I’ve been saying since at least May that I’m pro-life. I’m against abortion. I would love to save babies. But I don’t believe that mindlessly voting for whatever cheese ball the Republicans nominate is an effective way to be pro-life. I think there are very significant ways in which some Republican pet policies might actually drive women to abortions, and kill plenty of born people as well. I think we need to focus on the whole picture of why women get abortions, and what we can do to help at all levels– through individual acts of charity, through conversion of hearts, through political policies that will make it easier for women to be mothers, by valuing all life instead of having tunnel vision. I’ve pointed out that abortion rates have been steadily dropping for years, so keeping a Democrat out of office doesn’t seem to matter for the abortion issue. I’ve mentioned that I have serious disagreements with the Democrats, but that Republicans support quite a few of the sins that cry out to Heaven as well, and that my God is God and not an American political party. And every time I bring this up, I’m accused of being pro-abortion. I’ve been told I want to “rip babies apart because of social justice.” People tell me they’re worried about the state of my soul. I’ve been called “worse than most pro-aborts” for suggesting that we save children in other ways than placing our hope in a philandering cad who was pro-abortion until about five minutes ago and now is only pro-abortion some of the time. Because, the philandering cad is a Republican, and we’ve been told that Republicans are pro-life.
Maybe it’s just my abrasive personality that makes people react to me that way, but I don’t think so. Because I’ve seen other people go through the same thing. My friends Scott and Matthew get it more often than I do.
I’m going to say this again: I don’t want to rip babies apart for “social justice.” I don’t want any babies ripped apart, ever. I just think that trying to save babies by voting Republican is about as effective as trying to save a fridge full of beer by shoving it through a too-small doorway instead of checking to see if the kitchen fuse is blown. And calling everyone who isn’t a Republican a “pro-abort” is about as effective as screaming at anyone who suggests there’s a more practical way of keeping beer cold.
If you are Catholic, your kingdom is not of this world, and slavishly conforming to either of the major political parties is a form of idolatry. They’re both wrong on plenty of issues. If you’re pro-life, you should care about saving people’s lives, valuing human life wherever you find it, cherishing it for the priceless treasure it is. You shouldn’t be leaping like a lemming over a political cliff that’s proven useless.
Do not conform to the ways of this world. Vote however your conscience directs you to vote, using reason instead of swallowing political bait over and over again. If something has been tried and found useless, if something seems like a bad idea to you, step back and think again. You’re allowed to do that. If someone is transparently lying, don’t listen to him. You’re allowed to do that. You’re allowed to agree with someone on all but one issue. You’re allowed to vote third-party. Form your conscience and listen to it.
Cast down your idols, and plug in the fridge. Don’t throw the baby out with the beer.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In