Tuesday, March 19, AD 2024 6:23am

Notre Dame, This Is What A Principled Pro-Life Stand Looks Like

bishop-gettelfinger

Hattip to the ever-alert Jay Anderson of Pro Ecclesia.  Bravo to Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger of Evansville:

“Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger of Evansville said he will not attend an April right-to-life dinner where Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee, is scheduled to speak because he objects to comments the GOP leader made about abortion.

The bishop’s decision followed a widely circulated March GQ magazine interview in which Steele, a Catholic, was asked if he thinks women have the right to choose abortion. He answered, “Yeah. I mean, again, I think that’s an individual choice.”

Following publication of the interview, Steele issued a statement, saying “I am pro-life, always have been, always will be.” He went on to say that “the Republican Party is and will continue to be the party of life.” He said he supports the Republican platform that calls for a Human Life Amendment.

After speaking with Steele on the phone March 20, and after examining the statement issued by Steele after the GQ interview, Bishop Gettelfinger wrote in a letter to the head of the organization sponsoring the dinner that his “early decision not to attend still stands.”

He said Steele’s answer seemed to emanate “from a political stance, not a principled one.”

“The principled answer for us is that there can be no equivocation,” Bishop Gettelfinger continued. “Intentional abortion is an act of killing the unborn. There is no room for choice in this deadly matter. Mr. Steele assiduously avoids such strong language.””  The full story is here.

There are some battles too important for partisanship and too important for playing the usual liberal-conservative games.  The battle for the right to life  is just such a fight.  Catholics should tolerate no equivocation on this issue from those who seek or hold political power in this nation.  Those who oppose the right to life of the unborn should receive zero support from Catholics, whether they have a “D” or an “R” after their names.

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Matt McDonald
Matt McDonald
Thursday, April 2, AD 2009 9:33am

I support the bishop in his stance. I especially respect that he spoke personally with Steele before making this decision. I think it would be important for him to make specific demands of Steele in order to relent, and I suspect he has. This IS dialogue, I wish the Pres. of Notre Dame and his shills would have this type of faithfulness to teaching.

Michael J. Iafrate
Thursday, April 2, AD 2009 9:46am

I agree with this bishop’s stance too.

Interestingly, though, you don’t seem to see any differences whatsoever between the ND situation and the one you cite here.

(I am against Obama receiving an honorary degree from ND, by the way, but not against him giving the commencement address.)

Michael J. Iafrate
Thursday, April 2, AD 2009 12:05pm

I do not believe that Steele was going to receive any honors at this dinner and was merely one of the scheduled speakers, although the Bishop was quite right to draw the line.

Perhaps you missed the part, though, that he is speaking at a right to life dinner.

Gerard E.
Gerard E.
Thursday, April 2, AD 2009 2:42pm

Policy is policy. Thumbs up to His Eminence.

Tito Edwards
Thursday, April 2, AD 2009 3:26pm

Steele is confused as to what it means to be a Catholic holding a pro-life position.

John Henry
Thursday, April 2, AD 2009 3:42pm

Steele is confused

As far as I can tell, it was fine to stop there. 😉

e.
e.
Thursday, April 2, AD 2009 7:37pm

“Steele is confused as to what it means to be a Catholic…”

If Steele is confused, I wonder what Biden and Pelosi are.

DarwinCatholic
Thursday, April 2, AD 2009 7:48pm

Deranged?

Michael J. Iafrate
Friday, April 3, AD 2009 12:15am

Deranged?

Personal insult. Where is Deletin’ Donald when we need him?

e.
e.
Friday, April 3, AD 2009 11:51am

Shame on DarwinCatholic for pointing out the obvious. Shame! ;^)

(okay, ‘delete me’.)

Michael J. Iafrate
Friday, April 3, AD 2009 12:07pm

My policy, Catholic Anarchist, regarding personal insults are insults directed towards posters or commenters.

I see. People not connected to your little blog-world are not worthy of respect?

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