Since others may have similar question on this issue I thought it best to publish my response on it to Mrs. Remus.
Dear Ms. Remus,
Thank you for your letter and a Blessed Easter to you.
One quick clarification, the Liberal Party of Canada does not support abortion, as you say, but supports a woman’s right to choose. In fact, there is a pro-life caucus within the party; members who have moral difficulties with abortion. There is vigorous debate within the LPC over this issue, but we all agree that abortion is always a tragedy, and we should be creating a social environment where women are not put in the position to make such a difficult choice. As we say, abortion should be “safe, legal, and rare.”
The other parties have a similar position. Conservative leader Stephen Harper has said that he isn’t interested in opening the abortion debate, and NDP leader, Jack Layton, while forcefully arguing that abortion is a womens health issue, nonetheless concedes to the moral problems the issue raises.
The Election Guide is thorough in its examination of the issues, not focusing on one particular item, and each party stands convicted if they had to be in agreement over every matter the bishops identify.
While abortion is often connected to the Liberals and the NDP, Catholics often fail to ask the Conservatives about issues such as poverty, affordable housing, and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, all of which are moral issues that the bishops identify as being important items for voters to consider.
But back to your original point, when Catholics are having abortions at the same rate as the rest of the population, I fear that the bishops are asking politicians to do what they cannot. All the issues the bishops identify in the guide and in other social documents, should be discussed and lived within the Catholic community before we ask other people to live according to our moral frameworks. Too often, we ask people to listen to what the church has to say without first receiving its Saviour. All our moral and ethical behaviour flows from our commitment to Christ and His Church.
On this most holy of days, the Resurrection of our Lord, I agree with the bishops, that God has been revealed to be the Lord of Life, and that life must be protected. As a committed Catholic I covet your prayers as I seek to live out Christ’s call of mercy and justice in our world, so that, as followers of the Risen Christ, we can proclaim His Kingdom of life and salvation in a broken and hurting world.
Thank you,
Michael
4 comments:
The right to choose is just lip service when the choice to have a child means raising the child in poverty. We need to ensure women with children can find affordable childcare when they work or attend school.
Anon,
You're absolutely right. That's we have a plan for childcare.
MC
Dear Mr. Cormican,
In all fairness to your readers, my original question to you should have been posted on your blogsite. You have posted your response to me, but not my question.
Here is my letter and question to you, to which you responded:
Dear Mr. Cormican,
Happy Easter!
I am writing with a question which it is hoped you will answer. On your website you indicate that you have been involved with the Knights of Columbus, thus you make it clear that you are Catholic.
As you know, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops published a voting guide for Catholics recently. (Please see attached document) The Guide indicates that we, as Catholics, are to demand the right to life for even the smallest among us -- the human embryo and the foetus -- since they too belong to the human family, while also providing assistance to pregnant women facing difficulties."
The guide furthermore states, "that a well-formed Christian conscience does not permit one to vote for a political program or an individual law in which the fundamental content of faith and morals is replaced by the introduction of proposals differing from this content or opposing it."
The Liberal Party is clear that it supports abortion. Do you support the Liberal Party's position on abortion?
Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Maureen Remus
"All the issues the bishops identify in the guide and in other social documents, should be discussed and lived within the Catholic community before we ask other people to live according to our moral frameworks"
Well that would be nice but I think this is an unnecessary request. Catholics also have relatively similar rates of murder and child abuse as those in the non-Catholic community, does this mean that the entire Catholic Church must be entirely devoid of child abuse before it can suggest that child abuse should be illegal? If so, how long must a particular church community remain pure of these sins before they are permitted to voice their displeasure of sin?
This doesn't seem like a very solid point to me, Mr Cormigan. Have I perhaps missunderstood your comment?
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