September 3, 2008

Abortion issue foundational

This is in regard to the letter “Weigel needs to widen his spectrum,” in the Aug. 27 Register. The writer appears to have issues with “ultra-conservative Weigel” and his prior week’s column titled “Would President Obama be good for black America?”
Some of the issues the person mentions are certainly important to this country. But a primary issue raised by Weigel, abortion, is not simply “important” (as the person stated). It is, in the words of Archbishop Chaput, “foundational.” Also, abortion and several other life issues (including euthanasia and the creation and destruction of embryos for stem-cell research) have been termed “intrinsically evil” by the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Also, opposition to abortion is not just a “conservative cause” as the person stated. Abortion is a life issue in that abortion denies an unborn child his or her most basic civil right, the right to life. That right should be vital to both conservatives and liberals.
For a more detailed explanation of the Church’s teaching, I would refer the person to the November 2007 publication titled “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States.”

Richard A. Grimler
Fort Collins

Editor’s note: the document, “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States” can be read online at: http://www.usccb.org/bishops/FCStatement.pdf. To order (cost: $1.95), call toll free: 800-235-8722.

Kudos to our bishops

I would like to take this opportunity to thank and commend Archbishop (Charles) Chaput and Bishop (James) Conley for the moral courage they exhibited this week in leading the Aug. 25 Prayer Vigil and their prompt reply to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s misinformed comments about the Catholic Church’s stand on abortion. When I saw the archbishop at his book signing last night (Aug. 27) I brought up Pelosi. True to his call as an apostle of Christ and his love for all people he said to pray for her: and he meant it.
Will the media never understand that truth must be spoken for the good of all? It is time for all Christians to get involved in the political arena or we will soon have no voice. Is that really what we want?

Leeanne Super
Highlands Ranch