Seven Quick Takes Fail....

Well, as I predicted, I haven't quite followed through with the 7 Quick Takes. I actually had most of a post written back on week 2, but my computer deleted it, and I just never got back to a follow through.  It is far too late to link-up for this week, but hopefully next week I'll be back. 

The theme I had planned for the failed 7 Quick Takes was "Words That Are Not My Own," or something to that effect.  Several of the things that are on my mind this week are once again not my own thoughts.  In the wake of the Roe vs. Wade anniversary last week, and the current political campaigns a lot of my thoughts have had to do with abortion and health care issues and the Catholic faith.  So here are a few of my thoughts:

(1) Option of Conscience

As some people have likely already seen from my Facebook statues or posts, I am a big proponent of an option of conscience for medical professionals. I believe it is important that doctors and nurses not be forced to assist in abortion services, and I also oppose the use of tax dollars to provide abortion services or medicines which are abortificent in nature.  Below is a statement on the issue from Cardinal-designate Dolan:

"The Amish do not carry health insurance. The government respects their principles. Christian Scientists want to heal by prayer alone, and the new health-care reform law respects that. Quakers and others object to killing even in wartime, and the government respects that principle for conscientious objectors. By its decision, the Obama administration has failed to show the same respect for the consciences of Catholics and others who object to treating pregnancy as a disease." 

(2) The "Catholic" Candidate

First off, let me state that I am a political moderate. I do not belong to a political party. I have chosen not to belong to a party because I believe that it is important to look at the individual candidate running for office and their stance on the issues (plural) at hand. I am not a single-issue voter.  And if you tell me that lack of enrollment in a political party means I'm an "uneducated" voter you can expect an earful. Similarly, I will not vote for a candidate simply because they are Catholic. And you shouldn't either.  (Note: You are a grown person, if you want to vote for Santorum go for it.  But for the love of God and Church, please don't vote for him because he is Catholic.)
http://www.fplaction.org/the-catholic-case-against-rick-santorum/
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/santorum-questions-us-bishops-immigration-policy/

(3) Abortion

If we really want to end abortion, we need to look at the whole picture.  Simply outlawing abortion isn't going to help the cause. We also need to educate young women (and young men) about the consequences of sex.  More importantly, we need to create a culture that embraces life.  We need to create a society that supports the vulnerable woman and makes it possible for her and her child to live a happy, healthy, vibrant life. These women know that abortion is a choice, we need to show them why life is a better one.

 

Blogging for Life

I keep telling myself that someday, I will make it to DC for the March for Life.  I suppose next year I should stop making excuses and actually get on the bus.  But for this year, I'll dedicated my blog to the cause for the day. I was surprised that a google search for "blog for life" or "pro-life blog link up" yielded few results.  There is however a NARAL sponsored "Pro-Choice Blog Day," and a responding pro-life "Ask them what they mean by choice?"  I have to admit that the images and descriptions used by both slightly uneased me, but I am still going to be using those as a launching point to my post. 

This year, NARAL's "Pro-Choice Blog Day," theme question was, Given the anti-choice gains in the states and Congress, are you concerned about choice in 2011? I think their question is a good place for me to start, because, frankly, what "anti-choice" gains in Congress do they expect their readers and writers to respond to.  The allowance for abortion funding through federal tax dollars in the new health care bill?  The election of one of the most pro-choice Presidents in our nation's history?  As a pro-life person, I would like to see all these pro-life victories they are lamenting, so that I can celebrate them. 

Since the only pro-life victories I could think of were the elections of Scott Brown and Kelly Ayotte, and I admittedly used google today to help me find the latter, I am going to turn NARAL's question against them and answer my own -- Given the anti-life gains in the states and Congress, are you concerned about life (and choice) in 2011?

In a word, yes. I am concerned about both life and choice in 2011.  I am concerned that every time I read the news, I see life at risk.  Whether it is in pro-abortion legislation, teenage and college suicides, murders or people being sentenced to capital punishment, it seems that life is threatened everywhere I look. 

I am also however worried about choice.  I am worried about a world, where a woman believes abortion is her best choice.  I am worried about a world where people believe allowing their child to die is a better option than allowing her to live.  I am worried about a world where people believe they are preventing their child pain by killing it, instead of bringing it in to a "bad," situation.  I am worried about a world where people who believe in God, have a personal opposition to abortion, and generally seem like good people, can still say that abortion should be a choice for others.  Recently my grandmother was telling me how in her childhood no one ever talked or really thought about abortion, the idea was simply unfathomable.  They never thought a world where abortion would be available legally, in clean clinics with trained medical personnel would exist.  And that is what worries me most, a world where abortion has become not simply a "choice," but a true "option," that people weigh equally with others and consider just as legitimately as others.