Mea Culpas by MSW
MGB: No one has asked the really good poll question to do crosstabs with. Whom did you vote for in 2008? I am interested in how Obama voters vs. non-Obama voters react to this issue, however you would put the question, as well as whether this issue changes their vote. I would expect that Obama neither lost nor gained votes based on this issue, on the whole. If 98% of Catholic Obama voters keep voting with him, I would not be surprised - and I suspect that such a finding would end the debate on all sides.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Rehabilitating Conscience
Rehabilitating Conscience by MSW
Consciences must be well informed, not only by what one thinks God is saying, but by truth. Pope Paul VI chose to ignore the conscience dictates of those who were advising him on the truth and the Church continues to ignore embryology in its contention that Plan B and Ella cause abortion of a life. While one must protect life if there is a possiblity it might be more than potential, the Church has consistently failed to do its homework on whether there is any possibility that a blastocyst has its own soul, rather than continuing to operate under the life energy of its mother, which is indicated because it is developing solely under her genetic instructions. Anyone who uses contraception under the moral certainty that this is the case is doing no wrong, even if the Church is uncertain.
Consciences must be well informed, not only by what one thinks God is saying, but by truth. Pope Paul VI chose to ignore the conscience dictates of those who were advising him on the truth and the Church continues to ignore embryology in its contention that Plan B and Ella cause abortion of a life. While one must protect life if there is a possiblity it might be more than potential, the Church has consistently failed to do its homework on whether there is any possibility that a blastocyst has its own soul, rather than continuing to operate under the life energy of its mother, which is indicated because it is developing solely under her genetic instructions. Anyone who uses contraception under the moral certainty that this is the case is doing no wrong, even if the Church is uncertain.
The Politics of the "Accommodation"
The Politics of the "Accommodation" by MSW
My comments: Bishops, like other leaders, depend on staff. It is not Dolan who is part of the GOP machine, but certain individuals in the Pro-Life Activities Directorate staff, most especially Richard Doerflinger, have an outsized influence and deep links to the National Right to Life Committee - which IS a GOP front group.
As for Obama, the reason he did not lead with the compromise, which has been found acceptable by both Catholic Health and Catholic Charities, whose employees are most deeply affected, was that if he had, there would be no room to walk back into compromise. Going to far to start was a good idea.
The key to the politics is if Obama loses any appreciable support over this. So far, he has not and won't unless the economy goes south and people need an excuse to not support him.
Plan B and Ella, by the way, do not cause abortion - they may prevent implantation of a blastocyst that is proven to be still under the genetic control of only one parent, and therefore arguably operating under her life force, not its own. Every blasocyst need not be saved. If they were people, that would not be true.
The major flaw in both sides is the failure to state that the status quo is not no contraceptive coverage, but contraceptive coverage with copays, starting with the EEOC decision in December 2000. The HHS policy is actually a better deal for the Church. This should have been mentioned in August, when public comments were sought. This should also change the position of anyone who thinks Obama is suddenly unfriendly to the Church.
The distinction between who is ministerial and who is not for purposes of contraception mandates is not at all untoward. It is made in law all the time regarding employees of religious institutions. The Hossanah Tabor v. EEOC case only locks the courthouse doors to decisions within the Church on the rights of ministers within a Church. All this means is that women cannot sue to be given equal rights to ordination and not much more.
My comments: Bishops, like other leaders, depend on staff. It is not Dolan who is part of the GOP machine, but certain individuals in the Pro-Life Activities Directorate staff, most especially Richard Doerflinger, have an outsized influence and deep links to the National Right to Life Committee - which IS a GOP front group.
As for Obama, the reason he did not lead with the compromise, which has been found acceptable by both Catholic Health and Catholic Charities, whose employees are most deeply affected, was that if he had, there would be no room to walk back into compromise. Going to far to start was a good idea.
The key to the politics is if Obama loses any appreciable support over this. So far, he has not and won't unless the economy goes south and people need an excuse to not support him.
Plan B and Ella, by the way, do not cause abortion - they may prevent implantation of a blastocyst that is proven to be still under the genetic control of only one parent, and therefore arguably operating under her life force, not its own. Every blasocyst need not be saved. If they were people, that would not be true.
The major flaw in both sides is the failure to state that the status quo is not no contraceptive coverage, but contraceptive coverage with copays, starting with the EEOC decision in December 2000. The HHS policy is actually a better deal for the Church. This should have been mentioned in August, when public comments were sought. This should also change the position of anyone who thinks Obama is suddenly unfriendly to the Church.
The distinction between who is ministerial and who is not for purposes of contraception mandates is not at all untoward. It is made in law all the time regarding employees of religious institutions. The Hossanah Tabor v. EEOC case only locks the courthouse doors to decisions within the Church on the rights of ministers within a Church. All this means is that women cannot sue to be given equal rights to ordination and not much more.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
"Not Remotely The Issue"
"Not Remotely The Issue" by MSW
We had the Virginia Catholic conference letter today at Mass. Interestingly, the bishops asked for two things: prayer and fasting and going to web pages and signing up for e-mail updates.
First off, fasting does not work as a bribe to God - but as a way to get to either self-mastery or a sense of powerlessness - doing it for a cause unless you are hunger-striking has no value.
Second, I am suspicious of calls to go to a web page to register one's opinion - especially if it is to a sponsor site rather than to your member of Congress or the White House. Too often these "petitions" become mailing lists to be used for fundraising and "voter education."
The pro-life movement is known for their ability to make and sell these lists. I expect the FOCA lists were sold to Republican operatives and this project will be no exception. Expect to get some kind of correspondence in October about this issue if you support the bishop's position - and expect it to contain slanted information opposing the President. Think I'm wrong? If you register on any of these pages, use your confirmation name and see what mail you get and from whom this fall.
We had the Virginia Catholic conference letter today at Mass. Interestingly, the bishops asked for two things: prayer and fasting and going to web pages and signing up for e-mail updates.
First off, fasting does not work as a bribe to God - but as a way to get to either self-mastery or a sense of powerlessness - doing it for a cause unless you are hunger-striking has no value.
Second, I am suspicious of calls to go to a web page to register one's opinion - especially if it is to a sponsor site rather than to your member of Congress or the White House. Too often these "petitions" become mailing lists to be used for fundraising and "voter education."
The pro-life movement is known for their ability to make and sell these lists. I expect the FOCA lists were sold to Republican operatives and this project will be no exception. Expect to get some kind of correspondence in October about this issue if you support the bishop's position - and expect it to contain slanted information opposing the President. Think I'm wrong? If you register on any of these pages, use your confirmation name and see what mail you get and from whom this fall.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Virginia's Mandated Ultrasound Law
Virginia's Mandated Ultrasound Law by Michael Sean Winters.
My response:
This law will have difficulty passing the undo burden test in Casey. It depends on how Kennedy votes.
Conservatives should be leery of the law, however, since if it succeeds in dissuading abortion, it will add fuel to the fire to pay more money to families to support each additional child, either through living wage requirements or increased tax credits (and tax rates) to support families. Once women fall in love with their children in the ultrasound room, they won't be giving them up for adoption. They will want to keep them and demand financial support to do so.
The tenor of the pro-life movement will be tested based on how they respond to this demand. It will show whether their movement is about affirming life or controling sexuality (since most pro-lifers, when faced with the prospect of increased benefits for families suddenly become interested in personal responsibility).
Finally, ultrasounds will reveal the extent to which many of these children were already dead due to genetic abnormalities. We had two D&Cs because ultrasound examinations showed no fetal heartbeat when there should have been one. Because we had insurance, we had them in hospitals. If we had not, we would have been in a Planned Parenthood Clinic, with self-righteous demonstrators praying at us as we went in.
My response:
This law will have difficulty passing the undo burden test in Casey. It depends on how Kennedy votes.
Conservatives should be leery of the law, however, since if it succeeds in dissuading abortion, it will add fuel to the fire to pay more money to families to support each additional child, either through living wage requirements or increased tax credits (and tax rates) to support families. Once women fall in love with their children in the ultrasound room, they won't be giving them up for adoption. They will want to keep them and demand financial support to do so.
The tenor of the pro-life movement will be tested based on how they respond to this demand. It will show whether their movement is about affirming life or controling sexuality (since most pro-lifers, when faced with the prospect of increased benefits for families suddenly become interested in personal responsibility).
Finally, ultrasounds will reveal the extent to which many of these children were already dead due to genetic abnormalities. We had two D&Cs because ultrasound examinations showed no fetal heartbeat when there should have been one. Because we had insurance, we had them in hospitals. If we had not, we would have been in a Planned Parenthood Clinic, with self-righteous demonstrators praying at us as we went in.
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