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.
On-target insight. Thank you.
that could be because they were raised in a liberal Catholic area where most Catholics are democrats
https://veritasdomain.wordpress.com/2012/03/29/sola-scriptura-versus-sola-ecclesia-part-ii/
I guess that posting anything that teaches here is forbidden .
Romanism is a dead faith ... Look at Europe.. coming here
http://cara.georgetown.edu/caraservices/requestedchurchstats.html
Most Catholics who take their faith seriously are eager to downsize the Church. It is not a bad thing getting rid of members [like yourself for instance] who downplay everything powerful about the faith, leaving people [who listen to them] squirming [and screaming] to be fed by the Eucharistic Jesus...
I have been fed by Jesus for most of my life, and never once bent the knee to a wafer in a monstrance. I was just sharing some of the miracles I’ve seen with my granddaughter. She was so excited to know that Jesus is still there to talk to, and not just a character in a Bible story. Love my granddaughter. :)
Peace,
SR
Without adding to it?
History says...
What was wrong with D-R?
Hi!
Concerning RNMomof7
Have I missed a ZOT somewhere?
Ah, I see...a secular source is not allowed a opinion or to ask a question...even though the author of this piece is a life long Catholic...guess he doesn’t have a red beanie.
Bkmk
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