From Bishop Vasa’s latest column.
Some months ago a prominent Catholic public person, described as faithful to the church, was asked if being pro-choice or pro-abortion was an issue which conflicted with the Catholic Faith.
Here is what was said: "To me it isn’t even a question. God has given us a free will. We’re all responsible for our actions. If you don’t want an abortion, you don’t believe in it, then don’t have one. But don’t tell somebody else what they can do in terms of honoring their responsibilities." According to a close relative the choice to have an abortion or not to have an abortion had no moral component whatsoever. "They were just choices."
It seems to me that there are just choices and there are unjust choices. Choices would be the preference for chocolate ice cream over vanilla ice cream or sherbet instead of ice cream. That is just a choice.
A just choice would be to choose to pay a fair and living wage to employees as opposed to simply meeting the mandatory standard of minimum wage laws. An unjust choice would be to choose to terminate the life of another human being. This is not just a choice and it is not a just choice; it is an unjust choice.
Furthermore it is an unjust choice which is diametrically opposed to the clear and consistent teaching of the Catholic Church as well as to the clear and consistent teaching of God Himself in the Ten Commandments. The direct, intentional taking of the life of an innocent human being is inhumane and unjust. It is not just a choice!
It is categorically impossible for the same person to state that he or she believes simultaneously both what the Catholic Church teaches and that abortion is just a choice. What we believe must inform what we do.
Of course that Catholic politician he references is Nancy Pelosi.
Update: Lifesite has now picked up the story along with Amy Welborn.
9 comments
Jeff, I believe that the main comment is actually Alexandra Pelosi, and the “close relative” who said “they were just choices” was Queen Nancy.
Chris,
No the first comment is Nancy Pelosi,
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15387929/site/newsweek/
Fair enough, I was backward on that. The stuff on Alexandra is just as bad…I think Gerald posted some of it.
I’ve always wondered how a Catholic could come to that position.
Did they never ask why the Church is opposed to abortion in the first place?
In order to believe that it should be legal for anyone to do it, not just yourself, you have to reject to the Church’s teaching.
It ain’t rocket science, but then again, I guess no one has accused N.P. of being a rocket scientist.
I wonder if next time I run into Nancy “Hairy” Pelosi in the DC area and smack her over the head she will celebrate my “free will” and “choice”.
For how Bp. Vasa is cleaning things up:
http://www.dioceseofbaker.org/AffirmationBookletDRAFT2.pdf
The document, “Giving Testimony to the Truth” doesn’t seem to be on the Diocese of Baker’s web site anymore, but there is a copy here:
http://www.dominicanidaho.org/docs/givingtestimony.pdf
Viva Las Vasa!
Should it be mentinoned that Bishop Vasa was from the diocese of Lincoln, originally????
Now *that* is a master catechist.