The Church is not a political entity. The Church does not have a "political strategy," She has a moral theology and teaching function. The Church is above and transcendent of politics, even when the matter at hand is the sanctity and inherent dignity of human life. (Although some commentators show themselves once again to be, not merely Catholic, but Political Catholics -- politics first and foremost, politics driving and informing the faith, politics, politics, politics.)

This shows the inherent limits of what the laity can do. For all the talk about the role of the laity in the "world," it always comes down to priests and bishops if you want to get something done. That's because the laity are simply messengers at best - they have no authority and no accountability, unlike the clergy. I suspect this is the beginning of the end of the romance of the laity "presiding" in the world.

When I suggested a lay strategy it was with a full recognition of the authority of the clergy, there was never any hint of a "democratic" Church or any of that nonsense. In regard to the issue of a political strategy, it was a conference about the pro-life movement, and my point was that the strategy was in service of the Church.

Thank you for this info on the Pro-Life meeting. Did anyone bring up the racist elements in the Pro-Choice movement? Where any members of the African-American Pro-Life movement at the meeting? How can we find out if there are pro-life meetings within driving distance?

...and a first for us this year - the local chapter of "Silent No More" will lead the 13th annual TUCSON MARCH FOR LIFE on Jan. 17. This is also the second year we have teamed up with the Evangelicals. We kick off with 9 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral and they kick off with a service in the Cathedral commons. Then we join together to march from the Cathedral to Holy Hope Cemetery for the "Rose Ceremony." A rose is placed at the Monument of Rachel for each year that abortion has been legal.

I take exception at Jess's comments that the Laity are "messengers at best." You don't need to be a Bishop to know that abortion is wrong and you don't need to be a member of the clergy to march in Washington, write letters to politicians, etc. In the Catholic faith, the laity does not "elect" Bishops, they are appointed by the Vatican, and I do not question that. However, to say that I, as a layman have no role in the secular world, especially the world of politics, beyond doing what I am told, is wrong. The Bishops certainly have a role in the Pro-Life movement, but the laity are not robots who simply do what they are told every step of the way, without thought. My Bishop did not tell me to march in Washington, I went on my own, my Bishop did not tell me to write letters to Congressmen, I did this on my own. I recognize the Bishop's authority in matters of Faith and Morals, but I do not simply sit on my hands and "wait for orders." The Church is not a "Democracy" however, that does not mean that the laity cannot take action in the Pro-Life movement without specific direction from the clergy.

I don't know if there is any kind of national database of pro-life meetings, there should be. Yes, the issue of abortion among African-Americans was brought up in the context of discussing the Obama administration; however, it was not described as "racist," which I don't think quite fits. I don't think black children are being aborted at higher rates because they are black.

Jesus and His original followers did a fair job of leading and none were priests or bishops until Peter became the first. Let our leaders lead and the priests and bishops will learn from them. Besides that, all who love our neighbors with obedience to God's laws are His 'priests'.

Deal,

Many thanks for including pro-life Dems in your vision. Kudos for the bipartisanship. I'll continue to vote pro-life; now we just need a few million others.

--Eric

Hi,
One of my daughters and one of my sons are going to the march in Washington. What is everyone's opinion about numbers showing up and how much opposition will show? Our diocese, Indianapolis is completely full, no room left on all the buses. Thanks

A twisted interpretation of Faithful Citizenship was not primarily the product of aggressive outreach organizations: it was inherent in the document itself. If anything useful came out of this past experience it might be that more bishops are now aware of the significance of their quadrennial statement on voting. Nearly one third of the bishops issued their own statements "clarifying" the USCCB document.

Douglas MacArthur once said that a general should never write orders that can be understood - he must write them so that they cannot be misunderstood. This is something the bishops need to take to heart ... and now would not be too early to take that message to them.

I was certainly disappointed that I could not attend this in person due to family commitments, but I had the opportunity to catch Joe Scheidler, Ed Rivet, and Deal's speeches on the radio and thought they were great. All of them underscored working with others who are pro-life even if we disagree with them on other matters and this is really needed. You can be sure that Obama's people disagreed on many issues, yet worked together to get one man elected. If pro-life people had done this, we wouldn't have an abortion radical for our next president.

My understanding is that these speeches will be recorded to CD and sold. Hopefully they will also be posted on the internet. I'm hoping there will be more of these pro-life summits and I look forward to the day when we gather for a pro-life celebration! No longer shall one fourth of our children be killed!


I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.
...
Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.

P.S. Thanks for writing about this!

Like it or not the Church is a political body; the balance of power needs to be checked like the rudder on a boat to assure the direction of the Parish/Diocese etc are in sync with, in our case as Catholics, Pope Benedict who has his own long-standing ways of staying in communion with GOD and The Catholic Church teachings.

Furthermore, we have been told that we have an obligation to serve in the political arena of our Communities and Countries, if we are so called----not everyone is called. Except in some instances, like the RIGHT to Life of the UNBORN.

This meeting was a great uplift to me and I look forward to being kept informed as to what we can do at the Parish level. I know my Parish was definitely subject to the mis-interpretation of the Faithful Citizenship document. Haven't been here long enough to understand how it happened... in other words don't yet understand the politics (who is in power) of the Parish.
Let us all in the meantime pray daily and stay informed and do at least 10% more this year than last year to safeguard the babies yet to be born in our Nation!

Excellent Article Deal and Thank you for the book!

In regards to "Politics, Politics, Politics"... You better believe that the Catholic church has a political goal and that is to end injustice, especially for the unborn. Are we to proceed towards this end without a strategy? Luke 14:28-32 Although the Catholic Church is above politics, we the laity of the Catholic Church must take up the fight in the political sphere to protect Jesus in the least among us manifest in the most discriminated class of people: The Unborn.



One Correction: The Summit was held at Christ the King Catholic Church in Ann Arbor.

We continue to be Pro Pill society,untill we and our Church leaders puta n all out effort,to teach ,us and our youth, the Theology of the Body,and our Bishops encouarage our priests to properly train our young adults for mariage, following the basic Catholic teaching of lthe Theology of the Body, we will continueto loose this battle of abortion.

I agree % with Ray Metzger on the teaching of Theology of the Body to our youth and in marriage prep courses to help bring an end to abortion in our land.

I do not believe I have ever heard a good reason why we rarely, if ever, see this as a civil rights issue. Why do we not see the preborn as a minority of which discrimination, of the worst kind, is practiced? I believe the implication is there, but the dehumanizing of the preborn is most evident, I believe, in our reluctance to raise them to the status of a group most violated by hate crimes.

Two thoughts:

From the GOP side, The GOP lost because of their utter abandonment of working people. They might want to "re"think that.

From the Dem side, The easiest thing the bishops could do is put pressure on the pro-choice Catholic Democratic politicians to stop using the church for their political gains.

As an ALL-style pro-lifer, I agree to a "change of strategy," in that the goal of NRLC is to keep abortion legal as long as possible so the NRLC can have a purpose to exist and stay in business.

But I'm sick and tired of hearing, since this election, that "change of strategy" means "compromise." I've read *several* columns and think tank position pieces recently arguing that "compromise" needs to be reached wherein abortion stays legal and pro-lifers "embrace" efforts to "prevent" abortion: in other words, pro-lifers surrender and become pro-choice.

Yet even the argument about "preventing" abortion holds no water, because the pro-aborts despite crisis pregnancy centers.. I don't hear Obama promising federal funding to CPCs. And "abortion prevention", even in the words of many Obama Catholics, means "birth control" and "sex education," both of which are contrary to Catholic teaching.

No, the "change in strategy" should be abandonment of the incrementalist strategy, which John Paul II condemned in _Evangelium Vitae_ as embodying the sin of despair.

End abortion *and* contraception NOW. That should be the call of every faithful Catholic.

I not only supported Obama, but worked many hours every day, as a volunteer on his campaign. I found that at any given time, roughly 50% of the team working with me consisted of pro-life Catholics. None of us was shy in telling pro-choice supporters where we stood and why.

Now, those same activists are moving to get themselves involved in the decision-making process of the Democratic Party. I asked the local chairperson why there were not more pro-life candidates and he said it is because few pro-lifers come forward. It seems to me that there are many Catholics who support the Democrats on a host of issues but who don't vote for them because of abortion. Might I suggest that a better option would be to become involved in the Democratic Party and change it from within? After all, the alternative, should the Democratic Party be destroyed, is the end of democracy in America in favor of a one-Party dictatorship.

We need this to be a two party movement for sure, because otherwise all the gains that were made by one party will be erased by the party that is committed to being the opponent. I don't feel that this can be done though by supporting the current pro-choice democratic leadership. The ends do not justify the means.

I harbor no ill feelings against those who personally worked to elect Obama and I am praying for you along with Obama. Please step back though and consider that your comrades were NARAL and Planned-Parenthood and your opponents were Right to Life and Bishops such as Chaput, Martino, Boyea, and over a hundred others. Can we in good conscience fight for the rights of the unborn along side those who are working towards killing more innocent lives?

I hope that with a clear mind we will evaluate Obama's presidency based on his actions not what the media tells us. If he repeals the Mexico City Policy or the Hyde amendment, we can be assured that his intentions for his presidency are in violation of being pro-life.

Hi Deal,

Thanks for your talk. Hopefully this type of thing (End Abortion-ProLife Summit) catches on across the country. We need to get serious quick. My wife and and had been thinking this (seperating partisinship from the pro-life movement) for some time. As Ed Rivet said in his talk, Michigan Right to Life did that several years ago. That is why the liberal Detroit Free Press complaigned last September about how all the Democratic candidates were not pro-choice (cringe...I hate to let this term be used).

BTW...for those interested in hearing Deal and the other speakers at the conference, you can go to http://mycatholicradio.com to order the CDs. Henry Root is the WDEO contact for these and many others. However, if you just call the station, someone will direct you to the right place.

That is why the liberal Detroit Free Press complained last September about how all the Democratic candidates were not pro-choice

Candidates for what? Michigan House? Andy Dillon, the Democratic Speaker of the House for Michigan is strongly pro-life, which has been a blessing.

go to http://mycatholicradio.com to order the CDs

I couldn't find it on that site yet. It would be nice if they would consider posting MP3s of the conference.

I heard one speaker say that Michigan is viewed as one of the states most favorable to pro-life views. Really? This depresses me as it doesn't seem too favorable at all. And much of the rest of the country is worse? Yikes!

The truth is that most Catholics do not know their faith. If they did, there would be less sinful fornication, i.e., sex outside of marriage that leads to abortion and fewer divorces. The faithful would be effectively taught the meaning and purpose of sex as God intended when He gifted sex to humans. The Pope and Bishops are the shepherds of the flock. It is their role to teach the church. They have failed to get the word of God out prior to elections that abortion is killing innocent babies and a grave sin. Think about it. God has a plan for our lives and abortion interferes with God's plan for the lives of aborted babies. This is the work of satan to destroy us. The shepherds' voice was weak at best in the Faithful Citizenship document. The so-called Catholic politicians who support abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research (that kills embryos and clones them), same sex marriage and the like, all that is against the word of God, should have been PUBLICLY ex-communicated from the Church for heresy until they sincerely repented. Because the Bishops in this country were silent, we soon will have a "President of Death" and the undoing of the strides that pro-lifers have made. President elect, Obama has promised to reduce the number of abortions by funding it and making it legal across the board. I ask you, "Has the legalization of alcohol, reduced the number of alcoholics?" This is masterful deceit, big time. This country has been evicting God from all places that our wise forefathers have placed Him. Immorality is rampant. We are no longer blessed. God is ready to show His justice and this complacent, silent country deserves whatever happens! Many of us prayed hard before the election, but I tell you, now we must pray as we have never prayed before. Read John 9:31.

J. Kruger,
Exactly. The priests don't have to "get political" at all. They just have to *teach the faith*. It used to be that priests were required to give certain doctrinal lessons once a year. If they taught against abortion and contraception, and adultery and fornication, and divorce, from the altar, things would be a lot different.

Trish,
I'm glad that so many Catholics who are Democrats call themselves "pro-life." But you're still supporting a candidate who vowed absolutely to end all restrictions on abortion. You're voting for a candidate who *claims* to want to "prevent" abortion, but a) Crisis Pregnancy Centers already *do* that stuff, and the Democrats try to shut them down, and b) the rest of what he menas by "abortion prevention" is just as evil as abortion.

Which brings up a question, how many of these "pro-life" Democrats you're talking about oppose divorce and artificial contraception? I have yet to meet a "pro-life" Democratic Catholic who supports the Church's teachings on divorce and contraception (I've also met very few "pro-life" Republican Catholics who support them, either).

Margaret Sanger - Planned Parenthood and Eugenics

http://www.ewtn.com/library/prolife/pp04a.txt

Re: Teaching the faith

If priests started teaching the faith on contraception, and not in some vague "open to life" talk, but the real deal, the pews would be empty.

I disagree. Lately the associate pastor at my parish has been addressing hot topic and church doctrine issues very directly and people love it. Many times I agree with him and send him a note of encouragement (as I know it is tough for him to be so vocal.) Other times he makes me squirm and I send him a note of encouragement because that is what I need to hear. I'm also planning on sending a note of thanks to our retiring archbishop for assigning him to our parish and a note to our new archbishop letting him know what a wonderful treasure this priest is.

'Real deal' homilies do not have to be fire and brimstone. They can be firm and motivated out of love, not ire. However, many priests are worried that they will drive people away by stating church doctrine, so they give nebulous homilies. Encourage your priest. Let him know that many don't know church teaching found in the catechism or on social issues and that they hunger for that leadership from the pulpit. Hopefully your priest will respond and be willing to truly take on the role of spiritual leader.

And while I agree with you, J., in part, the problem is not just that most Catholics don't know their own faith. They don't want or care to know. I have a friend who claims to be a "bad Catholic" and she's proud of it. And while she was baptized and confirmed Catholic, she is anything but a genuine practicing Catholic. She still claims her Catholic "heritage" if you will, because it gives her sense of belonging to something bigger than herself, even if she doesn't agree or even believe in the teachings of the Catholic Church. It gives her credibility when speaking with her pro-choice counterparts, i.e. "Well, she's 'Catholic' but she agrees with us so she must know that the Church is full of itself."

I highly doubt she is the only one like this either. Many will claim to be Catholic on whatever form or question you present them, but they choose to ignore the teachings of the Church. Being Catholic for them is like being a part of some club. They don't have to believe in the tenants just as long as they are a member.

The number of Catholics is always reported as somewhere around 25% of the voting population. But I would guesstimate that a more accurate figure would place the number of believing, practicing, voting Catholics as somewhere closer to 10-15%, maybe less.

How you teach the tenants of the faith, to "members" of the faith who don't want to learn?

My husband and I were there in Ann Arbor as well. We are energized and grateful for the pro-life leadership we heard at the summit. Deal Hudson articulated strategies and realities that helped give us direction. (We're helping Dr. Miller put together an email database for starters.) Thank you so much for being there Mr. Hudson!

I agree with the comments from those who say we need to hear more from the pulpit. In my diocese, friction between clergy and diocesan leadership has been sad. What's worse, it seems that we no longer hear about the issues because we are worried about the collection plate. People need to hear the word in their hearts, not focussing on the latest building project or the latest fundraiser. When will we raise our sights above the here and now and aspire to the noble notion of confronting garbage with the Truth? When we take the first step. And be prepared for those who would rather be entertained than be intellectual. Many can't stomach the intelligent discussion of our faith so be patient.

Ending all abortions is the utmost priority! However, I do feel the issue of racism plays an important role in abortions. (One could clearly research the history of artifical contraception, and so on). I am astonished the African American leaders are not outraged at the large number of abortion clinics (really mills) in the minority neighborhoods - this is where the majority of these facilities are! Talk about social injustice!

Many of the women in these minority neighborhoods that seek the abortions are very vulnerable, e.g., povery, single parenthood. To think these Democratic leaders are acting as if they are extending a loving hand by giving these women access and funding for abortions is unbelievable! Seems like a wolf in sheep's clothing to me!

I feel the issue of abortion has many levels, and in one of these levels, racist aspects exist. Ultimately evil does not care which babies are aborted; however, if in the process, wars and divisions among races are created, then satan smiles more.

There should be more grassroot movements to create/expand the pro-life efforts specifically in these impoverished, vulnerable, and minority neighborhood to end this grave social injustice and bring forth the inherent dignity of the members of these communities!

I completely agree that the Catholic Church cannot be said to have a party affiliation, its mission and very nature prevent it from being limited to the sphere of a political group.

However, a very faulty logic is being used by Democratic Catholics: That because the Catholic Church has no party affiliation, any party affiliation must not conflict with the requirements of being Catholic! Ergo, I can be Republican or Democrat, Libertarian or Independent Party without having to reflect on the morality of engaging in that association vis a vis my membership in the Church.

Clearly, over time, there have been organizations or parties that Catholics cannot join regardless of the fact that the Catholic Church can never itself be identified with any political or social organization. For example, Catholics cannot be Masons because we do not believe that all religions are equivalent (professed Mason belief which denies the Divine Sonship of Jesus Christ); Catholics cannot be Nazis (denial of proper ordering of Church and State and the denial of the sacred humanity of our fellow man); Catholics cannot be Klu Klux Klan members who deny the humanity and equality of our fellow man; Catholics cannot be communists which deny that any religion is true; Catholics cannot become Protestant and remain Catholic, nor Hindu nor any other religious profession, etc (Note to future commentators, I'm not trying to equate any of the more objectionable groups, Nazis, with ones with which we disagree like Hindus, etc., just making a point about the limits on which types of groups a Catholic can join and remain Catholic)

Where am I leading with this? To the Democrat party platform. Just like any other political organization, the Democrat party is not a accident of birth (like our American citizenship) but is an ideological fraternity, chosen by one's own free will. This Democrat ideology has a definition which can be found in the part platform: "The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman's right to choose a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay, and we oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine that right." Democrat Party Platform at pt. 52. Can any Democrat honestly state that this confession of Democrat belief can be reconciled with Catholic belief? Do not all those who where responsible for drafting this document and all those who ratify it by their continued membership run afoul of Canon 1369? "A person in a public show or speech, in published writing, or in other uses of the instruments of social communication utters blasphemy, gravely injures good morals, expresses insults, or excites hatred or contempt against religion or the Church is to be punished with a just penalty."

I cannot imagine a worse way to injury good morals than by not only claiming to confer on others the right to kill the innocent but in addition to offer to pay for it! Before you think I've gone overboard, ask your self this question: If the Democrat party platform instead said: "The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Dred Scott v. Sandford and a man's right to choose a safe and legal method to restore his slave property, regardless of ability to pay, and we oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine that right" would you think I was being unfair or unreasonable?

God Bless,

Gunnar Gundersen

To get CDs or an MP3 CD of the entire conference contract

Relevant Redundancy Recordings
475 Hilldale, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48105

734-662-1592
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The Conference was Saturday and today is Monday...be patient. You will probably see the CDs in the Online Store soon. Henry Root hosts a show called "Putting on the Mind of Christ." In that show Henry replays many recordings of conferences and talks. If you really want a copy quickly, call the station and ask for Henry. He is there almost daily. He would probably be happy to cut you a copy in MP3, however the set will cost you about $60. If you are polite you may be able to talk him into selling you only Deal's talk. They are not expensive but it is a business.

As for which candidates...State Legislature and Senate mostly, but there are many congressional as well as county and city level as well. I believe the article is still online in the Free Press archives...perhaps you could look it up.

As for the speaker who said Michigan is viewed as the most pro-life...that was Ed Rivet, from Right to Life of Michigan. His point was that, in addition to the grass roots efforts and the excellent work his PAC has done many of the other states envy our State.

We need to prompt a change in the culture. We need to change culture to see children for what they are - a blessing and our hope for the future of society. (BO's tag line should have been "The death of hope.") Instead they are portrayed as a punishment, cost and hindrance. The environmentalists see children as the worst that can happen to the planet instead of those that will find solutions to our problems.

The abortion mantra has been "every child a wanted child" implying it was OK to eliminate the unwanted. We need to help society to want all children including those that are not "perfect." (Who of us is perfect?)

As for the politics, neither Democrats nor Republicans really want a change in the status quo. The alienation between the two sides provides a stable base for each side to raise funds.

We have to let all politicians know that we're not going to put up with it any more. In the mail today I got notice of a "Prayer for Life" meeting at the Iowa state capitol on Feb 9, 3:30-4:30.

http://irlc.org/events/prayer-for-life/

I plan to attend and encourage others in IA to do the same. (I live in IA about 2 hours from the capitol.) Imagine the impact on the politicians if a large number turned out to such events and followed up with letters and calls. (Part of the IA event is to meet with state legislators.)

Ann,

I have a pastor who *does* regularly preach on this stuff ,and the parish is packed to the gills--in part because it draws people for its reputation as one of the most orthodox in the city. Our parish is headquarters to a major nation-wide chastity and NFP apostolate.

One of the first homilies we heard when we were visiting, before we moved here, was on Jesus' prayer "that they may be one." Father began talking about unity, about peace, aboutu healing our divisions as Catholics. It started with what many would call a "liberal" tone, and I began bracing myself.
Then he shifted, as I've come to learn is his style, and said, "But we all know that true unity can only come from total obedience to all the teachings of the Catholic Church. . . ."
One time, he preached on how the vocations crisis is directly linked to the crisis in marriage and the family, and if we want more priests we need to stop divorcing and contracepting.

Amd, even if the pews *do* empty, the pews emptied for Jesus on more than one occassion (e.g., John 6). In fact, more ofteh than not, the proverbial pews *filled* for Jesuss: filled with people who wanted to stone Him.

I heard on the news today that not only the porn industry, but now the (billion dollar) abortion industry is sticking its greedy hand forward for bail-out monies!! Unbelievable. Is America basing its economic stability on jobs in industries that morally harm the basic unit of America, the family? Are some of the stimulus jobs Obama proposes going to be in the field of embryonic stem cell research??

Also reported today that young teen girls are wanting to have babies as trophies; they lack a healthy self-esteem & self-repect looking for love & approval in all the wrong places and activities. There is little parental supervision & no cultural wisdom. Young teen & college-age women are selling their virginity, their eggs--to promote self-employment and their parents are supportive; especially the mothers. There is little discernment as to what is acceptable employment.
Without moral standards much of our youth is being taught through pseudo tolerance, inclusivity & relativism that one job is as good as another. There is no doing the upright thing; the thing a person ought to do rather than what a person can do.

Fr. Richard John Neuhaus whose funeral is in NYC today wrote about Christianity within the public forum back in the mid-1980's before he became a Catholic priest. After his Catholic conversion in the early 1990's he embraced the prolife movement calling it the extension of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960's...he marched with Rev. M.L. King, although in the background. He summed it up this way: "Politics is chiefly a function of culture; at the heart of culture is morality; at the heart of morality is religion."

This morality crisis may become the death of our culture & society.
People in a totally secular society will not automatically do the right thing because they have denied the natural law within each soul...and replaced it with false ideology. They have forgotten their true identity as God's creation. This nation still has a chance if we will only heed God's plan for sexuality and children within marraige & family life. We can't turn this around without God; He has & is the Solution.

Culture change... hmm
The way to change the culture is to raise up the next generation to know and understand the Truth of the Catholic church. How can we do this? We need to make the sacrifices needed... by teaching them ourselves at home... at least the teachings of our Mother Church. They need to memorize (gasp!) the Corporal Works of Mercy, etc. They need to read and understand Humane Vitae (which is an easy document to read btw). The truth is, that Catholic Homeschoolers are leading the way. We have 1 recently ordained priest and 4 seminarians from our parish... all of whom are from homeschooling families. Not everyone can homeschool full-time... but everyone can teach their children catechism and the truths of the Catholic faith at home a couple nights a week. It must be done there, it is not being done anywhere else.

It is true, furthermore, that the GOP is not pro-life. While the Democratic party is certainly pro-death as a party -- even as many heroic Democrats are very pro-life -- the GOP counters the message of death, essentially, with no message at all. How else to explain six years of GOP majority in the Congress with a GOP president (2001 to 2006) but no major legislative challenges to the Supreme Court's usurpation of the Constitutional prerogatives of the Legislature?

The GOP wants your vote, and will talk the talk to get it. But -- again with the exception of a few heroic pro-life Republicans -- the GOP has repeatedly shown itself unwilling to engage in the necessary political and Constitutional fight.

Shame on them.

I quite agree, though the litany of voices in favor of contraception is probably what explains the strategy of compromise. To those for whom contraception is sacrosanct, abortion must remain an option. Paul VI observed as much in Humanae Vitae, and the Supreme Court concurred in logic (if not in morality) in Planned Parenthood v. Casey. There can be no victory against abortion or its politics as long as contraception is viewed as morally acceptable, and even a social requirement, by so much of the electorate. Given this, why not map out a strategy with a long term chance of winning?

Such a strategy would look foolish in the short term because so many, many, many people believe that contraception is the foundation stone of happiness. But as long as contraception is viewed so positively by so many, nothing we do against abortion has a chance. Abortion is the contraception fail-safe -- and always will be, so long as contraception remains. Thus, the approach of the vast majority of pro-lifers (i.e. no abortion but I'll keep my contraception, thank you) is always doomed to failure.

Given this reality, our target should not be Roe v. Wade or even Doe v. Bolton but rather Griswold v. Connecticut.

And the hearts must be won over to accepting all children, not just 2.3 per family.

Great article. One point I would like to make: there is no such thing as a Pro-life Democrat. A candidate who supports the Democratic Party by running on its ticket infers that they accept the Party platform. A Republicans should be held to the National Prolife Platform. Every 'pro-life' candidate who claims to be a Democrat knows and comprehends the devastating and sweeping actions of their fellow party members when it comes to destruction of life.

Can a person belong to the Klu Klux Klan and claim not to embrace who they are and what they stand for? I think not.

It's really depressing to read Trish's message that she is a pro-lifer who not only voted for Obama but worked many hours for his campaign. He was the most pro-abortion candidate ever to run for president. His opposition to the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act is a window into his thinking about human life. (Of course, he did his best to conceal his record on this issue, so many people did not know the truth about it.)

I would love to see the Democratic party become pro-life. I just don't think that I'll see it in my lifetime. The people who run the party are pro-abortion to an extreme degree. The few pro-life Democrats who run for congressional seats in conservative regions are weak, to say the least, in their pro-life records once they are in office. They won't be proposing new pro-life legislation. The sadly mixed record of Bob Casey, a senator from my home state of Pennsylvania, is a good example.

A political party isn't a religion. I left the Democratic party because it left me first. My principles didn't change.

I think, though, that we who are pro-life do need to try to hold politicians accountable for their views. If our new president promotes anti-life policies, Trish, will you work for his campaign next time? I hope not. And I hope that you WILL work for the few pro-life Democrats. In addition, when politicians campaign as pro-life and then legislate as pro-abortion, we need to unite to kick them out of office when they come up for reelection! Let's not let them get away with it!

Finally, we must not wait for election time to be active. We have to start now to PAY ATTENTION to what is going on in the life issues.

NARAL and the pro-abortion groups connected with the Democratic party worked for 6 years to get rid of Rick Santorum, and they succeeded. While I don't want to imitate their methods, which involved some truly scurrilous and dishonest personal attacks in local media, I do want us to imitate the strategy of targeting support for pro-life candidates and opposition to pro-abortion candidates well in advance of elections.

To JC, re #38

That is interesting. I still believe, that at least where I live, the pews would empty out, but I could be wrong on that. I don't think pews emptying is necessarily a bad thing either.

Jeannine, you are right. You really can't be a pro-life Democrat. It's too bad. It's also too bad the Republican party is a disaster in most other aspects IMO.

Chessie, you are exactly right. It all begins at home. Anyone stepping up and raising their children to be Catholic, to the best of their ability, is doing one of the most important, if not THE most important jobs in the world.

I don't think its in any pro-lifers interest to join the democratic party. It chiefspokes persons such as Pelosi, Kennedy, Reid are all pro-abort, and they have the support of groups that support abortion, contraception, and same sex union,
these groups being Planned Parenthood, Sierra Club (prochoice and worked with PP in elections), and money from the church to
ACORN. Lets not forget where the media stands.
So really, where does the catholic who is prolife according to the Pope (not American Bishops) stand in the democratic party? Are prolife dems in the party going to publicly rebuke the prochoicers?
For loyalty sake, I will continue to vote republican because they have been more prolife in many ways more than the democratic party. They have also been better in the seamless garment area than the democrats IMO. mike

We also attended the Pro-life Summit in Ann Arbor, Michigan on Saturday. It was so great to see all the Pro-life ministries, It was great that WDEO, made CD's and have continued the talk about Pro-life Issues in their Programs. The Speakers were excellent, and now, we need to prayer and see, where God wants us to build his Kingdom, with the Pro-life Message. Where to Go, Whom to share with. Write to our Senators and Congress People, and tell them we do not want FOCA (Freedom of Choice Act) to become Law. Pray at the Abortion Clinics, Support the Crisis Pregancy Centers. Ask for Mercy on the People who are Pro-Abortion.

our blogsite is http://Jer1Pro-life.blogspot.com

"Jeannine, you are right. You really can't be a pro-life Democrat. It's too bad. It's also too bad the Republican party is a disaster in most other aspects IMO."

- Written by Ann


The Dems are also wrong on homosexuality and not trustworthy regarding National Defense.

Republicans are truly disappointing ...... Democrats are a disgrace.

Good point, Mark!

Look, a political party is a means, not an end. The point is to try to advance the ends we have in mind.

And as long as political parties are made up of people, they aren't going to be perfect. But we shouldn't make the perfect the enemy of the good.

This is spiritual warfare: prayer for life.

I hope all will join in the Novena which began Jan 11-Baptism of the Lord and extends to the March for Life in Washington D.C. on the 22nd. Prayer Intention is to defeat FOCA and the Abortion Manifesto (55 pages of 54 demands from abortion interest groups).
*Fast 2 of the days and on the 22nd spend *one hour in Eucharistic Adoration or before the Tabernacle in prayer for reparation for aborted babies, families & Drs.

Pleasde join us.

For those unfamiliar with Novenas the intention of the defeat of FOCA and etc. is is attached to one's daily Rosary prayer, but all prayers are needed.

Pro-Life Friends,

Neither Republicans nor Democrats are the answer, Jesus is the answer. As one pro-life Democrat put it, I continue to try to effect change from the inside, but in the general elections I am forced to vote Republican because of the life issues.

We need Democrats to step out in the primaries and force these politicians to spend money. Primaries are a nuisance and if we can drain cash from the pro-abortion politicians, we start winning the overall races which will force the Democratic party to become pro-life. As much as the democratic party loves abortion, just ask the leaders, they love winning more. If you consider yourself a Democrat, I encourage you to get active in your local party and run for office! It is my hope that soon enough we will have Pro-life republicans verses Pro-life democrats. Because these are the signs of winning the fight. Then let the real discussions begin! :)

"the issue of abortion among African-Americans was brought up in the context of discussing the Obama administration; however, it was not described as "racist," which I don't think quite fits. I don't think black children are being aborted at higher rates because they are black."

Beyond evidence of racism from Planned Parenthood's eugenicist founder, Margaret Sanger, and the pleas of Alveda King, stated "Seventy-eight percent of Planned Parenthood offices are in black neighborhoods. Blacks make up 12 percent of the U.S. population but have 37 percent of the abortions,”
http://tinyurl.com/8tghgz

and Lila Rose's expose of PP accepting donations to abort black babies,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9KttTuJ4ds

I witnessed the following proclamation by a PP worker, made from the front steps of the facility:
"We need abortion! Without abortion we (Providence) would be overflowing with poor, black people!"
Now, you could say that poverty is the main focus of PP's abortion solution (albeit a false and inhumane solution) but to accept poverty as a given condition of life for black Americans and to see the killing of black offspring as a necessary remedy is, to my mind, racist.

I agree with so many of the comments I have read, they just validate my belief that we need to stop voting political issues & parties, and start voting to support moral issues dictated by God's Laws.

It didn't take me long to decide who would get my vote this year. I didn't have to listen to speech after speech for 12- long months, my mind was made up the first time I heard the words Pro-Choice.

As a devote and practicing Catholic, this years election choice was a no-brainer. I simply compared the candidates platform to God's Law, otherwise known as The Ten commandments.

PRO-CHOICE obviousely goes against "THOU SHALT NOT KILL"

The other one that stood out to me was the First Commandment: "I AM THE LORD THY GOD, THOU SHALT NOT HAVE FALSE gods BEFORE ME" Issues regarding the economy are very real, and are ligitimate causes for concern, but when we as Catholics let them overpower our responsibilities to vote PRO-LIFE aren't we ignoring the First Commandment? Wouldn't money qualify as the false god?

For me, voting this year was simple, it's the next 4-years that are going to be the nightmare. Patty

It would have been a waste of time anyway to listen to the speeches. Obama's was just a repetition of the word 'change' over and over again with no substance at all. In fact I think the only thing concrete Obama said the whole time was that he considered children as nothing more than a punishment. McCain's speeches where all pretty much attacks on Obama, but at least they contained an inkling of substance. As I live in a non-battleground state I went third party. I agree with you that as a Catholic it was a no-brainer. Obama was not a valid choice for a Christian who chose to remain true to God as possible with the list of candidates available.