September 10, 2008

Letter writer’s stance on abortion appalling

In reading the letter “Weigel needs to widen his spectrum” in the Aug. 27 issue of the Register, I was appalled.  So many Catholics cannot seem to grasp the obvious reason why Catholics cannot support Obama—and it has nothing to do with George Weigel’s “ultra-conservatism.”  Would Barack Obama as president be good for black America, or for America as a whole?  No!  The letter writer feels strongly about ending an “unjust” war, solving health care, improving the economy and fighting “big oil.”  Yet he simply dismisses the murder of 3,000 unborn children every day as just one of “a few, albeit important, conservative causes?”  That popular liberal argument is tragic and patently absurd.
Read your catechism.  Abortion is an “intrinsic evil,” one that is always gravely sinful. Catholic politicians who support abortion are committing a mortal sin.  Wars are not intrinsically evil, and despite that popular notion of this war being “unjust,” the pope has not called it one and Catholics have not been banned from participating in it.  Support for economic growth, universal healthcare and better energy policies are of no use if the candidate favors the murder of the most vulnerable members of society.  A vote for any pro-abortion politician, of whatever party, is to participate in a grave sin.  Is there any “proportionate reason,” as Archbishop Chaput put it, that excuses the murder of the innocent?  Do you, or anyone, want to face those murdered unborn children and say, “But he was in favor of health care and fought big oil?”  I do not.

Mark W. Nelson
Centennial

Columnist Weigel needs less talk, more thought

George Weigel’s “Jaw, jaw, war, war” column (Aug. 27 Denver Catholic Register) showcases the dangerous thinking of many hawkish, ultra-conservatives.  War should always be the last resort, not the first option. 
Numerous conflicts and potential wars have been averted throughout history by diplomatic negotiations and sanctions. Each situation is unique.  How many human lives could have been saved on both sides by not rushing into war with Iraq?  If the Bush administration had spent more time double-checking the erroneous intelligence reports and letting the weapons inspectors complete their job they would have had no compelling reason to invade and occupy Iraq.  My advise to George is less “jaw, jaw” and more “think, think.”

Lowel Pierce
Denver