Vote the way we tell you or burn in hell
First headline to greet my eyes on the breakfast table this morning
Bishops emphasized that voters must consider the church’s teachings on abortion and other moral issues when they select a candidate for the White House or any other office. If they don’t, bishops said, it’s not clergy who will judge them but God.
“It is important to be clear that the political choices faced by citizens have an impact on general peace and prosperity and also the individual’s salvation,” the bishops said in the document, titled “Faithful Citizenship.” “Similarly, the kinds of laws and policies supported by public officials affect their spiritual well-being…
...the guidelines issued Wednesday for the first time spelled out possible consequences as well as giving much more nuanced instruction to the Catholic electorate than in years past. Voters are implored not to support abortion-rights political candidates but also advised that views on abortion should not be the sole factor. Catholics should also weigh church teaching on such moral issues as immigration, just war and poverty, bishops said.”
Chicago Tribune: Catholic bishops say voters’ souls at stake
Y’know, I try pretty hard to be tolerant of mainstream religion. After all, we share a lot of goals in common and I’d prefer to focus on the positive. Maybe I’m just grouchy today but this crosses a serious line. Not just “here’s some issues to think about” but a bald threat of eternal torture. This is worse - worse than the Republicans’ fear-mongering that only they can keep you safe from Big Scary Osama (except when they can’t find him and they pretend he doesn’t matter). This is a divine protection racket.
Credible studies show that laws against abortion don’t keep it from happening. But education does, and nonjudgmental availability of contraception does. Yes, Planned Parenthood offers abortion services in some places but with all their other services, they’ve prevented more abortions than all the well-intentioned sign-toting Catholics who ever got sore feet wearing out sidewalks in front of clinics.
Suppose a Catholic voter applies statistical thinking and reasons; “I want fewer abortions, so I’m going for the candidate with the most rational policies?” Well then I guess that voter can just burn in hell. Or does it matter if there are abortions, as long as the doctor and the desperate mother are punished? In that scenario only the irresponsible sperm donor gets off scot-free.
Oh wait, I think I understand now. 
“Suppose a Catholic voter applies statistical thinking and reasons; “I want fewer abortions, so I’m going for the candidate with the most rational policies?””
There’s nothing wrong with ignoring what the Catholic bishops say, or what the Pope says. I do it all the time. That’s what makes me a protestant.
Posted by Sanctimonious Hypocrite on 11/16/07 at 08:39 AMI cannot see the Church as a moral authority. There seems to be a systemic flaw in Church reasoning on moral issues. Maybe the Church occasionally arrives at a sound conclusion, but then they arrive at so many unsound conclusions that I just can’t take them as serious moral thinkers. If I had a serious moral quandary to resolve, I’d be well advised to seek out just about anyone but a bishop.
The example you brought up, DOF, is a case in point: Church teachings on abstinence, on sexuality, and on birth control might as well be designed to increase abortions—for that’s what they do. At some point, incompetence becomes indistinguishable from malice.
Posted by Paul Sunstone on 11/16/07 at 09:51 AMI think it is more like being a member of any organization and voting that party line because you happed to belong. There will alway be those that do , I give you the Teamsters as a shining example of blackmail among their own.
Posted by james old guy on 11/18/07 at 01:03 PMSure - it is that. But the Teamsters will only send goons to work you over. The church sends Satan!
Posted by george.w on 11/18/07 at 01:21 PM