1. US Catholic Bishops and Abortion - Part 4
Keep in mind that this thread focuses on one strategy for reducing or eliminating
abortion. If one listed the top ten political strategies that would be most effective,
arguably, one's POTUS vote would be somewhere on that list, higher for one who lives
in a swing state, for example.
In addition to political strategies, there are legislative and judicial initiatives, at local,
state and federal levels. One might easily make a top ten list of these, including ballot
initiatives and constitutional amendments.
One could make top ten lists for finincial, ecclesial, social, economic, cultural,
educational, familial and personal strategies.
One could then rank all of these into a 'Top 50 most likely to be effective' and then
people collectively and individually could direct and redirect time, money and other
resources in those directions.
Passion is commendable. I deeply appreciate the passion expressed here.
At the same time, for almost 40 years, it seems to me that too much passion and too
many resources have been misdirected on the least effective strategies. Rhetoric has
truly trumped results. Raising the level of the conversation is one strategy; thanks to
all who thus contribute.
There is realism, for sure. And the invitation to steer one's passions in a way that could
effect real change. Presenting the notion that there are many strategies available does
not mean that they are mutually exclusive. It doesn't mean voting is not important. It is
to suggest, however, that single-issue voting, bumper stickers, yard signs and little
white crosses, however necessary one might imagine they are, are WOEFULLY
INSUFFICIENT.
It also means that, because we are dealing in the realm of prudential judgment, that a
state department, defense department and executive branch filled with
neoconservative hawks would be FAR MORE LIKELY to engage unilateral military
action with insufficient intelligence possibly setting off a regional or even world war
and a self-described pro-life POTUS would be FAR LESS LIKELY to effectively change
the legal realities surrounding abortion. An Ayn Rand-inspired, radical economic
libertarian would be FAR MORE LIKELY to frustrate the social justice aims of the
Bishops and FAR LESS LIKELY to effectively advance the Bishops' abortion-related
agenda.

2. This realism is an invitation to MAKE A DIFFERENCE on other PRO-LIFE agenda items
rather than to be INEFFECTIVE ON ALL of them!
The Grand Old Party has cynically manipulated evangelicals and conservative
catholics for decades, giving them little in exchange for their votes. Many of the
Bishops do a great job of weighing the relative moral gravity of the Seamless Garment
of Life issues but they have done an awful job of explaining the importance of the
practical outcomes of political and legal strategies. We know that the GOP is going to
rend our political tunic on abortion, but I'm holding on to the rest of my seamless
garment rather than turning it over to some naked emperor, who has a neocon foreign
policy and social justice policy crafted by Ayn Rand.