Free Republic

As proof that "the best lie is a bold lie," I give you the quote of the day: "Can you be pro-life and support Senator Obama? The answer - upon even a moment's reflection - is 'unequivocally yes.'" (Doug Kmiec, ProLife-ProObama) Kmiec has jumped the shark. He had once crafted perhaps the single best justification argument for a pro-Obama vote, but now this ... this is all-out vote pandering.The idea that Catholics can honestly determine that Obama is pro-life "upon even a moment's reflection" is simply absurd beyond argument, looking at the facts. And deciding after a moment's reflection?...

Doug is being used by the supporters of Barrack Obama, a candidate who I labeled in my last article as an “Abortion Hawk” because of his unrelenting support of the undeclared war on the occupants of the once safe first home of the whole human race (the womb), precisely to make a theological, philosophical and allegedly “moral” argument for voting for Obama. Doug is the intelligent “Catholic scholar” they hope will help them to win more Catholics to the Obama candidacy. They have a serious “Catholic problem” because their candidate has absolutely promised to sign the so called “Freedom of...

Barack Obama is not giving up on faith-based voters. While polls seem to show voters stuck in same pattern as 2004, despite the Democrat's persistent outreach and God talk, the campaign is redoubling its efforts and rejecting suggestions that the Palin Effect has caused them to bail on the religious community. Obama's two top lieutenants in faith outreach came out to address dozens of reporters at the annual Religion Newswriters Association conference in Washington late this afternoon to pitch the campaign's new Faith, Family and Values Tour, which will launch next week with aides and representatives for the campaign (including...

On Wednesday I received a personal copy of my friend Doug Kmiec’s latest book entitled “Can a Catholic Support Him?” The book is subtitled “Asking the Big Question about Barrack Obama”. I appreciate being mentioned in his Acknowledgement of the book with these words “Deacon Keith Fournier’s writing and editing of Catholic Online is courageous and wise”. So, I write this review to be faithful, to a friendship I value, to the claim in the acknowledgment of this book and to the truth. Doug asks the wrong question. The proper question is not “can” but “should”. The word “can” addresses...

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Catholic attorney Douglas Kmiec, who claims to be pro-life, is continuing his defense of presidential candidate Barack Obama's pro-abortion position. In a new piece, Kmiec says he would have voted for a bill to protect newborns who survive botched abortions, but he can understand why Obama didn't. The debate comes on the heels of a new television ad running in battleground states that features a woman who survived a late-term abortion criticizing Obama for opposing the bill for medical care for infants who survive like her. In the article, Kmiec says he would have voted for...

In my last article, I asked the question, “What is the proportionate evil being prevented by voting for Obama that can possibly outweigh abortion?” Today, for the sake of fairness, let us try to answer this question. Abortion is the number one killer of African Americans in America. Since 1973 abortion has killed more African Americans than AIDS, accidents, violent crimes, heart disease and cancer combined. An innocent baby dies every 23 seconds due to abortion. 42,000,000 babies have been killed due to abortion in America since Roe v. Wade. Every year there are about 1,200,000 abortions in America. Objectively,...

I have been shocked and dismayed that some Catholics have given public support to Barack Obama.In doing so they have twisted Catholic doctrine beyond the point of recognition, have misrepresented the glorious teachings of the Church to our fellow Americans and worst of all they have invited their brothers and sisters to compromise their faith. The Church has stated that we have the freedom to hold whatever opinion we have judged to be correct “provided [we are] always disposed to listen with religious obedience to what the Holy See may decide on [a] question.” As Americans we are also allowed...

....The Obama campaign had thoughtfully arranged for my wife and myself to attend the forum, and we did – well, sort of. When we arrived with plenty of time, the church grounds were “locked down” and we never did make it inside. The Sheriff’s Department was confronted at the entrance with loud and sometimes unruly protest. Many protesting were carrying large pictures of unborn or aborted babies. As a pro-life Catholic, I understand that one way to instruct about evil is to unmask its ugliness. Abortion is ugly. And so for the next two hours we were subjected to one...

Abortion has been dividing the culture, including political parties for over 30 years now. In its last several iterations with the Clintons, Al Gore, and John Kerry, the Democratic party platform has been rather decidedly one-sided.Roe v. Wade is to be affirmed and defended. End of story. Oh yes, there was the language of "safe, legal and rare," but the emphasis was always on 'safe and legal,' with 'rare' little more than an afterthought. Barack Obama is a different type of candidate. As he sees it, Roe is not an endorsement of abortion, so much as an affirmation that abortion...

Abortion has been dividing the culture, including political parties for over 30 years now. In its last several iterations with the Clintons, Al Gore, and John Kerry, the Democratic party platform has been rather decidedly one-sided.Roe v. Wade is to be affirmed and defended. End of story. Oh yes, there was the language of "safe, legal and rare," but the emphasis was always on 'safe and legal,' with 'rare' little more than an afterthought. Barack Obama is a different type of candidate. As he sees it, Roe is not an endorsement of abortion, so much as an affirmation that abortion...

Senator Obama has announced that he intends to create a Council For Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Having been privileged to give some advance guidance for this worthy idea, it is exciting to watch it become part of the public record. An old idea talked about by George W. Bush and even "his thousand points of light" father? Well, yes, talked about; but by the writing of Bush's own staff, regrettably, not done. Obama says he's different and this will be a "critical part of his administration." The proof will be in the doing, of course, but this much is plain:...

...My response is to assert another hierarchy for Doug to consider, one which is of logical derivation, a hierarchy that reflects our obligation to restrain the effects of the evil upon the persons injured. The severity of the consequences of our failure to defend the victims is obviously different. To borrow from an old adage of negligence law attributed to Justice Cardozo, of which my colleague is familiar, the “risk to be perceived defines the duty to be obeyed”. Yes Doug, you are accurate, both abortion and racism are intrinsic evils and both must be categorically exposed and opposed as...

I know, the Doug Kmiec posts are getting redundant, but he fascinates me as the clearest example among the Obamicans of someone who’s personally captivated by Obama (“Lightworker!”) but intellectually unable to justify voting for him on that basis. The solution: Self-persuasion through argumentation that the most liberal member of the senate is somehow the more responsible choice this year for a conscientious pro-life voter. Read his latest essay and tell me if you don’t have the distinct sense that he’s trying to convince himself of what he’s saying more so than the reader. Here’s my favorite part, which builds...

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...

Barack Obama discussed Darfur, the Iraq war, gay rights, abortion and other issues Tuesday with Christian leaders, including conservatives who have been criticized for praising the Democratic presidential candidate. Bishop T.D. Jakes, a prominent black clergyman who heads a Dallas megachurch, said Obama took questions, listened to participants and discussed his "personal journey of faith." The discussion "went absolutely everywhere," Jakes told The Associated Press, and "just about every Christian stripe was represented in that room." Jakes, who does not endorse candidates and said he also hopes to meet with Republican presidential candidate John McCain, said some participants clearly have...

At one point in his career, Doug Kmiec may have been a worthy professor of law, whose instincts were based on sound judgment and impeccable logic. Then the poor man took a flyer on Barak Obama. Having read the logical contortions Kmiec finds himself forced into while justifying Barak Obama’s position on abortion, I find the man more qualified to win The World Twister Championship. He starts his latest effort by making us wonder why anyone, as a practicing Catholic, would care what the idiot behind the pulpit was saying during a sermon. "As a matter of Catholic teaching, who’s...

WASHINGTON -- Word spread like wildfire in Catholic circles: Douglas Kmiec, a staunch Republican, firm foe of abortion and veteran of the Reagan Justice Department, had been denied communion. His sin? Kmiec, a Catholic who can cite papal pronouncements with the facility of a theological scholar, shocked old friends and adversaries alike earlier this year by endorsing Barack Obama for president. For at least one priest, Kmiec's support for a pro-choice politician made him a willing participant in a grave moral evil. Kmiec was denied communion in April at a Mass for a group of Catholic business people he later...

In the beginning of the Primary season of the Presidential contest in the United States which led up to this current General election quandary we now face, I found it reprehensible that certain “conservative” public personalities who purported to be “pro-life” were willing to support former Mayor Giuliani. They justified such action because he was purportedly a “strict constructionist” and would appoint Justices who were strict constructionists. The man is an unabashed proponent of abortion as a constitutional “right”, even though it violates the Natural Law. However, we now face the two candidates as we enter the General election. I...

Again, it is my own conclusion that Senator Obama would be more open to these considerations since he is more dedicated toward reducing the partisanship of the past, has very responsibly and very consistently called upon our better natures, and has articulated -- long before he sought the presidency -- a genuine appreciation for the importance of faith in the public square. Others will find greater potential in Senator McCain’s personal life experience as an adoptive father. Obama or McCain, Catholics must always give each other the benefit of the doubt that in reaching our conclusion, we stand upon the...

WASHINGTON — Word spread like wildfire in Catholic circles: Douglas Kmiec, a staunch Republican, firm foe of abortion and veteran of the Reagan Justice Department, had been denied communion. His sin? Kmiec, a Catholic who can cite papal pronouncements like a theological scholar, shocked old friends and adversaries alike earlier this year by endorsing Barack Obama for president. For at least one priest, Kmiec's support for a pro-choice politician made him a willing participant in a grave moral evil. Kmiec was denied communion in April at a Mass for a group of Catholic business people he later addressed. The episode...