Allahpundit, whose atheism is a matter of public record, is a well known conservative blogger and contributor to Michelle Malkin’s HotAir. His perception on the formation of the Catholic conscience in the United States is quite interesting. Follow his links.
I find it interesting, and frightening that while more and more conservatives abandon the walls when it comes to pro-life and pro-family positions, many Catholics whose doctrine is fundamentally pro-life are doing the same. Not only are liberally minded Catholics leaning left on so many issues that afford difference of opinion among professed Catholics of good will, but even the conservatively minded are liberalizing on life issues. Unfortunately, the guidance they have received have confirmed them in the illusion that a pro-choice position is compatible with Catholic faith.
St. Augustine said: “In essential matters unity; in doubtful matters liberty, in all things charity.” Opposition to abortion from the Catholic perspective is an essential matter. Exact federal policy on the question of immigration is not. It seems to me that its a matter of charity to make the distinctions clear.
“the guidance they have received have confirmed them in the illusion that a pro-choice position is compatible with Catholic faith.”
This is VERY true. And the illusion comes through our heirarchy. Whether it is an Archbishop putting Holy Communion in the hands of a pro-abortion politician of the greatest public awareness or the words of the bishops of CT saying it is okay to use the abortifacient in emergency cases.
My parish has a pro-abortion state representative. The director for the campaign is Catholic. The sister who runs the local Catholic charities was pictured in the paper supporting him. The priest says he is a democrat and that it is not individual actions we need to look at but that in peace and justice we need to change a system in total.
There is the ‘seamless’ garment approach that puts immigration reform on the level of abortion or fair wages or some such thing.
Of course Catholics are confused. The few voices that courageously preach the truth are held up to ridicule by the majority that do not.
The bishops choose as their representative to come a bishop with a bankrupt diocese who let be ordained a man who had known homosexual improprieties and who is in prison now. He also is a ‘welcomer’ of the ‘gay community’. That is who will be spokesman for the bishops in 3 years. Of course the sheep are confused! The messages are conflicting so one might as well choose what they like because there are ways to back it up. This has been going on for decades.
The old saying “There are no atheists in foxholes” comes to mind with this post. It sounds like ‘Allahpundit’ is a closet believer, and a ‘traditional’ one at that! But what he said is good because some of us need to be shocked by what an “outsider” says, to awaken our conscience and set our feet on the right path. Unfortunately, our own leaders and spokesmen have guided many on the road to perdition. Each one of us is called to proclaim the Truth, even unto death, following Our Lord into martyrdom. The Lord said He would “vomit out of His mouth” those who are wishy-washy. Let us be courageous and be “Pro-Life!” Let us give our lives for the unborn!