In this year’s election, the candidates debated many major issues, some more controversial than others. For many Americans who were polled in the last few months of the election, the most central issues were the economy and healthcare. The United States has seen major turbulence in its economy in the past few months. Unemployment has risen to its highest point in recent years, and many Americans have lost their homes. Healthcare costs are out of control, and the house of cards that is America’s healthcare system is in severe danger of collapse. Despite all of these issues, some, solely focused on Barack Obama's stance on abortion. If 47 million Americans are without health insurance, and millions cannot find jobs, why was did the discussion about a vote for Obama hinge on Abortion?
As Catholics, we classify abortion as a grave sin, and a Catholic cannot, in good conscience, vote for a candidate that supports abortion rights. But I cannot help but ask why not? With so many other issues at stake in this election, should abortion really be that one issue that prevents us from voting? In a recent Cowl article, PC’s campus newspaper, a Providence College student wrote about his experience protesting in the form of prayer at an abortion clinic in Providence. I applaud his enthusiasm and commitment to an issue. I hope that his experience inspires others to become passionate about an issue. But can we not lose focus on the millions without healthcare, the millions in poverty, the millions of children in under-performing schools, the millions of families who cannot afford to send their children to college due to rising costs, or the millions of Americans unemployed? Some may argue that attention can be focused on all of these issues, including abortion. Absolutely! The problem is, however, that abortion becomes the dividing line, creating an “us vs. them” debate using this one issue. No one is willing to concede anything regarding abortion. The conversation stops.
I do not condone abortion, nor would I remove it as an option. But its importance to me in the discussion is no more than that of poverty, healthcare, education, or unemployment. I say shelf the abortion debate for now, and fix the other problems. Let’s help the living so that we may one day help the unborn.
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Matt, thank you for such a thoughtful reaction to the Cowl article. While I, too, commend the author for his strong convictions and dedication to a cause, I agree with you on the lack of conviction and dedication to other sorely hurting causes. The quote from Bishop Tobin when he says,
It is very important to keep the issue
alive! So many people forget about abortion
because of the number of other important
issues our country faces, like the economy and
the war. That's fine, but our task is to keep the
issue of abortion alive and twinge people's
consciences.
it begs the question, why are we not then spending our Fridays praying outside of underfunded schools, section 8 housing units, with the homeless or on the State House steps, and the list goes on and on…but really, why just outside of Planned Parenthood?
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