Can I get some links about pro-choice Catholics?

[rockymountaindem]

We've talked about it before, but I could use them again. Haven't some Bishops come out to say that being pro-choice doesn't automatically disqualify someone as a good person?

[davidinalameda]

1. try this one

http://www.cath4choice.org/

[merh]

2. Go to this thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1040830

[merh]

3. And here is another

The Vatican's position "if a Catholic thinks a candidate's positions
on other issues outweigh the difference on abortion, a vote for that candidate would not be considered sinful."

Most priests misinterpret this message or don't know that it is the Vatican's position.

==============
Cardinal Ratzinger's note underlined the principles involved for the Catholic voter.

"A Catholic would be guilty of formal cooperation in evil, and so unworthy to present himself for holy Communion, if he were to deliberately vote for a candidate precisely because of the candidate's permissive stand on abortion and/or euthanasia," Cardinal Ratzinger wrote.

"When a Catholic does not share a candidate's stand in favor of abortion and/or euthanasia, but votes for that candidate for other reasons, it is considered remote material cooperation, which can be permitted in the presence of proportionate reasons," he said.

In other words, if a Catholic thinks a candidate's positions on other issues outweigh the difference on abortion, a vote for that candidate would not be considered sinful.

http://www.jknirp.com/thavis3.htm

[a kennedy]

4. I have seen two of these bumper stickers

If you're Catholic, you can't have it both ways, abortion, and pro choice!!! What's that all about???? I thought JK annunciated his position on abortion very, very well during the 2nd debate.

[Disturbed]

5. Kerry should have simply said...

I am not pro-abortion. I am pro-choice as the Constitution of the USA allows.

[Lefty48197]

7. A bunch of misguided dogmatic Catholics display that bumper sticker

"You can't be both Catholic and pro choice".
Who the hell do they think they are, pretending to speak for the entire church anyways? The Pope himself has stated that it is for individual Catholics to decide whether or not to receive Communion, yet the same cynics are always butting into that too.

[rockymountaindem]

6. Thanks everyone!

Alas it is too late for my friend to register for an absentee ballot, but perhaps this will help her in future elections.

[neoSattva]

8. a few links

I don't know if this will help, but here are a few links:
Call to Action is a Catholic group, I believe more geared to the peace movement, but they may have some pro-choice info

http://www.cta-usa.org/

The Sojourners have a "god is not a republican (or a democrat)" effort going on. they may have some info, although they are not just catholic

http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm




Although as Joseph Campbell said, "I used to be a catholic," a friend gave me this button:
"Catholic Democrat - Damned if I do & Damned if I don't"

[pllib]

9. May not be worth it....

You are probably not going to make much headway trying to convince a catholic that "pro-choice" is an acceptable stance. You might convince them to vote for Kerry by referring to Ratzinger's comments below. You might also check out some documents at the Catholic Bishop Web-site (www.USCCB.org)- that discuss voting in this election. The Bishops are clear that there are a number of issues that should be considered.

Also, remember that Bush's "pro-life" stance is essentially that he is against Roe-v-Wade. For a pro-life Catholic, talk about how it is a pretty indirect path from voting for Bush, to getting a justice that will overturn Roe-v-Wade, to ending abortion. Remind them that most of the justices on this Court were appointed by Republicans. Remind them for how long the Republicans have controlled the presidency and Congress - where has the progress been on pro-life issues? Maybe the Republicans just use this to get votes?
Remind them that there were 800,000 abortions a year in the US before Roe-v-Wade. Remind them that repealing Roe-v-Wade will not end abortion. Remind them that many abortions occur because of lack of resources (insurance, child care, housing), and that Bush's policies might actually increase the number of poor women that choose abortion. (His cutting off funding to overseas family planning groups has been estimated to have resulted in about 800,000 additional abortions a year by the UN.) Remind them that many of Bush's policies (the war in Iraq, pro-death penalty), anti-labor, anti-environment, fiscal policies that have increased poverty and the increasing gap between the poor and wealthy are anti-Catholic.

If they bring up stem-cell research, remind them that Bush has not spoken out against in vitro fertilization, the source of embryos used in stem cell research. Bush is essentially saying it is OK to do IVF and destroy or freeze in perpetuity these embryos, but not to use them to help others. Is that a morally consistent position?

It is a much more direct moral path from voting for Bush to dead Iraqi children than voting for Kerry resulting in abortions.

[gulliver]

10. It's not just pro-choice Catholics who are for Kerry!!!

I just spoke with a Catholic friend here in St. Louis. He is pro-life and voted for Bush last time. But he is switching to Kerry. He thinks Bush has mucked things up too much.

Also, note that Archbishop Burke now says it is OK for Catholics who are pro-life to vote for a pro-choice candidate as long as that is not the reason they are voting for that candidate.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/election2004/story/BDD8D4B0A7DD794786256F0400134AB6?OpenDocument&Headline=Burke+clarifies+voting+stance&tetl=1

[berry]

11. I gather this may be too late for the person you want to convince, but

just tonight on Capital Report, Fr. Leo J O'Donovan, SJ, was eloquent about the abortion issue, and Catholics' right to decide for themselves about how to vote. He was president of Georgetown Univ 1989-2001. I googled him, and found that he (and Fr. Drinan) were attacked on this issue since at least 10 years ago. So, I recommend that you look for what these two have said/written. Both are liberals and very articulate. (I'm not sure if Drinan is still alive? oh well)