I recently read a column written by Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, and with this being an election year; it would make a fitting commentary. Most of the following is a direct quote from his column.
If a candidate who supported terrorism asked for your vote, would you say, "I disagree with you on terrorism, but where do you stand on other issues?" I doubt it.
In fact, if a terrorism sympathizer presented himself or herself for your vote, you would immediately know that such a position disqualifies the candidate for public office - no matter how good he or she may be on other issues. The horror of terrorism dwarfs whatever good might be found in the candidate’s plan for housing, education, or health care. Regarding those plans, you wouldn't even ask.
So why do so many people say, "This candidate favors legal abortion. I disagree on abortion. But I’m voting for this person because he or she has good ideas on health care, housing (or some other issue)."
Such a position makes no sense whatsoever, unless one is completely blind to the violence of abortion. That of course is the problem. But we need only see what abortion looks like, or read descriptions from the abortionists themselves, and the evidence is clear.
Abortion is no less violent than terrorism. Any candidate who says abortion should be kept legal disqualifies them from public service. We need look no further; we need pay no attention to what that candidate says on other issues. Support for abortion is enough for us to decide not to vote for such a person.
If you are a candidate, and you say "I stand for adequate and comprehensive health care." So far, so good. But as soon as you say that a procedure that tears the arms off of little babies is part of "health care," then your understanding of the term "health care" is obviously quite different from the actual meaning of the words. In short, you lose credibility. Your claim to health care is "illusory." It sounds good, but is in fact destructive, because it masks an act of violence.
If, as a candidate you say "My plan for adequate housing will succeed." Fine. But what are houses for, if not for people to live in them? If you allow the killing of the children who would otherwise live in those houses, how am I supposed to get excited by your housing project?
It’s easy to get confused by all the arguments in an election year. But if you start by asking where candidates stand on abortion, you can eliminate a lot of other questions you needn't even ask.
By George Konig
May 23, 2004
www.georgekonig.org
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