Politics
Wednesday October 27, 2004
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New Jersey Catholic Bishop Presents Logic for Voting Pro-Life
Asks, "Has logic been banished from our land?"
PATERSON, October 27, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Bishop Arthur Joseph Serratelli of Paterson, New Jersey has written a column in the diocesan paper the Beacon which presents a strongly reasoned case for voting pro-life.
Bishop Serratelli notes in his column, "Our nation is just hours away from another presidential election . . . We are at a crossroads in our nation's history . . . Before we make any choice, we need to think logically."
The bishop writes, "Society exists to promote, protect and guarantee the common good. In a healthy society, government, elected leaders, politicians, citizens and voters willingly serve the common good of all. The first priority, the fundamental priority of the common good is protecting and supporting human life. For without life, there is no common good."
He continues, "Modern science has irrefutably shown that human life begins at conception. Logic, therefore, demonstrates that abortion kills. From the first moment of life, a person placed in this world by God is to be cared for and loved. Abortion murders innocent children." Speaking of "abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research and human cloning", the bishop notes "these evils attack the heart of the common good, life itself."
The bishop counters the charge that "Catholics are a one-issue people" noting that the "The Church speaks often and at length on social justice, the global economy, the environment, capital punishment, poverty and war, as well as on respect for life." He stresses however that "The Church recognizes a hierarchy of values. Not all moral issues bear the same moral weight. We can defend our own life when attacked. We should defend the rights of others. At times the evil of war may be permitted-lamentably and always as the last resort-to guarantee and protect the rights and lives of innocent people. But the direct killing of innocent life is always wrong."
Logic also abolishes political stands such as "My religion is one thing; my politics, another;" or "I am personally opposed to abortion; but I will not let this influence my vote," says the bishop. He asks rhetorically, "Has logic been banished from our land? How can someone personally hold that abortion is murder and yet say, 'because my constituency wants it, I will support abortion?'"
See the Bishop's column online:
http://www.patersondiocese.org/page.cfm?Web_ID=1264
Contact Bishop Serratelli:
shepherd@patersondiocese.org
jhw
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