Adding to the litany of smears and religious diatribe, Wendy Wright of Concerned Women for America (CWA) has gone on record perpetuating the slanderous lie that Sebelius is radically pro-abortion.
Not only does she claim that Sebelius is a “dangerous choice” based on the (false) accusation that Sebelius has ties to George Tiller (Alan Boswell has debunked this false charge below) but she actually claims that abortions have increased in Kansas under Sebelius’ term (which is also debunked below by Boswell).
I do not know where Wright gets her figures. She cites no evidence to support her statements. As far as I can tell, this is indicative of the utter lack of respect for people and, above all, facts by some who claim to be Christian!
Are we to presume that the pro-life movement cares nothing about the actual reduction of abortions and more about slandering those who are associated with Obama?
I guess so.
Thanks for rasing this, Caleb. Yes, the inherent claim is that to be “pro-life” is to be morally superior, over and against others who do not share the exact philosophical positions on abortion. It is always easier to slander than to deal with the issues directly. It is also unfortunate that Wright and the women of the CWA do not see that their cause often hurts women. Movements that take this morally superior “pro-life” stance tend to overlook the immorality of the systemic structures that cause women to lack the resources to prevent unplanned pregnancies and/or to raise children. This issue is not as simple as “teaching women to abstain from sexual activity”; the problems and issues that surround abortion are far deeper. This is precisely why the church must speak to the impact that patriarchal structures have had on both sexes, but particularly women, and the challenges they face with resepct to such issues as proverty, education, and lack of self worth and the knowledge of how to gain the opportunities that many of the rest of us have had access to. Women who take on the banner of the morally superior “pro-life” champions are hurting the same women they seek to want to help as well as they neglect to see or concede that abortion is NEVER just about abortion, it is always about the abortion AND all that precedes the circumstances that precede even the thought of an abortion. Women should be encouraged that Sebelius will be a champion to reduce the incidence of abortion but also a champion for women who need to be empowered and lifted from dire circumstances, often which can be largely attributed to sinful systemic structures that leave many left on the fringes.
Preacher Gives Families Strategy to Win Back World
Says Key Is Not Trying to Change Laws….
ZE09011401 – 2009-01-14 MEXICO CITY, JAN. 14, 2009 (Zenit.org).-
Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa affirmed this today at the 6th World Meeting of Families, inaugurated today in Mexico City by Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, President of the Pontifical Council for the Family. Faced with the current situation of an “apparently global rejection of the biblical project regarding sexuality, matrimony and family,” the Capuchin suggested that
it is necessary to “avoid the error of spending all our time rebutting contrary theories.”
The strategy, he said, is not “to combat the world” but to “dialogue with it, drawing out the good even from criticisms.”
Another error that should be avoided, he proposed, is “directing everything toward national laws to defend Christian values.”
“The first Christians changed the laws of the state with their customs; we cannot expect today to change the customs with the laws of the state,” the preacher reflected.
Regarding the current “deconstruction of the family” or “gender revolution,” the priest explained that it is something analogous to Marxism, and recalled that faced with this ideology, the Church’s reaction was “to apply the ancient Pauline method of examining everything and remaining with what is good,” developing “its own social doctrine.”
Permalink: http://www.zenit.org/article-24774?l=english
Who is Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa?
http://www.cantalamessa.org/en/index.php
Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa is a Franciscan Capuchin Catholic Priest.
Born in Ascoli Piceno, Italy, 22 July 1934, ordained priest in 1958;
Divinity Doctor and Doctor in classical literature;
Former Ordinary Professor of History of Ancient Christianity and Director of the Department of religious sciences at the Catholic University of Milan;
Member of the International Theological Commission (1975-1981).
In 1979 he resigned his teaching position to become a full time preacher of the Gospel.
In 1980 he was appointed by Pope John Paul II Preacher to the Papal Household in which capacity he still serves, preaching a weekly sermon in Advent and Lent in the presence of the Pope, the cardinals, bishops an prelates of the Roman Curia and the general superiors of religious orders.
He is frequently invited to speak at international and ecumenical conferences and rallies. He is has been member of Catholic delegation for the Dialogue with the Pentecostal Churches for the last ten years.
He runs a weekly program on the first channel of the Italian state television (RAI) on the Gospel of the following Sunday.
God bless,
M. Francis
Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa,
I hope that you understand that much of the dialogue here, and in other places is in fact an attempt to bring more voices to the dialogue; a dialogue which has largely (especially in the US) been dominated by our Christian brothers and sisters who tend to be associated with the fundamentalist movement. This is not about who dominates, though, it is about trying to share a dialogue and speak to a culture about our faith. The goal is not to be combative, either.
Now, your point about “drawing out the good criticisms” is very true. We find ourselves, as Christians, in challenging positions when what one might cherish may be, in one way or another, offensive to another and visa versa. This will always be a challenge when theological convictions appear to be in tension with one another. For example, the issues with women which you referenced: my sense is that, from your comments here, we do not share the same understanding of “gender revolution.” Fr. Cantalamessa, I would not casually call much of the women’s movement, especially within the sphere of feminist theology, a “gender revolution.” First, feminism and Feminist theology are not monolithic movements with one single stream of thought, so one cannot make general conclusions about the intentions of these movements as a whole. They are as diverse as the Christian tradition with its many denominations. That being said, one must take into consideration the various thoughts and insights that come from these movements, even if it means “having to draw out the good, even from criticisms.” Second, there are many feminists and feminist theologians who seek to and participate in redemptive work and activity in this world. Their work and their commitments are to being faithful disciples of Christ. Many of these women speak of gospel commitments that seek to strengthen communities and families, not to deconstruct them. Therefore, feminism and feminist theology may be a part of a gender revolution, but, in many ways, they are much more; they are prophetic voices calling for justice – they are like voices crying out in the wilderness. Therefore, to equate the deconstruction of family with gender revolution is, at best, a misunderstanding, rooted in fear – a fear that perpetuates hierarchical structures that are not consistent with the vision of the kingdom, as demonstrated in the gospel and in Pauline theology.
About changing laws; this, too is a challenging topic. I think that one can never expect to fully change customs by changing laws because, as the civil rights movement taught us, laws cannot change hearts. Nevertheless, we are, as disciples of Jesus Christ, called to a task and our task is to act in ways that are redemptive, seeking love and mercy and justice for all people. We are all giving our faithful attempt to carry out this task, and changing laws and impacting public policy can be a very powerful way to seek justice and to love what is good and right.
May we learn from each other, “drawing what is good” from one another, even if it means heeding humbling words, and acknowledging that even our most faithful attempts may be skewed – all of us; myself included, Fr. Cantalamessa.
Nevertheless, this does not cause us to shrink back and lose conviction. The gospel of Jesus Christ was a subversive message to the communities of the New testament and we all must keep in mind that the power of the gospel to be subversive and to pull us from our complacent and comfortable positions is not lost to us today, either.
Crystal,
Thanks for the response! I am intrigued by your statement that patriarchal systems have influenced both sexes on the issue of abortion. I find this fascinating. Could you explain more how this has played itself out?