Catholicism Is Not Just About Abortion
Catholic Democrats in Congress have issued a statement on the effect of their religion on their political views. They use the Clinton era line on abortion, that they will seek to minimize if not criminalize it, but primarily focus on how the Democratic message meshes with Catholic morality: care for the poor and the sick, avoiding unjust war, and ensuring education.
As badly needed as such a statement is, the problem is that it's not just Republicans who are trying to overemphasize abortion. The Church itself (at least, the American Catholic Bishops, as the Vatican has remained more holistic) has developed a laser-like political focus on abortion. The theology behind this is called "disqualifying issues." The idea is that there are some issues that are so central to Catholic teaching that someone who ignores them is irredeemably morally wrong no matter how many other values they uphold. As long as "disqualifying issues" remains the line of the American church, Catholic Democratic politicians can continue to expect virulent attacks by Church leaders.
[READ MORE] | [Mar 07, 2006] | [religion] | # | G
