When I was on my way to the poll last night, a last look at Facebook showed a popular Catholic musician/speaker saying that there were three major things that would define the authentic Roman Catholic vote. Commonweal confirmed this Big Three in an op-ed piece on last night's election. The Big Three were as follows: ~Voting against those who support abortion ~Voting against those who would support gay marriage ~Voting for those who would protect "religious freedom" (specifically, the ability of the Roman Catholic Church to say that any person covered by Catholic insurance would have no access to coverage for birth control or abortion procedures) Leaving aside the third of these for the moment, I'd like to look at the first two. The claim made by at least two Roman Catholic U.S. bishops (please see the Commonweal article for direct quotes) is that abortion and gay marriage are intrinsically evil, and therefore to vote for them is to be complicit in intrinsic evil. If you know me or any of my friends, you know well that I support LGBTQ people in their right to pursue romance and marriage with the same rights and dignity that straight couples have. To call gay marriage intrinsically evil is, I would argue, intrinsically evil. But what of abortion? I look at my newly pregnant belly and am literally terrified at the thought that something might go wrong. Having an abortion--in order to save my own life, for example--would be beyond devastating. It would crush me. I am in a place of great privilege in that I am married to a wonderful, warm, loving husband who happens to be an amazing and dedicated father. Our shared income allows the coming of this second kidlet to be only a little scary financially speaking, at least for now. Even though we definitely weren't planning on having another one right now, we can without fear of our family situation falling to pieces. Suppose I were a woman of no means, with no partner, no family, no support? Suppose I were raped, or suppose I believed in the promises of a liar and ended up pregnant and supportless? Suppose I couldn't stand the thought of abortion, and didn't see any other way but abortion? Or suppose I were taking birth control and it didn't work, and to be pregnant and/or to have a child would destroy my life? Suppose it were you in desperate, unexpected, unwanted circumstances, and you had to make a choice like this. I invite you, in your considered opinion, according to your well-developed conscience, to answer the following question: The Roman Catholic bishops, not one of whom will ever have to face pregnancy, have laid out their opinions forcefully. Abortion is intrinsically evil--it can never be of or for good, in other words.
But I want to hear from those of you who have faced or may in the future face pregnancy, either as a woman or as the partner of one. Is abortion always and in every case a grave evil? Is abortion ever a grave evil? I will post more on my thoughts on the issue after you all have had a chance to respond. If you would like to add more, either by name or anonymously, feel free to post in the comments below. (Of course, please note that any form of malicious, bullying, or otherwise inappropriate commentary will be deleted immediately. Bullies have no welcome here.)
4 Comments
John C.
11/7/2012 04:56:56 am
In the words of my father-in-law, who I agree with, abortion should be universally available and socially unnecessary. Despite the RCC's opinions, no other group to my knowledge has gone as far as they have to support their position by taking care of the mothers and babies already here. Catholic Charities, at least where I am, and even in conservative parts of NY, is extremely professional when it comes to being evenhanded with the beliefs of others, and quite diligent in their work.
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kdh
11/7/2012 05:40:24 am
I know that if my mother had not had two abortions before I was born, I would never have been born. She would have had those children, and then never moved to the country where I was born, met my father, or given birth to me or my siblings. So it is difficult for me to argue against abortion as a matter of principle.
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Katie (unmowngrass)
11/7/2012 07:48:08 am
I don't think abortion was God's idea. I think He weeps over every single one, and I think the church should too. On the other hand, I do believe that the victims of abortion will go straight to Heaven and get to be with God whilst the rest of us have to suffer through sins and struggles down here; in that sense, I don't think the child ~loses~, per sae. (See David's comments re: the baby he had with Bathseba that then died.)
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MamaCheshire
11/7/2012 08:15:46 am
Writing this while trying to unstick my brain on really annoying stats homework, so bear with me.
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