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June 12, 2004
Hyde speaks out
Haven't heard from him in a while - Henry Hyde shares his views
Describing as distinctly unfortunate the fact that abortion has become the litmus test for Democrats, Hyde said that prestigious Catholics who propound it seem to intimidate some bishops and other leading figures in the church. Not long ago he attended a gathering of Jesuit college presidents who gave Leon Panetta ''an award this big,'' he said, extending his hands to encompass the table. ''For the man who as Clinton's chief of staff defended the veto of the partial-birth abortion ban. And again the church honored him by putting him on the National Review Board.'' Describing other pro-life lawmakers, he said, ''They knock themselves out defending human life. How can he [Panetta] be justified when he has been the enemy of unborn life? How can he become the arbiter of things Catholic?''
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» Quote from Alas, a Blog
It would also seem fitting if another Pope Urban II arose and called a crusade to defend our innocent brethren in the womb. If the Church can call Christians to arms to drive out the Islamic hordes who were murdering... [Read More]
Tracked on Jun 14, 2004 2:42:18 PM
» Quote from Alas, a Blog
It would also seem fitting if another Pope Urban II arose and called a crusade to defend our innocent brethren in the womb. If the Church can call Christians to arms to drive out the Islamic hordes who were murdering... [Read More]
Tracked on Jun 14, 2004 2:53:32 PM
Comments
How can he [Panetta] be justified when he has been the enemy of unborn life? How can he become the arbiter of things Catholic?
That's exactly the question that's being asked by most faithful Catholics. His appointment to the review board wasnt simply an oversight, it was a slap in the face of those who abose the murder of infants in the womb.
It seems that the road to hell may indeed be paved with bishops.
It would also seem fitting if another Pope Urban II arose and called a crusade to defend our innocent brethren in the womb. If the Church can call Christians to arms to drive out the Islamic hordes who were murdering innocent Catholics, why shouldn't it call to arms a defense against the wholesale slaughter of innocent children? If anything, this would be a more justifiable war...not that the Vatican believes there is such a thing.
Whatever the case, the praticality of such action would be very difficult to guage. I'd like to hope that the fact that the pro-life side doesn't have a reasonable chance of success would be the only disqualifying factor...
I need to stop speculating, get back to my frappuccino and go to my daughter's soccer game. After all, this is America. Why would anyone ever be allowed to do anything virtuous and brave? It's so threatening to the luxurious American complacency when you act that way.
Posted by: Steve Skojec at Jun 12, 2004 8:32:37 AM
An appeal to violence in order to end the practice of abortion seems hardly in line with JPII's council:
27. In view of laws which permit abortion and in view of efforts, which here and there have been successful, to legalize euthanasia, movements and initiatives to raise social awareness in defence of life have sprung up in many parts of the world. When, in accordance with their principles, such movements act resolutely, but without resorting to violence, they promote a wider and more profound consciousness of the value of life, and evoke and bring about a more determined commitment to its defence." (Evangelium Vitae, para 27)
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_25031995_evangelium-vitae_en.html
Posted by: David at Jun 13, 2004 2:16:59 PM
The highlighting in the quoted passage was mine.
Posted by: David at Jun 13, 2004 2:17:51 PM
David,
While I appreciate the Pope's sentiments on this - tens of millions of innocent murders later, not much has changed for the better. I'd say we've actually lost ground.
If there's ever been a just cause for war, it would seem that this is it. I admit, the logistics would be exceptionally complicated, and it would be tremendously difficult to identify sides. It wouldn't be like the civil war America already weathered, where the ideas under contention found some specific geographic delineation. So I am not offering to spearhead the charge, as I simply don't know what would have to happen.
But something must happen. We're not going to win the culture war. The pope's idea that by respecting life we will promote the defense of the unborn is simply too abstract. The swarm of demons whipping the murder industry and its constituents into a frenzy won't allow compassion to soften the hearts of those who are rabid with bloodlust.
It's not that I don't have compassion for those women who feel compelled to take this horrible course of action. I have a very close friend who did - and has been repenting ever since. I admire the work of sidewalk counsellors and pro-life marchers and protestors. I admire the work of lobbyists. But it's all ineffective on a grand scale. You win a few hearts, but the culture as a whole keeps shifting to the left.
I'm not fond of the idea of war, but at what point do we treat this with the severity that it deserves? Not long ago, another regime was effecting the murder of millions of innocents, and drew the entire world into a war.
Now we've been reduced to inaction - to prayer not backed up with strength, to words not backed up with ultimatums. It's turned into a philosophial, or worse yet in the eyes of the world we are trying to convert, a theological one.
I firmly believe that the pope was so traumatized by Nazism and Communism that he has an exaggeration aversion to the evils of war. We know that there are justified wars and justified executions. They are unfortunate, but at times necessary. I don't feel like John Paul II makes provisions for these circumstances. Not every wrong can be corrected with words. Sin makes men obstinant in their pursuit of evil things.
It seems to me that if the scourge of abortion does not move us to war, does not so inflame our passions as to make us wish to take up arms, then our consciences are dead.
Posted by: Steve Skojec at Jun 14, 2004 9:07:47 AM
I should add that I do not immediately see the practicality of such a war - only that if we are not moved to such a defense of the innocent, then something is wrong. We may not be able to effect this defense, but it should awaken in us that righteous anger that makes men lay down their lives for a cause greater than themselves.
How that anger should play out is something I don't feel qualified to assess. All I know is that what we are doing simply isn't working.
Posted by: Steve Skojec at Jun 14, 2004 9:19:54 AM
Feeling the anger is understandable. But it must be channelled into activities that licitly work to end the practice.
We must think with the mind of the Church here. No Pope or American bishop (even the most aggressively prolife ones) has ever advocated violence in pursuit of the goal of ending abortion.
Fr. Pavone, from Priests for Life, has a number of articles on the wrongness of violence as a prolife tactic at:
http://www.priestsforlife.org/articles/rejectviolence.htm
Posted by: David at Jun 14, 2004 10:11:48 AM
Here's a more detailed moral analysis of the wrongness of violence as a tactic:
http://www.priestsforlife.org/articles/noviolence.html
Posted by: David at Jun 14, 2004 10:13:03 AM
Back to the topic: Hyde's comment on Panetta's award
Yes it is a scandal and it was criticized from day one. I think decisions to put pro-aborts in positions of prominence and visibility in the Church is ludicrous. What were they thinking?
Jesuits gave him the award. Recall that when people ask about the state of the Jesuits today.
Posted by: Patrick Sweeney at Jun 14, 2004 10:29:25 AM
I'd appreciate Mr. Hyde's view on the issue of adultery and the sanctity of marriage generally, and as I lurch toward my 40's intend to use his "youthful indiscretion" defense to avoid punishment and penalty for all manner of sin, mortal and otherwise.
Posted by: Esquire at Jun 14, 2004 10:59:16 AM
