Church & State

In a perfect world, religion has no place in politics:

• Rep. Kennedy barred from communion

Patrick Kennedy has been barred from receiving communion at a central Rhode Island Catholic church by its bishop because he supports abortion rights. However, Kennedy can receive communion elsewhere (re: in another state).

I was born and raised Catholic, but do not agree with the Church's position on abortion. (See my post Pro Choice from 04/22/09). No religious body or individual has the right to direct another person's medical choices, plain and simple.

People who claim to be against abortion are given the right to their own views, so please return the favor.

Selective Law

This is just one of the reasons I find members of the right-wing morally incomprehensible and mindlessly fanatical:

• Right-wing hate reacts to murder of Dr. George Tiller

I understand not all who claim to be amongst the right-wing are hate mongers, but those who think it acceptable to dismiss the murder of an actual human being are certainly not Christian in any sense, and less than human themselves. No matter what real law indicates, they do as they please and force their views down the throats of everyone else. I wrote more about this in my blog entry Free Will (05/08/09).

Abortion is not murder, but killing a man who respected the free choice of others and assisted them to that end is.

While on this earth federal and state laws are matter-of-fact, not the so-called "Law of God" which too many people twist to suit their own agendas.

Freedom for All

This is a reasonable reaction to the abortion debate, unlike anything formulated by the former president now residing in Texas:

• Obama calls for 'fair-minded' abortion debate

Why can't those who claim to be pro-life accept the fact that not everyone agrees with them? Why try to force their views on the rest of us?

Frankly, if you don't believe in pro-choice then just stay away from the abortion clinics and let other people conduct their lives without interference.

The term "pro-life" is so very deceptive because it implies anyone who thinks differently is a "baby killer." Wrong!

I realize pro-lifers think they are righteous in their beliefs, but people on the other side are just as strong in their convictions.

Unfortunately, the emotional debate will continue from here to eternity.

Free Will

I'm Catholic, but I completely disagree with this:

• Archbishop Burke: President Obama advances anti-life agenda

First of all, President Obama is not anti-life. He is pro-choice. There is a big difference between the two.

In addition, the term "pro-life" is misleading. It infers that anyone who doesn’t label themselves as "pro-life" must be anti-life. I notice most members of the GOP try to blur that line to suit their own agendas when the topic surfaces.

Being "pro-life" is fine, as long as those supporting the tag allow others to opt for "pro-choice" instead. If we permit radical right-wing forces to eliminate our right to choose, where does it end?

As I stated in my blog entry of 22 April 2009 (Pro Choice):

If pro-lifers are peeved with people who disagree with them, they can simply stay away from the machinations [of the process] and quit forcing their views on the rest of us. People can make up their own minds, obviously, which is the point of being pro-choice.

Amen.

Pro Choice

I was born and raised Catholic, but I refuse to let a priest, Pope or government tell me what to do with my body or any other part of my life. It's none of their damned business. Those who are pro-life can go ahead and do what they think is morally just, but they have no right to shove their beliefs down my throat in the process. If pro-lifers are peeved with people who disagree with them, they can simply stay away from the machinations and quit forcing their views on the rest of us. People can make up their own minds, obviously, which is the point of being pro-choice.

And how do I reconcile the Catholic edicts with my views? I've always felt a great peace after Catholic Mass and will continue to attend whether I receive communion or not, but I separate the church's perception on what people should do in their personal lives as opposed to what we do while in the pew.

Pro-choice has always been my stance and I cannot envision any argument that would make me feel otherwise.