Vatican reminds Obama of differences on healthcare, abortion

[Suudy]

It is if one believes a soul is implanted at conception.

Not exactly. Our very ignorance says we must err on the side of caution. Listen to Dr. Kreeft’s talks.

As far as morals go, many do not believe a fetus is 100% human until a brain is clearly formed. The SCOTUS ruled that viability determines a human. Others (like Ayn Rand) do not believe a fetus has any rights to life until actual birth. Point is the line which distinguishes right and wrong here isn’t so simple for the general population.

Most people would say that the intentional death of an innocent human being is wrong in all cases. Biological facts confirm that a conceived child is indeed a human being: the fetus is alive, has DNA distinct from mother and father, and is human. And being unable to act of its own free will, it is certainly innocent.

Now, whether or not a fetus is granted the rights of personhood is a different argument. But if we can arbitrarily determine who and who is not a person, on what rational grounds can we argue slavery is wrong? The holocaust?

And how is a fetus less than 100% human? Does it have some human DNA and something else? Will it eventually morph into something else?

 

[mexolic]

President Obama is not Catholic, so why would he heed the Catholic Church on any matters? He knows very well that many Catholics voted for him. Many Catholics disregard the teachings of the Church. I believe the Church should educate and emphasize the important issues to the American Catholics who voted Obama into office. After his second term is up, will Catholics repeat the same mistake again?

 

[ProVobis]

Not exactly. Our very ignorance says we must err on the side of caution.

I don’t know if non-Christians believe that a soul is implanted at the time of conception. Or even believe in the soul at all. That was my point with the faith aspect.

Most people would say that the intentional death of an innocent human being is wrong in all cases. Biological facts confirm that a conceived child is indeed a human being: the fetus is alive, has DNA distinct from mother and father, and is human.

The question then is when exactly does conception occur and when does the “morning-after” pill (inter alia) really become an abortifacient. Some believe all birth control pills are abortifacients; many do not. I don’t even think the Catholic Church has made a definite ruling on this. By definition an abortifacient may be a vehicle in causing “death of an innocent human being,” we vastly undercount the number of actual abortions, and we don’t even know it.

 

[R_C]

President Obama is not Catholic, so why would he heed the Catholic Church on any matters? …] Many Catholics disregard the teachings of the Church.

And what do these two things teach us? That it’s not a matter of being or not being a Christian in full communion with the Catholic Church, it’s a matter of being open to truth and wisdom, wherever it comes from.

 

[Lucky7]

President Obama is not Catholic, so why would he heed the Catholic Church on any matters? He knows very well that many Catholics voted for him. Many Catholics disregard the teachings of the Church. I believe the Church should educate and emphasize the important issues to the American Catholics who voted Obama into office. After his second term is up, will Catholics repeat the same mistake again?

And because of this the Catholic Church and its teachings looks weak and irrevelant to him, I’m sure. This issue goes much deeper than Obama.

 

[Suudy]

I don’t know if non-Christians believe that a soul is implanted at the time of conception. Or even believe in the soul at all. That was my point with the faith aspect.

And my point is that ensoulment (and by extension, faith) is irrelevant. There is no common ground with regard to whether or not there is a soul, so why bother to discuss it?

The question then is when exactly does conception occur and when does the “morning-after” pill (inter alia) really become an abortifacient. Some believe all birth control pills are abortifacients; many do not. I don’t even think the Catholic Church has made a definite ruling on this. By definition an abortifacient may be a vehicle in causing “death of an innocent human being,” we vastly undercount the number of actual abortions, and we don’t even know it.

We need to put first things first. We are talking about the intended death of an innocent human being, not the means by which it occurs. First we have to agree that a fetus is a human being, then that all human beings have rights (e.g. personhood), then we can argue about mechanisms. Abortifacients are diversions from the root issue.

 

[JERKEB]

My church and I have prayed a lot for the outcome of the election. My hope now that the present admin will try to cooperate with the Catholic Church and repect our beliefs.
Otherwise it will be a tough time ahead for Catholics. We seem to be in an age of falling away from the church (all faiths.) I continue to pray for those who left will return to the church especially now when we need to be united.

 

[Tampa_Dave]

President Obama is not Catholic, so why would he heed the Catholic Church on any matters? He knows very well that many Catholics voted for him. Many Catholics disregard the teachings of the Church. I believe the Church should educate and emphasize the important issues to the American Catholics who voted Obama into office. After his second term is up, will Catholics repeat the same mistake again?

Yes, they will.