We write letters
Oct. 24th, 2008 03:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pecuniumI don't know if the LA Times will print this, but there was a letter yesterday which merited a reply, so I sent them this.
Re: Catholic Choice
Mr. Philen makes a fundamental error when he says the doctrinal issues of abortion are governed by the bull Ex cathedra. Ex cathedra only comes into play when the Pope invokes it. It has been invoked but rarely and some of those precepts are from inference. Since the bull codifying the doctrine was published the only ex cathedral edict has been the bodily assumption of Mary.
The Holy See has reversed itself on other issues of great weight (the earth going round the sun, which was heresy, as well as the recent doctrinal declaration that evolution is not incompatible with scripture, and is therefore to be accepted). We, the faithful, are therefore to use the guidance of the doctrines and dogma of The Church, in concert with the reason God gave us to make the best decisions we can.
On the issue of abortion there is dispute within the church. John Kerry's bishop said he would not refuse him the sacraments. Justice Scalia, who personally supports capital punishment (which the Holy See has condemned as mightily as it has abortion) is still admitted to the eucharist.
When judging between McCain and Obama, the person who believes there is nothing which the pope says which can be questioned is in a moral quandary. His Holiness has condemned abortion, which Obama does not promise to use his office to outlaw. His Holiness has also condemned the war in Iraq, which McCain has said must be waged to victory, even if that takes 100 years.
To vote for either is to go against a papal decree.
Rather I have looked at the policies, not the rhetoric, and seen that where McCain's policies have been put into place, abortion rates go up, and women die from lack of care. Where Obama's policies have been put into place there are fewer abortions, and women get the care they need.
I know which of those outcomes seems more in keeping with the ideals of The Church, and can therefore, with clean conscience, cast a vote for Obama
Re: Catholic Choice
Mr. Philen makes a fundamental error when he says the doctrinal issues of abortion are governed by the bull Ex cathedra. Ex cathedra only comes into play when the Pope invokes it. It has been invoked but rarely and some of those precepts are from inference. Since the bull codifying the doctrine was published the only ex cathedral edict has been the bodily assumption of Mary.
The Holy See has reversed itself on other issues of great weight (the earth going round the sun, which was heresy, as well as the recent doctrinal declaration that evolution is not incompatible with scripture, and is therefore to be accepted). We, the faithful, are therefore to use the guidance of the doctrines and dogma of The Church, in concert with the reason God gave us to make the best decisions we can.
On the issue of abortion there is dispute within the church. John Kerry's bishop said he would not refuse him the sacraments. Justice Scalia, who personally supports capital punishment (which the Holy See has condemned as mightily as it has abortion) is still admitted to the eucharist.
When judging between McCain and Obama, the person who believes there is nothing which the pope says which can be questioned is in a moral quandary. His Holiness has condemned abortion, which Obama does not promise to use his office to outlaw. His Holiness has also condemned the war in Iraq, which McCain has said must be waged to victory, even if that takes 100 years.
To vote for either is to go against a papal decree.
Rather I have looked at the policies, not the rhetoric, and seen that where McCain's policies have been put into place, abortion rates go up, and women die from lack of care. Where Obama's policies have been put into place there are fewer abortions, and women get the care they need.
I know which of those outcomes seems more in keeping with the ideals of The Church, and can therefore, with clean conscience, cast a vote for Obama
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no subject
Date: 2008-10-25 12:29 am (UTC)Thank you on the great letter.