Is it possible to be a good Catholic and be pro choice?

  • Thread starter Thread starter RRusso1982
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RRusso1982 said:
What state are you from? I’m in New Jersey, so attitudes on abortion are probably different.
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I grew up in NJ. That’s where I first got involved in the pro-life movement. Attitudes of pro-life Catholics are pretty much the same there as anywhere else.
 
By the way, Ted “The Swimmer” “When Is Happy Hour” Kennedy was supposedly a devout Catholic. I think he was far more pro abortion than I am.
 
RRusso1982 said:
I honestly don’t know when I believe life begins. I am not a medical expert. I can state my beliefs on abortion to a member of NARAL and they call me anti choice because I oppose late term abortion, support parental notification laws, and oppose taxpayer funding of abortion. I tell people on here my opinion on the issue, and they say I am pro abortion. I think I should just keep my opinions to myself from now on.
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If you don’t know, you need to conform your opinion to the teaching of the Church. That’s what we have to do as Catholics. Even if we do not fully understand why the Church teaches as she does, we need to conform to Her teaching.

I really don’t understand why we should help the undeserving poor. I get helping those who fall on bad luck. But, those who refuse to work, who squander their resources on drugs and alcohol? My personal inclination would be to let them starve to death. But, Christ and the Church teach differently, and I respect that they know more than I do.

God Bless
 
You will get no argument from me. I am a Republican. I voted for Bush both times, McCain, and Romney. I am also volunteering hard for Christie here in NJ.
 
RRusso1982 said:
Btw, if you were in congress with a mere 80% record of protecting innocent, in my opinion, you would be a poor member of congress.
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Would you rather my point of view or would you prefer Nancy “Stretch” Pelosi’s and Joe “Plugs” Biden’s?

Actually your position is almost exactly the position of Pelosi, Biden, the late Ted Kennedy and a host of other pro-choice * politician’s … 😦

given some time to research speeches - I might even be able to find a few that are almost word for word …*
 
RRusso1982 said:
I honestly don’t know when I believe life begins. I am not a medical expert. I can state my beliefs on abortion to a member of NARAL and they call me anti choice because I oppose late term abortion, support parental notification laws, and oppose taxpayer funding of abortion. I tell people on here my opinion on the issue, and they say I am pro abortion. I think I should just keep my opinions to myself from now on.
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Keep it to yourself? Oooor you could post here and then not be offended when people challenge you and actually conduct a discussion in order to learn.
 
RRusso1982 said:
By the way, Ted “The Swimmer” “When Is Happy Hour” Kennedy was supposedly a devout Catholic. I think he was far more pro abortion than I am.
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Do not worry about Ted Kennedy, he is not you. If you are so sure that what you think has no practical impact at all, then why should you worry about political details? My suggestion is that you stop seeking validation for an opinion that is based on feelings and not on facts. Use the strength that comes from your feelings to do what is good and consistent with what the Church teaches. While for the rest instead of arguing about feelings why don’t you take some time trying to understand what the Church teaches and why she teaches it. Once you will see the why, a lot of pieces will fall into place and things will just make sense to you. Your feelings are creating contradictions because you are not able to see the complete picture, there is nothing wrong with your feelings what is not working is the way in they become associated to facts in your thinking. That happened and it happens to a lot of Catholics in regard to different teachings, just take your time and be honest enough to accept the fact that you might be wrong. Even the saints got it wrong at times, you could be in good company.
 
[BIBLEDRB][/BIBLEDRB]-]/-]
RRusso1982 said:
You will get no argument from me. I am a Republican. I voted for Bush both times, McCain, and Romney. I am also volunteering hard for Christie here in NJ.
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You’ve got that on me. After the first time I voted for Bush, I regretted it and couldn’t do it again. I never even cosidered voting for McCain or Romney. I feel better about abstaining than I do choosing the lessor or two evils.
 
RRusso1982 said:
I have been wondering this for a while. I go to church every Sunday and am active in my parish. One issue I disagree on is the abortion issue. Let me be clear. I think abortion is a terrible thing. However, I believe that it is not a good idea to outlaw abortion. If you believe that outlawing abortion would end abortion, you are delusional. Abortions would still happen. The only difference is now they would be in back alleyways. I I were in Congress, I would have voted in favor of most abortion restrictions. I am 100% against partial birth abortion, am in favor of parental notification laws, and am completely against taxpayer funding of abortions. I would say that I am pro choice during the first trimester. Can you still be a good Catholic with this point of view?
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RRusso, there is no dogma of the Church I am aware of that says temporal authorities (eg Catholic politicians/voters) must 100% map Church Moral Teaching re all grave sins (ie Canon Law) into their Nation’s Law without question.
To believe so is prob to make much the same uncritical assumptions that righteous Muslims make when trying to impose Shariah (their equivalent of Canon Law) in countries where they are influential.
In fact ancient Church Teaching on this matter would agree with you that there are often good practical reasons why it is better (though regretably so) for a Nation not to criminalise all grave sins.

Hence Aquinas and other heavy weight theologians of the past would not immediately throw out your question as others are trying to do here. they would say it is a matter of prudential judgement not of unassailable Dogma.

For example, Prostitution.
Aquinas and Augustine both accepted there may be reasonable cases for not having it criminalised by the State.
Abortion may well be starting to get beyond the pale in an allegedly Christian country - however it is still, as you suggest, still a matter of prudential judgement by the Catholic authorities concerned.
 
Here is one Pelosi quote that is just like your opinion
“I have some concerns about the church’s position respecting a woman’s right to choose, I am a practicing Catholic, although they’re probably not too happy about that. But it is my faith. I practically mourn this difference of opinion because I feel what I was raised to believe is consistent with what I profess, and that is that we are all endowed with a free will and a responsibility to answer for our actions, and that women should have that opportunity to exercise their free will.”
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and one from Biden
Q: What role your religion has played in your own personal views on abortion?
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BIDEN: My religion defines who I am. And I’ve been a practicing Catholic my whole life. And it has particularly informed my social doctrine. Catholic social doctrine talks about taking care of those who can’t take care of themselves, people who need help. With regard to abortion, I accept my church’s position that life begins at conception. That’s the church’s judgment. I accept it in my personal life. But I refuse to impose it on equally devout Christians and Muslims and Jews and–I just refuse to impose that on others, unlike my friend here, the congressman. I do not believe that we have a right to tell other people that women can’t control their body. It’s a decision between them and their doctor, in my view. And the Supreme Court–I’m not going to interfere with that.
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So how exactly do Pelosi and Biden differ from you? :confused:
 
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