I read a great article in our Sunday Bulletin from the pastor of our Church titled "I'm Catholic. . .but." It had to do with the idea that so many people identify themselves as a Catholic (or Christian) when it comes to their beliefs, but they don't live the fundamental teachings of the Church. This begs the question then, "how can one really be Catholic (or Christian)" if he or she is not living the Faith? In my opinion, you can't separate your personal life from your spiritual life. God calls us to lead a life that is in communion with our values and beliefs. In this election, it will become even more important as we chose between two presidential candidates.
The issue that should be at the top of the list for every Christian is the sanctity of life and protecting the lives of the unborn. As our pastor said, how can someone be both Catholic and at the same time pro-choice? It's simply not possible. Catholics/Christians will sometimes justify this by saying that while they don't support abortion, they don't want to force their views on someone else. Simply put, this is a cop-out. Why is this any different from say murder or violence against a child where we force our views on what's right and wrong and just punishment on the criminals?
Life begins at conception. At the point an egg is fertilized, it becomes human DNA and starts to grow. The fetus is a living being from the very beginning. As Christians who adhere to God's Ten Commandments and specifically the one that says, "Thou Shalt Not Kill", how could we possibly support a candidate for office that supports killing fetuses -- our unborn, our children??
Some people will say that there are other important issues as well including care for the poor, the economy, education, and world conflicts. I don't disagree, but how do we even entertain conversations around those things if the most basic rights are not protected? Those rights of the unborn?
I know many of you won't agree with me for a variety of reasons. Some of you are on the fence. I simply would ask you to take the next week to really pray and think about what you are supporting when you go the polls next week.
God Bless,
Jeremy
P.S. The link to our Sunday bulletin is here if anybody is interested:
http://www.catholicweb.com/bulletins/58801/Oct-28-2012.pdf
The issue that should be at the top of the list for every Christian is the sanctity of life and protecting the lives of the unborn. As our pastor said, how can someone be both Catholic and at the same time pro-choice? It's simply not possible. Catholics/Christians will sometimes justify this by saying that while they don't support abortion, they don't want to force their views on someone else. Simply put, this is a cop-out. Why is this any different from say murder or violence against a child where we force our views on what's right and wrong and just punishment on the criminals?
Life begins at conception. At the point an egg is fertilized, it becomes human DNA and starts to grow. The fetus is a living being from the very beginning. As Christians who adhere to God's Ten Commandments and specifically the one that says, "Thou Shalt Not Kill", how could we possibly support a candidate for office that supports killing fetuses -- our unborn, our children??
Some people will say that there are other important issues as well including care for the poor, the economy, education, and world conflicts. I don't disagree, but how do we even entertain conversations around those things if the most basic rights are not protected? Those rights of the unborn?
I know many of you won't agree with me for a variety of reasons. Some of you are on the fence. I simply would ask you to take the next week to really pray and think about what you are supporting when you go the polls next week.
God Bless,
Jeremy
P.S. The link to our Sunday bulletin is here if anybody is interested:
http://www.catholicweb.com/bulletins/58801/Oct-28-2012.pdf
