Abortion: Where do we go from here?

[pnewton]

The election is over and America has chosen to continue pursuing the culture of death. Those who have been faithful to the Catholic Church’s teaching on abortion are all experiencing emotions of both anger and sorrow in the wake of this Tuesday. Soon the time will come for us to get past this initial phase and face the reality that we have lost this very important battle. We have lost before. We may well lose again. However, no one battle makes a war. We must move beyond the defeat and prepare ourselves once again to engage the forces of evil which seek to send our country into moral oblivion. If we can not ask ourselves some hard questions as to how we lost and why we lost, but rather keep doing the same thing and expect different results, I believe we are doomed to repeat the same outcome. The enemy is wily. We must be more so.

First, let us never forget what all is at stake. Yes, the life of millions of innocent children, but that is not all. Also of great importance to God are the souls of millions in this country who have bought into the lie that “free choice”, whatever that means, is of greater importance than moral goodness. God still makes millstones for those who attack his beloved little ones and we can not blithely write off millions of our fellow human beings because of our anger, righteous though it may be. I believe that all of us Catholics can agree on this.

So let us evaluate what we think went wrong this year, what we might change and what are some steps we can take in the interim. On this, we likely will not all agree, but let us genuinely try to listen to each other.

 

[pnewton]

The first thing I would note is somewhat radical. Namely, we fought the wrong battle. The fight for abortion is not political, but rather ideological. Politicians, especially of this generation, are not known for their fortitude. They will pander to whatever group will bring in the most votes. The best way to get a solid pro-life government is a solid pro-life electorate. We must change how we present our belief in the value of human life. It simply isn’t reaching most Americans. How we might accomplish this is very debatable.

First, I think we should change the terms. Yes, “pro-life” sounds a lot nice that “anti-abortion” but is squelches debate. We have seen this year how easily the term is co-opted by agents of death to mean anything they want. Let’s face it; the number one battle ground is abortion. We are losing ground. The best tactic we can exercise is to narrow our focus on the particular battle line that is raging hot and stop the deflection of arguments that so often happen: war, poverty, capital punishment, racism, quality of life, etc. Likewise the term “pro-choice” is ridiculously broad. We all believe in choice. Choice is a good thing, as long as one is choosing to follow God. Yet the term is used for one choice only, abortion. These people are pro-abortion.

Second, we need to listen more to those who believe in legal abortion. If any one element of this fight has been more compelling to me this last month is that people do not want to listen. I thought about titling this thread on this theme, “Why abortion should be legal” just to see if anyone here can answer the question. If we do not listen, we can not answer. No one enters a battle and ignores reconnaissance and intel reports. Listening to those who are pro-abortion is our way of gathering data. Only then can we formulate answers and give a logical response.

Third, we need to be armed with the soft answers that can turn away wrath and win hearts. Remember that the anti-abortionists, especially those who are just reiterating what they have been fed and never delved deeply into the morality of abortion, are not our enemy. They are the victims of our enemy. Our battle is not against flesh and blood, so…

Finally, we pray. And first, we pray. Second, we pray, etc.

I apologize for the lengthy posts. In four years, this my longest, and hardest, post.

 

[Kevin42]

The first thing I would note is somewhat radical. Namely, we fought the wrong battle. The fight for abortion is not political, but rather ideological. Politicians, especially of this generation, are not known for their fortitude. They will pander to whatever group will bring in the most votes. The best way to get a solid pro-life government is a solid pro-life electorate. We must change how we present our belief in the value of human life. It simply isn’t reaching most Americans. How we might accomplish this is very debatable.

First, I think we should change the terms. Yes, “pro-life” sounds a lot nice that “anti-abortion” but is squelches debate. We have seen this year how easily the term is co-opted by agents of death to mean anything they want. Let’s face it; the number one battle ground is abortion. We are losing ground. The best tactic we can exercise is to narrow our focus on the particular battle line that is raging hot and stop the deflection of arguments that so often happen: war, poverty, capital punishment, racism, quality of life, etc. Likewise the term “pro-choice” is ridiculously broad. We all believe in choice. Choice is a good thing, as long as one is choosing to follow God. Yet the term is used for one choice only, abortion. These people are pro-abortion.

Second, we need to listen more to those who believe in legal abortion. If any one element of this fight has been more compelling to me this last month is that people do not want to listen. I thought about titling this thread on this theme, “Why abortion should be legal” just to see if anyone here can answer the question. If we do not listen, we can not answer. No one enters a battle and ignores reconnaissance and intel reports. Listening to those who are pro-abortion is our way of gathering data. Only then can we formulate answers and give a logical response.

Third, we need to be armed with the soft answers that can turn away wrath and win hearts. Remember that the anti-abortionists, especially those who are just reiterating what they have been fed and never delved deeply into the morality of abortion, are not our enemy. They are the victims of our enemy. Our battle is not against flesh and blood, so…

Finally, we pray. And first, we pray. Second, we pray, etc.

I apologize for the lengthy posts. In four years, this my longest, and hardest, post.

Excellent post, in my humble opinion. If people do not sense that you are empathizing with them, and care about their ideas, then they are closed to what you have to say. I would say persuading people is half logic, and half how you make them feel.

 

[Mannyfit75]

The American public listen on deaf ears when it comes to the issue of abortion. We must tell them the truth about the sins of abortion in charitable well and we do so with proper reasoning.

 

[st_lucy]

I really think we need to start to show people exactly what it is we are fighting for. I think that we live in such a visual world that we should not be ashamed or scared to show the world those childrens lifeless bodies that are being pulled out of PP trash bins. The little hands and feet that have been thrown way as if they were trash and unimportant.

PETA has no problems showing the world the horrors of animal crueilty and so I think that since human life is more important we should start doing the same. Lets get those youtube videos out there send them out in emails.

I truly believe that people do not know what abortion is and the only way they ever will is if we educate them with videos.

Also even more importantly we really need to start praying for those abortionist and all those who support abortion and such orgainzation as PP, and especially our new President to understand that abortion is murder.

 

[pammcc]

I wouldn’t necessarily look at the election as being a “loss” or a “victory for the culture of death” just because Obama got elected. I’m a daily mass goer. in the weeks leading up to the election, attendance for daily mass was up. today, the church was practically empty. this saddens me. regardless of what happens in the world, God is still in control. it’s a new day, but the same sovereign God, the same Jesus Christ, the same Holy Spirit.

Where should we go from here? We should continue to pray. Pray for the new president, vice president, and all our elected officials. Continue witnessing to life with our own lives. Write letters and email our elected officials, and don’t stop trying to express why these issues are so important to us. Don’t give up.

I’ve always been the type of person who writes, calls and emails my elected officials. Keep the rhetoric civil. I was embarrassed by the way some folks on BOTH sides demonized each other. I don’t know about anyone else, but there was a time in my life when i rebelled against the church. I ranted and raved about the things that bothered me. But i met a very patient, loving priest who looked past all of that and just listened to me. He presented his point of view without making me feel like I was being attacked. I always felt like he genuinely cared about me. In time, I came around.

Follow the lead of the Bishops. They sent our newly elected president the following letter today:

"BISHOPS CONGRATULATE BARACK OBAMA ON HISTORIC ELECTION; URGE HIM TO DEFEND THE WEAK, HEAL DIVISIONS

WASHINGTON–The U.S. bishops congratulated President-elect Barack Obama, the first African-American elected President of the United States, and called the event “historic” and coming at a difficult time.
“Our country is confronting many uncertainties,” the bishops said. “We pray that you will use the powers of your office to meet them with a special concern to defend the most vulnerable among us and heal the divisions in our country and our world. We stand ready to work with you in defense and support of the life and dignity of every human person.”
They bishops offered their remarks in a November 4 letter to President-elect Obama from Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The letter follows.

Dear President-elect Obama,

I write to you, in my capacity as President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, to express our congratulations on your historic election as President of the United States. The people of our country have entrusted you with a great responsibility. As Catholic Bishops, we offer our prayers that God give you strength and wisdom to meet the coming challenges.

Our country is confronting many uncertainties. We pray that you will use the powers of your office to meet them with a special concern to defend the most vulnerable among us and heal the divisions in our country and our world. We stand ready to work with you in defense and support of the life and dignity of every human person.

May God bless you and Vice President-elect Biden as you prepare to assume your duties in service to our country and its citizens.

Sincerely yours,

Francis Cardinal George, OMI
Archbishop of Chicago
President"

God answers the prayers of his faithful. I hope the people in my parish who weren’t at mass today will come back. there’s still much to be done.

just my thoughts…pammcc

 

[dcrowmik]

Politicians, especially of this generation, are not known for their fortitude. They will pander to whatever group will bring in the most votes. The best way to get a solid pro-life government is a solid pro-life electorate. We must change how we present our belief in the value of human life. It simply isn’t reaching most Americans. How we might accomplish this is very debatable

One thing to do is to stop the silliness of promoting and voting for candidates who say they are against abortion but, oh, make exceptions for this reason or that. The facts have shown that by voting for those people abortion has continued over the past 40 years and will continue on into the next 40 years and more.

Candidates who are against abortion 100% are the ones we should support and vote for. THEY are the ones who would have the complete moral authority to help lead everyone back to what truly caring for life is all about.

But of course, nothing really matters nor will be of any benefit without prayer and faith that God will answer our prayers.

 

[Macbook_Fun]

Where do we go from here?
The words are coming out all weird
Where are you now?

I need to wash myself again to hide all the dead and pain

Because I’d be scared that there’s nothing underneath.

Who are our real friends

And have we all got THE BENDS?

 

[elts1956]

I wouldn’t necessarily look at the election as being a “loss” or a “victory for the culture of death” just because Obama got elected. I’m a daily mass goer. in the weeks leading up to the election, attendance for daily mass was up. today, the church was practically empty. this saddens me. regardless of what happens in the world, God is still in control. it’s a new day, but the same sovereign God, the same Jesus Christ, the same Holy Spirit.

Where should we go from here? We should continue to pray. Pray for the new president, vice president, and all our elected officials. Continue witnessing to life with our own lives. Write letters and email our elected officials, and don’t stop trying to express why these issues are so important to us. Don’t give up.

I’ve always been the type of person who writes, calls and emails my elected officials. Keep the rhetoric civil. I was embarrassed by the way some folks on BOTH sides demonized each other. I don’t know about anyone else, but there was a time in my life when i rebelled against the church. I ranted and raved about the things that bothered me. But i met a very patient, loving priest who looked past all of that and just listened to me. He presented his point of view without making me feel like I was being attacked. I always felt like he genuinely cared about me. In time, I came around.

Follow the lead of the Bishops. They sent our newly elected president the following letter today:

"BISHOPS CONGRATULATE BARACK OBAMA ON HISTORIC ELECTION; URGE HIM TO DEFEND THE WEAK, HEAL DIVISIONS

WASHINGTON–The U.S. bishops congratulated President-elect Barack Obama, the first African-American elected President of the United States, and called the event “historic” and coming at a difficult time.
“Our country is confronting many uncertainties,” the bishops said. “We pray that you will use the powers of your office to meet them with a special concern to defend the most vulnerable among us and heal the divisions in our country and our world. We stand ready to work with you in defense and support of the life and dignity of every human person.”
They bishops offered their remarks in a November 4 letter to President-elect Obama from Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The letter follows.

Dear President-elect Obama,

I write to you, in my capacity as President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, to express our congratulations on your historic election as President of the United States. The people of our country have entrusted you with a great responsibility. As Catholic Bishops, we offer our prayers that God give you strength and wisdom to meet the coming challenges.

Our country is confronting many uncertainties. We pray that you will use the powers of your office to meet them with a special concern to defend the most vulnerable among us and heal the divisions in our country and our world. We stand ready to work with you in defense and support of the life and dignity of every human person.

May God bless you and Vice President-elect Biden as you prepare to assume your duties in service to our country and its citizens.

Sincerely yours,

Francis Cardinal George, OMI
Archbishop of Chicago
President"

God answers the prayers of his faithful. I hope the people in my parish who weren’t at mass today will come back. there’s still much to be done.

just my thoughts…pammcc

Since bo isn’t 'SURE" when human life begins in the womb, once again the Bishops left out an important statement, FROM CONCEPTION TO NATURAL DEATH. Got it???

 

[joseph_virgen]

use the system, never give up. look at those who lost proposition 8. they vowed to fight. can we do any less. file lawsuits. many lawsuits. sue one and all who stand to dismember babies.

 

[pnewton]

I would like to give what I believe is an excellent resource for understanding the nuts and bolts of the issue, without the usual trappings of slogans and pictures.

peterkreeft.com/audio/19_prolife-philosophy.htm

Peter Kreeft is a solid, orthodox Catholic professor from Boston College. The second link is much friendlier on the ears and well worth the hour it takes to listen to.

 

[Ruthie]

Well, I am going to work to adjust my life, so that I can go to daily Mass more often, and spend more time in Adoration. That means getting up earlier!

I am also praying hard for the Lord to change Mr. Obama’s heart, so that he will not sign FOCA, but veto it instead. Every night, every morning, and every time I think of it. I will also write to him.

I will also be writing to my Congresspersons to express my opposition to FOCA, hopefully in a both charitable and convincing way. When I complete the letter, I’ll post it in the Politics forum. If we all do this, we may keep FOCA from ever getting to Mr. Obama to sign.

In the mean time, as I said on another thread, I’m going to look at the bright side. I was glad to see many more minorities in line to vote this year than in previous years. I hope they will now feel more “a part of” our politics than “apart from.” Personally, I want everyone to be in the middle class except those who need a first job to step up from!

Praying hard and harder,

Ruthie