Holy Cross's David O'Brien's proves that at least he, and possibly the Cross too, no longer think with Catholic sensibilities: in a Boston Globe opinion column on 11/16/07.
Professor O'Brien has made a “new” discovery in the world of morals and ethics, discovering a clear distinction between those who are pro-choice and those who are pro-abortion. He names three Catholic politicians; Mayor Thomas Menino, Senator Edward Kennedy and US Representative Jim McGovern. He asserts, "to call them pro-abortion is an insult to politicians and voters alike." He lamely asserts might be the better phrase.
Professor O'Brien goes beyond the pale of Catholic sensibilities when writes: "Voters who made antiabortion politics their priority must share responsibility for disastrous domestic, foreign, and military policies that violate almost every tenet of Catholic social teaching." In effect O'Brien is blaming Pro-Life Catholics and the Bishops for all of the ills in the world because they have prioritized abortion as the number one evil.
Contrast this with the Church teaching that abortion is intrinsically evil, and "that those who are directly involved in lawmaking bodies have a «grave and clear obligation to oppose» any law that attacks human life. For them, as for every Catholic, it is impossible to promote such laws or to vote for them." CDF 11/18/1974 #18-22, quoting JPII. O'Brien simply does not have his priorities straight nor does he have Catholic sensibilities.
3 comments :
Will this not give Bishop McManus further gounds to follow thru with his statement concerning Holy Cross and its "Catholic Identity?
Jay, you say "O'Brien simply does not have his priorities straight nor does he have Catholic sensibilities."
How can he have any, since he is no longer Catholic?
I think that Professor O'Brien is right on. I am an example of a person who feels abortion is wrong. In a society that is conflicted on this issue, however, the question is a different one. To advocate for women making this decision instead of the state is independent of our personal view of abortion itself. i also agree with his idea that we have ignored other issues of great importance while making abortion the litmus test of Catholicism.
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