Catholics, Politics, and Abortion

Here is a letter issued by the bishops of the Archdiocese of Denver in response to comments made by Vice Presidential Candidate Joe Biden, who like Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, claims to be Catholic and pro-abortion.

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To Catholics of the Archdiocese of Denver:

When Catholics serve on the national stage, their actions and words impact the faith of Catholics around the country. As a result, they open themselves to legitimate scrutiny by local Catholics and local bishops on matters of Catholic belief. In 2008, although NBC probably didn’t intend it, Meet the Press has become a national window on the flawed moral reasoning of some Catholic public servants.

On August 24, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, describing herself as an ardent, practicing Catholic, misrepresented the overwhelming body of Catholic teaching against abortion to the show’s nationwide audience, while defending her “pro-choice” abortion views. On September 7, Sen. Joseph Biden compounded the problem to the same Meet the Press audience.

Sen. Biden is a man of distinguished public service. That doesn’t excuse poor logic or bad facts. Asked when life begins, Sen. Biden said that, “it’s a personal and private issue.” But in reality, modern biology knows exactly when human life begins: at the moment of conception. Religion has nothing to do with it. People might argue when human “personhood” begins – though that leads public policy in very dangerous directions – but no one can any longer claim that the beginning of life is a matter of religious opinion.

Sen. Biden also confused the nature of pluralism. Real pluralism thrives on healthy, non-violent disagreement; it requires an environment where people of conviction will struggle respectfully but vigorously to advance their beliefs. In his interview, the senator observed that other people with strong religious views disagree with the Catholic approach to abortion. It’s certainly true that we need to acknowledge the views of other people and compromise whenever possible – but not at the expense of a developing child’s right to life. Abortion is a foundational issue; it is not an issue like housing policy or the price of foreign oil. It always involves the intentional killing of an innocent life, and it is always, grievously wrong. If, as Sen. Biden said, “I’m prepared as a matter of faith [emphasis added] to accept that life begins at the moment of conception,” then he is not merely wrong about the science of new life; he also fails to defend the innocent life he already knows is there.

As the senator said in his interview, he has opposed public funding for abortions. To his great credit, he also backed a successful ban on partial-birth abortions. But his strong support for the 1973 Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade and the false “right” to abortion it enshrines, can’t be excused by any serious Catholic. Support for Roe and the “right to choose” an abortion simply masks what abortion is, and what abortion does. Roe is bad law. As long as it stands, it prevents returning the abortion issue to the states where it belongs, so that the American people can decide its future through fair debate and legislation.

In his Meet the Press interview, Sen. Biden used a morally exhausted argument that American Catholics have been hearing for 40 years: i.e., that Catholics can’t “impose” their religiously based views on the rest of the country. But resistance to abortion is a matter of human rights, not religious opinion. And the senator knows very well as a lawmaker that all law involves the imposition of some people’s convictions on everyone else. That is the nature of the law. American Catholics have allowed themselves to be bullied into accepting the destruction of more than a million developing unborn children a year. Other people have imposed their “pro-choice” beliefs on American society without any remorse for decades.

If we claim to be Catholic, then American Catholics, including public officials who describe themselves as Catholic, need to act accordingly. We need to put an end to Roe and the industry of permissive abortion it enables. Otherwise all of us – from senators and members of Congress, to Catholic laypeople in the pews – fail not only as believers and disciples, but also as citizens.

+Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
Archbishop of Denver

+James D. Conley
Auxiliary Bishop of Denver

Daily Summary - 9/8

Today's Mass Readings
Today's Feast Days

Scripture
Discussed the uniqueness of humans in Creation. (Handout)
Current Assignments:
• For next class read #9 on the reading list. Be ready for a quiz.
• Pg. 64, 1-27 due Tomorrow.

8th Grade Religious Studies
Discussed how to live the Call to Holiness as Subiaco Students.
Current Assignments:
• Reflection on Academy mission statement, due tomorrow by 9 a.m. Post your answers by clicking this link. Don't forget to read the directions for posting.
• Monk interview due Tuesday, September 23.
• Quiz Friday: The Hail Mary

9th Grade Religious Studies
Discussed how various saints lived the call to holiness.
Current Assignments:
• Monk interview due Tuesday, September 23.
• Quiz Thursday: The Hail Mary

Oral Communications
Speech preparation in the computer lab.
Presented speeches.

Tomorrow's Speeches
Scott M.
Ernie D.
Hobin L.
Keith M.
Brian D.
Elliott T.
Blake W.
Allen F.

Resources and handouts for speech preparation:
• Speech evaluation form
• Outline sheet
• Speech structure checklist
• Soyouwanna Deliver an Effective Speech (from soyouwanna.com)

Daily Summary - 9/5

Today's Mass Readings
Today's Feast Days

8th Grade Religious Studies
Discussed how various saints lived the call to holiness.
Current Assignments:
• Monk interview due Tuesday, September 23.
• Quiz Friday: The Hail Mary

Oral Communications
Speech preparation in the computer lab.

Monday's Speeches:
Kenny E.
Woo Hoon C.
Kevin L.
Taylor J.
Brendan D.
Joon Ho K.
Clinton S.

Resources and handouts for speech preparation:
• Speech evaluation form
• Outline sheet
• Speech structure checklist
• Soyouwanna Deliver an Effective Speech (from soyouwanna.com)

Of interest to parents

The students in my 8th and 9th grade Religious Studies classes, have an assignment in which they are to reflect on how the mission statement of Subiaco Academy affects them. They are to post their answers on this blog. You can read them here.

For those of you whose sons board at Subiaco, I am sure that you do not get to see much of the work that they do. I thought you might appreciate this chance to get to see their thoughts.

Daily Summary - 9/4

Today's Mass Readings
Today's Feast Days

Scripture
Discussed the Creation story in Genesis. (Handout)
Current Assignments:
• For next class read # on the reading list. Be ready for a quiz.
• Pg. 64, 1-27 due Tuesday, 9/9.

8th Grade Religious Studies
Discussed how various saints lived the call to holiness.
Current Assignments:
• Monk interview due Tuesday, September 23.
• Quiz Friday: The Our Father

9th Grade Religious Studies
Discussed how various saints lived the call to holiness.
Current Assignments:
• Reflection on Academy mission statement, due this morning. If you have not yet posted your answers, please get them posted as soon as possible, so that you can still earn some points.
• Monk interview due Tuesday, September 23.
• Quiz tomorrow: The Our Father

Oral Communications
Speech preparation in the computer lab.
Speeches begin Monday.

Resources and handouts for speech preparation:
• Speech evaluation form
• Outline sheet
• Speech structure checklist
• Soyouwanna Deliver an Effective Speech (from soyouwanna.com)

Daily Summary - 9/3

Feast of St. Gregory the Great
Today's Mass Readings
Today's Feast Days

Classes were shortened, so that all could attend mass for the installation of the new headmaster.

Scripture
Reviewed the terms that we have covered so far.
Current Assignments:
• For next class read #8 on the reading list. Be ready for a quiz.
• Pg. 64, 1-27 due Tuesday, 9/9.

8th Grade Religious Studies
Discussed how various saints lived the call to holiness.
Current Assignments:
• Monk interview due Tuesday, September 23.
• Quiz Friday: The Our Father

9th Grade Religious Studies
Discussed how various saints lived the call to holiness.
Current Assignments:
• Reflection on Academy mission statement, due tomorrow.
• Monk interview due Tuesday, September 23.
• Quiz tomorrow: The Our Father

Oral Communications
Speech preparation in the computer lab.
Speeches begin Monday.

Resources and handouts for speech preparation:
• Speech evaluation form
• Outline sheet
• Speech structure checklist
• Soyouwanna Deliver an Effective Speech (from soyouwanna.com)

How can you live the Mission of Subiaco Academy?

SUBIACO ACADEMY MISSION STATEMENT

Subiaco Academy, a boarding/day school, is dedicated to providing young men with the opportunity for a college preparatory education in a stable and structured environment nourished by Christian values. The Subiaco experience also provides the opportunity to create a sense of community, which is a reflection of Catholic Benedictine traditions of service to God, respect for self and others, mutual support, and the value of work.

Therefore, we require our students to:

• Demonstrate maturity and responsibility within the community
• Demonstrate honesty in their behavior and speech
• Respect all persons, including parents, teachers, deans, fellow students, themselves and God
• Demonstrate proper care of all property: their own, the school’s, and their peers
• Nourish a desire for excellence in all aspects of life

As Subiaco Christian gentlemen, our students should strive to be generous in serving God through serving others.

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For each of the things expected from a Subiaco student (listed as bullets below) answer the following 3 questions:

1. Why is this important?
2. What is practical way I can do this in my daily life?
3. How can doing this make me closer to God?

• Service to God
• Respect for self and others
• Mutual support
• The value of work
• Demonstrate maturity and responsibility within the community
• Demonstrate honesty in their behavior and speech
• Respect all persons, including parents, teachers, deans, fellow students, themselves and God
• Demonstrate proper care of all property: their own, the school’s, and their peers
• Nourish a desire for excellence in all aspects of life

Freshmen, post your answers in the comments section below by 9:00 tomorrow (Wednesday, 9/3) Thursday, 9/4. All comments posted after 9:00 will be considered late. Do not forget to read the directions for posting.

8th graders, post post your answers in the comments section below by 9:00 a.m. tomorrow (Tuesday, 9/9). All comments posted after 9:00 a.m. will be considered late. Do not forget to read the directions for posting.

Daily Summary - 9/2

Today's Mass Readings
Today's Feast Days

Scripture
Discussed the senses of Scripture. (Handout)
For next class read #7 on the reading list. Be ready for a quiz.

8th Grade Religious Studies
Discussed the Universal Call to Holiness. (Handout)
Next quiz: The Our Father

9th Grade Religious Studies
Discussed how various saints lived the call to holiness.
Assignments: Reflection on Academy mission statement, due tomorrow. Monk interview due Tuesday, September 23.
Next quiz: The Our Father

Oral Communications
Finished discussing speech expectations and requirements.
I presented a speech I gave in college following the same requirements.

Resources and handouts for speech preparation:
• Speech evaluation form
• Outline sheet
• Speech structure checklist
• Soyouwanna Deliver an Effective Speech (from soyouwanna.com)

Daily Summary - 8/29

Today's Mass Readings
Today's Feast Days

Religious Studies
8th Grade: Took quiz. Answered student questions.

Next quiz: The Our Father

Oral Communications
Discussed the importance of a strong conclusion and aspects of speech delivery.
Assignment: Prepare a complete conclusion.

Daily Summary - 8/28

Today's Mass Readings
Today's Feast Days

Scripture
Discussed the authors and styles of Scripture. (Handout)
For next class read #6 on the reading list. Be ready for a quiz.
Chapter review questions 1-23 on page 21 are due Tuesday 9/2. Do not do numbers 10, 20, or 21.

Religious Studies
8th Grade: Discussed the Universal Call to Holiness. (Handout)
9th Grade: Took terms quiz. Answered questions.

Next quiz: The Our Father

Oral Communications
Discussed using and citing credible sources. (Handout)
Assignment: Find 5 credible sources for your first topic.

Daily Summary - 8/27

Today's Mass Readings
Today's Feast Days

Scripture
Discussed the Canon of Scripture. (Handout)
For next class read #5 on the reading list. Be ready for a quiz.
Chapter review questions 1-23 on page 21 are due Tuesday 9/2. Do not do numbers 10, 20, or 21.

Religious Studies
8th Grade: Discussed used a song to lead into prayer.
9th Grade: Discussed the Universal Call to Holiness. (Handout)

This week's quiz: Terms 11-20

Oral Communications
Discussed transitioning between points. (Handout)
Assignment: Complete transition worksheet.

Is the Catholic position on abortion unclear?

The question of abortion is always a factor when discussing politics, and this issue comes into very sharp focus, especially in election years, when politicians who claim to be Catholic support abortion. The following is from an interview on Meet the Press on Sunday, August 23:

Tom Brokaw asked Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi:

"Senator Obama saying the question of when life begins is above his pay grade, whether you're looking at it scientifically or theologically. If he were to come to you and say, ‘Help me out here, Madam Speaker. When does life begin?’ what would you tell him?"

Here is her response:

"I would say that as an ardent, practicing Catholic, this is an issue that I have studied for a long time. And what I know is, over the centuries, the doctors of the church have not been able to make that definition. And Senator -- St. Augustine said at three months. We don't know... And so I don't think anybody can tell you when life begins, human life begins."

Here is what the Catechism of the Catholic Church says about abortion:

"Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law" (CCC 2271)

The Catechism goes on to state:

"You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish." (CCC 2271)

The second quote is from the a document called the Didache, which was probably written between 60 and 80 AD and most think was directly from the 12 Apostles. For Nancy Pelosi to say that she has "studied [this issue] for a long time," and that the Church has "not been able to make that definition," means that she has not chosen very credible sources for her research, is in denial, or is simply wrong. The Church is very clear in its stance on abortion, and always has been.

Mrs. Pelosi's statements have, as you would expect, caused a lot of people to take offense, and rightly so. Since it is the duty of our bishops to guide us, and to lead us to truth, several bishops have issued statements in response to Mrs. Pelosi's comments. Here are a few:

• Charles J. Chaput, Archbishop of Denver and James D. Conley, Auxiliary Bishop of Denver.

• Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington.

• Cardinal Edward Egan, Archbishop of New York, who probably used the most forceful language when he stated: "Anyone who dares to defend that they may be legitimately killed because another human being 'chooses' to do so or for any other equally ridiculous reason should not be providing leadership in a civilized democracy worthy of the name."