Vote for Bush/no Abortion

October 22, 2004

Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput has once again come out in the New York Times powerfully teaching the serious obligation and right of Catholics to defend moral principles during elections.

In his New York Times Op-ed article today, "Faith and Patriotism", the outspokenly faithful Denver archbishop responds to "lectures" that Roman Catholics must not "impose their beliefs on society" and "warnings about the need for 'the separation of church and state.'" Predictably, Presidential candidate John Kerry who claims to be Catholic, has emphasized his agreement with such statements.

Chaput responds, "These are two of the emptiest slogans in current American politics, intended to discourage serious debate. No one in mainstream American politics wants a theocracy. Nor does anyone doubt the importance of morality in public life. Therefore, we should recognize these slogans for what they are: frequently dishonest and ultimately dangerous sound bites."

The Denver Archbishop also condemns the silence of Catholics who know that abortion is the taking of a human life. He writes, "For anyone who sees this fact clearly, neutrality, silence or private disapproval are not options. They are evils almost as grave as abortion itself. If religious believers do not advance their convictions about public morality in public debate, they are demonstrating not tolerance but cowardice."

Archbishop Chaput concludes, "Words are cheap. Actions matter. If we believe in the sanctity of life from conception to natural death, we need to prove that by our actions, including our political choices. Anything less leads to the corruption of our integrity. Patriotism, which is a virtue for people of all faiths, requires that we fight, ethically and nonviolently, for what we believe. Claiming that 'we don't want to impose our beliefs on society' is not merely politically convenient; it is morally incoherent and irresponsible."

See the complete text of Chaput's article on LifeSiteNews.com at:
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2004/oct/041022a.html

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