And...More Q & A with Fr. Torraco
If a candidate says that he is personally opposed to abortion but feels the need to vote for it under the circumstances, doesn’t this candidate’s personal opposition to abortion make it morally permissible for me to vote for him, especially if I think that his other views are the best for people, especially the poor?
A candidate for office who says that he is personally opposed to abortion but actually votes in favor of it is either fooling himself or trying to fool you.
Outside of the rare case in which a hostage is forced against his will to perform evil actions with his captors, a person who carries out an evil action such as voting for abortion performs an immoral act, and his statement of personal opposition to the moral evil of abortion is either self-delusion or a lie.
If you vote for such a candidate, you would be an accomplice in advancing the moral evil of abortion. Therefore, it is not morally permissible to vote for such a candidate for office, even, as explained in previous questions, you think that the candidate’s other views are best for the poor.
posted by Moderator @ 5:15 PM
2 Comments
2 Comments:
Seems pretty clear to me. I'm sure Anon will disagree with the Church's teachings again.
Thanks for putting this up for us to review. I have learned much that I was not certain of.
If there was ever any doubt that a person can be "personally opposed, but..." brave Bp. Tobin of Rhode Island eliminates all doubt and brings light to where there once was darkness in this letter:
http://thericatholic.com/stories/123.html
It's short, and totally to the point. It was aimed at Rudy when he ran for President, but remains entirely relevant.
Here is the money quote, " Why is it that when I hear someone explaining this position I think of sad figure of Pontius Pilate in the Gospels who personally found no guilt in Jesus but for fear of the crowd washed his hands of the whole affair and handed Jesus over to be crucified. I can just hear Pilate saying, “You know, I’m personally opposed to crucifixion but don’t want to impose my belief on others.”
Okay, let’s ask Mayor Giuliani to think about his position for a minute.
Hey Rudy, you say that you believe abortion is morally wrong. Why do you say that Rudy, why do you believe that abortion is wrong? Is abortion the killing of an innocent child? Is it an offense against human dignity? Is it a cruel and violent act? Does it harm the woman who has the abortion? And if your answer to any of these questions is yes, Rudy, why would you permit people to . . . kill an innocent child, offend human dignity, commit a cruel and violent act or do harm to the mother? This is the name of choice? Huh? "
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