More responses to the "Statement of Principles"

Father Thomas Williams:

To justify their position, the authors of the statement appeal to the so-called “primacy of conscience.” Yet conscience is not a pass to excuse wrongdoing. Would it make any difference if a serial killer claimed he was following his conscience when he murdered his victims? Even if the politicians are following their conscience, Catholic morality makes an important distinction between good conscience and bad conscience, and a conscience that sees nothing wrong with killing the innocent falls decidedly in the second category. Our first duty concerning conscience is to form it according to the moral law, and especially for a Catholic, no doubt can exist regarding the objective evil of abortion.

True, the statement acknowledges the “undesirability” of abortion, and the signers hasten to assure their constituencies that they do not “celebrate its practice.” That they do not “celebrate” the greatest social ill of our time may prove cold comfort to those who spend much of their free time actively campaigning for its abolition. And as regards its “undesirability,” this poorly chosen term will likely provoke only indignation. Hangnails are undesirable; under-seasoned salads are undesirable; lines at the cash register are undesirable. Abortion is repugnant and evil. Can you imagine a politician stepping forward and (with much hand-wringing) asserting that he finds rape “undesirable” and that he does not “celebrate” its practice, but that he will not stop defending legislation that permits it? Such a politician would rightly be ridden out of town on a rail.

Joseph Bottum:

All the talk in the "Statement of Principles" about individual conscience is intended really as a demand that Catholics legislators not get beaten up anymore for supporting abortion: "We . . . agree with the Catholic Church about the value of human life and the undesirability of abortion," the statement reads, and that word "undesirability" leaves a peculiar taste in the reader's mouth. Abortion, murder, and thermonuclear war are undesirable, it's true. They are even unfortunate and less than optimal. But somehow one wants a little more oomph in the word chosen to describe them.

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The whole thing obviously concerns abortion, as the bishops' response suggests. "As the Church carries out its central responsibility to teach clearly and to help form consciences, and as Catholic legislators seek to act in accord with their own consciences, it is essential to remember that conscience must be consistent with fundamental moral principles," the reply notes. "We encourage and will continue to work with those in both parties who seek to act on these essential principles in defense of the poor and vulnerable. At the same time, we also need to reaffirm the Catholic Church's constant teaching that abortion is a grave violation of the most fundamental human right--the right to life that is inherent in all human beings, and that grounds every other right we possess."

George Weigel:

Thirty-three of the 55 signatories of the DeLauro statement (including Rep. DeLauro) voted to support the legality of partial-birth abortion. Forty-one of the signatories (again including Rep. DeLauro) voted to make abortion legal in Defense Department clinics and hospitals abroad. Thirty-seven of the signatories (including --- you guessed it --- Rep. DeLauro) voted against efforts to constrain the courts from compelling hospitals and doctors to perform abortions.

How do any of these votes square with the signatories' statement that they "agree with the Catholic Church about the value of human life and the undesirability of abortion --- we do not celebrate its practice"?

This is the same old same old --- "I'm personally opposed, but..." --- tarted up in new vesture. One cannot speak credibly about the "undesirability of abortion" and then vote to protect and expand the abortion license. One cannot credibly claim to believe what the Catholic Church believes "about the value of human life" and then ignore the central question posed by Roe v. Wade: is the willful taking of innocent human life compatible with a free and virtuous society?

One cannot appeal to the "primacy of conscience" to defend the unconscionable --- any more than one could make that appeal in denying full legal and political rights to Americans of African descent.

Catholic League press release:

Perhaps the most convincing evidence that this statement is a sham is the fact that Rep. Rosa DeLauro is the point person for this effort. There has never been an abortion she couldn’t justify, including the killing of an innocent child who is 80-percent born. Indeed, she previously served as the executive director of EMILY’s List, the richest pro-abortion organization in the country. So with her at the helm, the ‘Statement of Principle’ is nothing more than a ‘Statement of Politics.’ Thus, the Abortion Albatross remains securely in place.

Dennis Gerard Embo:

And it came to pass that Jesus and some of His disciples were passing through the city, and an influential Catholic legislator, with a great number of her Party colleagues who were also Catholic, approached Jesus and said to Him, “Good Master, we just released a statement proudly expressing our strong support for Catholic social teaching. Tell us again, what must we do to attain eternal life?”

“Why do you call Me good? No one is good but God alone. You’ve heard the Gospel: ‘Feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, promote peace, protect the stranger in your midst, care for the sick.’”

“Oh Master,” said the spokesperson for the contingent, her face beaming with pride, “we have promoted and sponsored much legislation to accomplish all those things. What is there yet remaining for us to do?”

And Jesus said, “If you would be perfect, go, co-sponsor legislation defending pre-born human life, then you will have eternal life in heaven.”

But when they heard this many went away indignant at His words, for many among them were very pro-choice.

Catholic News Service provides some background on the statement.

And here is the CatholicBlogs.com search on Catholic blogs referencing the statement.