|
|||
|
HOME | NEWS | FEATURES | A&E | OPINION | SPORTS | CLASSIFIEDS | WEATHER |
|||
|
Opinion: Letters to the editor Closed-minded Catholics
By Christopher D. DeSante Contributing writer What a shame! That’s really all I can say about Bishop Donald Trautman’s comments regarding Sen. Clinton’s visit that put Mercyhurst College President Dr. Thomas Gamble on the defensive. Are we, as a Catholic community, so close-minded that we should ignore the politics of an entire party based on its position on one issue? Do the bishop’s remarks insinuate that a responsible Catholic should not consider voting for Clinton, or most Democrats, only because they hold the position that Roe v. Wade should not be overturned? That suggestion does not square with what I learned in theology classes at Cathedral Prep, or in grade school at St. Peter’s. I was taught radical Catholic values like turning the other cheek, helping the poor, caring for the sick and feeding the hungry. The bishop’s comments convey the most pressing issue facing us is having a law on the books that provides people with the mere option to sin and makes no mention of other legislation, like access to healthcare or anti-poverty programs which would alleviate pressures causing some to unfortunately seek abortion. The truth is there are two very good reasons why the Catholic community should question, if not directly confront, the bishop’s comments regarding Mercyhurst. The first is most Catholics disagree with the bishop’s position. Here we can reference statistics from the 2004 National Election Studies, conducted nationally by the University of Michigan, which focuses on political attitudes. Along partisan lines, 49 percent of Catholics identified as Democrats, while only 38 percent identified with the historically pro-life Republicans. On the specific question of abortion, only 14 percent of those identifying as Catholics believed that “by law, abortion should never be permitted.” A full 85 percent of Catholics actually offered the opinion that there are various circumstances when abortion ought to be permitted, and even more strikingly, less than one percent responded that they “did not know” the answer to the question being asked. Catholics have made up their minds on the issue and either the community is out of sync with the teachings of the Church, or the bishop has lost touch with his flock. Secondly, as a liberal arts college, Mercyhurst has a pedagogical responsibility to expose its students to new ideas. Gamble would have been acting more irresponsibly had he denied Clinton’s request to speak, thereby conveying the message to the community and other institutions of opinions which are not shared by the Catholic Church. I believe that having a leading Democrat come to speak at a Catholic institution is a step in the right direction, perhaps indicating that Catholics realize their religious values closely dovetail with those of the Democratic party. Which party and candidates want to feed the poor through social spending, care for the sick by giving more Americans access to health care and act as peacemakers by ending the war? The values in my heart, which were instilled by a Catholic home, reinforced in my Catholic education and echoed at Mass every week, are the values that motivate my political decisions. It seems odd to me that Trautman would ask conscientious Catholics to opt for a pro-war candidate, because they are single-issue voters committed to a pro-life ideology. Trautman needn’t worry; I will not be voting for Sen. Clinton. I’m for Obama.
|
What's inside Find the destinations Mercyhurst College Police and Safety responded to over the past week.
Check out this week's front page.
The events - in pictures - that occurred on the Mercyhurst College campus over the past week.
Blog with your favorite Merciad columnist.
The Merciad is always interested in feedback. Please submit all feedback to editormerciad.
Want to tell us what's on your mind? See news happening? Contact a reporter, columnist, or editor.
|
||
 |
|||