughing at the Iowa State Senator who is the subject of the article you directed us to see?
If so, why are you laughing? And pray tell, how do you vote, with the Dems or with the Republicans?
I find way too many Catholics voting with the Democrats who in a major way approve of and grease the skids of Abortion. I also find way too many Jews who vote with the Democrats who are in lock step against Israel and supportive of the Jihadists.
It is time to declare oneself!
That doesn’t even make sense. If the “Eucharist” is the principal source of the grace of Jesus needed to end abortion, why hasn’t He ended it by now?
Also, of the small majority of democrat Catholics that keep proabort politicians in office, I’d bet most DO regularly attend mass and receive the Eucharist. So, why isn’t it working grace on them???
Until there is a heart change there won’t be a voting change. This goes for all self declared Christians.
Indeed!
Has he been disciplined yet, Salvation?
Peace,
SR
No. Douay-Rheims is the finest rendition in the English language for Catholics. Although I am Catholic, the original King James Bible resounds with the Voice of God Almighty.
How many of the “Protestants” tut-tut-ing at Catholics on this thread are really Democrats?
If I were taking money bets on that question (which I would never do, BTW), I would bet the farm that pretty close to zero of them are Democrats.
Peace,
SR
This has been going on for as long as I can remember....and I’m old!!!...We have many prominent members of our parish who are Democrats, very active, 1 a former mayor, who espouse the democrat lie....the party of the little person, the party of the poor, against the billionaire money grabbing Republicans, against income inequality....and to argue with them is like talking to the wind.....useless.
Well you would be wrong one of the folks you are posting to is a self described democrat.
No
Nah, I said *close* to zero. Left myself some wiggle room, for the ever present possibility of an exception to the rule. :)
Peace,
SR
That never ceases to amaze me.
” I also find way too many Jews who vote with the Democrats who are in lock step against Israel and supportive of the Jihadists. “
“We have many prominent members of our parish who are Democrats, very active, 1 a former mayor, who espouse the democrat lie....the party of the little person, the party of the poor, against the billionaire money grabbing Republicans, against income inequality....and to argue with them is like talking to the wind.....useless.”
“My parents are South Omaha Democrats and they’ll moan and wail about abortion but still pull the lever. As a conservative I have issues with the Republican party but none of them are fundamentally foundational or value based like abortion. I even have an aunt that is a nun that loves Obama. I just don’t get it.”
You just can’t fix Stupid, it is as eternal as time itself...
He’s right. If Christians would start voting as a block they could change much of these social policies, especially in regards to abortion. But, alas, many Christians don’t seem to want to align themselves to a “moral majority” for fear of labels.
It kind of makes you wonder what Christians really believe.
Cover your eyes, plug your ears.... reality really is scary. Spam the thread with links, links, links, that read just like Job’s three friends.
I believe the thread where that was noted [via a link to a screenshot] has been deleted from the site.
I know the answer to Campions question! SR., if you would like proof I’ll FReepmal it to you.
I appreciate your offer, but I’ll pass on that. Reason? It’s yet another way of “making it personal.” If someone wants to talk about why they are a Democrat on a conservative site like FR, that’s their business, and frankly, I’d be fascinated to hear their story. But during this period where some very good evangelical threads are being pulled down as “flame bait,” I think it’s important to cut off at the pass any discussion of individual FReepers.
Besides, we know the issue is much bigger than individual cases. I believe there is a real problem with Catholicism having a higher proportion of liberals than Protestantism/evangelicalism, taken as a whole. I’d be fascinated to see how that came to be. My own theory would be that it came about through the social justice issues, at least for the modern era. But I don’t really know.
Anyway, I have no problem telling my own story. I’m a life-long Republican who can’t even vote for many Republicans anymore, because so often they are just machine cogs who no longer represent my interests as a conservative. I speak as an Illinoisan and so expect an extra measure of sympathy in this regard. :)
But thanks again. Hopefully though we can stay on the issues. Threads that do that are so much more fun to read. The personal stuff just gives me a headache.
Peace,
SR
Still laughing that the post is from a secular source.
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