03 November 2008

And it all comes down to tomorrow

Commenting on the American Election seems to be the thing to do today in the blogsphere, and I guess I am going to be no different. For better or for worse, our neighbor to the south will elect a new president tomorrow. I believe that the American people have two very different options in Obama and McCain. One ticket will swing America drastically left, and will, I fear, destroy all the protections Amercians have created in the last 35 years for the unborn. The other ticket offers put an experienced hand on the reins, and holds that every life is worthy of the protection of human rights.

For any Catholic, the choice is very clear. The US Council of Bishops has enunciated their position in the document Faithful Citizenship. It states that "There are some things we must never do, as individuals or as a society, because they are always incompatible with love of God and neighbor. Such actions are so deeply flawed that they are always opposed to the authentic good of persons. These are called "intrinsically evil" actions. They must always be rejected and opposed and must never be supported or condoned. A prime example is the intentional taking of innocent human life, as in abortion and euthanasia." The bishops go on to state that "The direct and intentional destruction of innocent human life from the moment of conception until natural death is always wrong and is not just one issue among many. It must always be opposed." As Catholics, that means we can never vote for someone who supports abortion or euthanasia if there is an option to vote for someone who does not support those intrinsic evils. In the choice for president, Americans have that choice. Over 100 Bishops in the US have, in their official capacity, supported this proposition.

If you would like to know exactly how Obama and McCain stand on this issue, watch the clip from the Saddleback Church debate. Obama stated that the answer to the question of when a baby gets human rights is "above his paygrade." McCain stated clearly they are entitled "at the moment of conception."

Two Americans have written a beautifully articulated Open Letter to our Fellow Catholics on Election Eve. I would encourage you all to read it, because it articulates the Catholic duty to vote much better than I ever could.

It is my greatest hope and prayer tonight that Americans will vote for life tomorrow, and I invite you all to join the thousands of Catholics around the world praying and fasting tomorrow for that exact result. And, regardless of the outcome, enjoy watching the results roll in… 2 elections in 3 weeks! I'm in political junkie heaven!

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