Chaput Responds to McElroy | National Catholic Reporter

Chaput Responds to McElroy | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The fact of the matter is that politics is the art of the possible, not the art of the perfect.  We can do much to reduce poverty in the political sphere.  There is little or nothing that can be done about abortion - especially in a year where only state elections are occurring.  Giving fetuses (2nd trimester) or embryos (1st trimester) personhood rights can only come through Congress (who enforces the 14th Amendment) and in a way that does not violate equal protection rules on criminal law (holding mothers as well as doctors accountable and investigating all failed pregnancies - including miscarriages using police power) and civil law (making miscarriages a tort event - thus making first trimester obstetric care all but impossible - which impacts all pregnancies).  As on child sex abuse, the Church is badly advised by staff and lawyers on what is really going on.  Sadly, pro-choice Catholic politicians have been reticent to educate the bishops because it still looks bad with the faithful to correct them publicly - even when they need correction and are associating with a party that is essentially defrauding the pro-life faithful for their own electoral and financial gain.