Skip to main content
What kind of a people will we be?
"The rhetoric of abortion advocacy contains a truth that abortion advocates often fail to perceive. Abortion is a question of choice. The "choice," though, is not one faced by isolated women exercising private rights. It is a choice faced by all the citizens of this free society. And the choice we make, deliberatively and democratically, will do much to answer two questions: What kind of a people are we? What kind of a people will we be?" (New Compact for Care, NY Times,1992)
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL. (Catholic Online) - Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz was named by President Barack Obama to Chair the National Democratic party. She took over for the former Governor of Virginia, Tim Kaine. Tim Kaine claimed to be "Pro-Life", though his record and his statements completely undermine the claim.
Tim Kaine's leadership of the Democratic Party enabled the Party to at least appear to still be open to Pro-Life people. With the appointment of Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the façade is over. She has earned the effusive praise of none other Cecile Richards, the head of the evil organization called Planned Parenthood. Her record and her rhetoric are clear.
On Friday, August 19, 2011, Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz was a speaker at a rally for Planned Parenthood in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. She tweeted and posted to facebook to proudly let her fans know that she participated. When I read of this open endorsement of an organization which leads the pack in abortions, I thought back on the days when there really were consistent "liberals" and truly "Pro-Life" Democrats.
I am sure this article will generate a response from some of the sincere members of groups such as "Democrats for Life" who will insist there still are Pro-Life Democrats. Sadly, the fight over the Obama Administration's Health Care disabused me of much hope that this is still the case. I would welcome being proven wrong.
However, it has not always been like this. A New York Times editorial written by Ross Douthat on August 30, 2009, the week Eunice Kennedy Shriver died, was entitled "A Different Kind of Liberal." It drew comparisons and contrasts between Ted Kennedy, who died the same month, and his sister, Eunice Shriver. He noted "Liberalism's most important legislator probably merited a more extended send-off than his sister. But there's a sense in which his life's work and Eunice's deserve to be remembered together - for what their legacies had in common, and for what ultimately separated them."
He continued "What separated them was abortion. Along with her husband, Sargent Shriver, Eunice belonged to America's dwindling population of outspoken pro-life liberals. Like her church, she saw continuity, rather than a contradiction, between championing the poor, the marginalized and the oppressed and protecting unborn human life. "Her brother took a different path. Not at first: In 1971, in a letter to a voter that abortion opponents would have many opportunities to quote, he declared that "wanted or unwanted, I believe that human life, even at its earliest stages, has certain rights which must be recognized - the right to be born, the right to love, the right to grow old."
I grew up in Massachusetts during the heyday of this brand of Pro-Life liberalism. I actually remember consistent liberals. Sadly they are now nearly extinct. The Shriver's stood in the proud tradition of the last truly great Democratic candidate for the Presidency of the United States; the late Pennsylvania Governor Bob Casey. He was a great champion of all the poor and a candidate whom I proudly supported in his bid for the White House.
He was censored at the National Democratic Convention when the forces of death on demand in the name of "choice" took over that once great Party. Do not believe the historical revisionists who now attempt to say that was not the case. It was! However, he and the Shriver's heard the cries of all of the poor, including those whom Mother Teresa rightly called "the poorest of the poor", children living in the first home of the whole human race who have no voice but our own.
Under the leadership of the late Governor Casey, a full-page advertisement appeared in the New York Times during the Democratic Convention in July 1992 called "A New Compact of Care: Caring about Women, Caring for the Unborn." Both Eunice and Sargent Shriver signed this document. Now those signatories were the real McCoy, pro-Life Democrats and Pro-Life Liberals. Here is a small excerpt: *************
Beyond the False Dichotomy: A New Compact of Care
"The advocates of abortion on demand falsely assume two things: that women must suffer if the lives of unborn children are legally protected; and that women can only attain equality by having the legal option of destroying their innocent offspring in the womb. The cynicism of these assumptions reflects a terrible failure of moral imagination and social responsibility and an appalling lack of respect for women.
"We propose a new understanding, one that does not pit mother against child. To establish justice and to promote the general welfare, America does not need the abortion license. What America needs are policies that responsibly protect and advance the interest of mothers ...1 | 2 Next Page » Rate This Article
Was this helpful to you? Very Helpful Somewhat Helpful Not Helpful at All
Would you be interested in more articles like this? Yes, I am Interested No, I am not Interested
5 Comments Allan Ranusch August 25th, 2011 6:25 am
I am a pro-life liberal and in many ways feel like a political orphan. I am a member of Democrats for Life as well as Consistent Life . I see terrible hypocrisy cutting both ways. I agree that it is ridiculous for liberal Democrats to profess to be standing up for the poor and marginalized while militating against the right to life of the most vulnerable segment of our society. On the other hand, I find it equally insane for conservative Republicans to call themselves pro-life while fighting against national health care in a country where 45,000 people die each year from lack of access to health services. It is not pro-life to fight like your life depended on it against tax increases for hedge fund billionares while pushing cuts in nutritional programs for poor children, ending heating subsides for the poor and lowering unemployment and job training benefits. Indifference is not an option and in such times I suppose each person must choose their "lesser evil." At this point, this has led me to consider myself a Democrat who works hard and often thanklessly to bring about a conversion in which they see protecting the unborn as an innate part of the traditional liberal agenda of protecting the weak and vulnerable.
Louis Barta August 25th, 2011 5:57 amAppointing life-hating Wasserman to chair the National Democratic party further illustrates the inferiority and moral poverty of Obama's leadership compared to that of a genuine leader such King St. Louis IX, whose feast it is today. But the time is soon coming when America, and every other country on earth, will be blessed with upright kingly leadership installed by the Lord of Hosts. In my free, downloadable PDF essay, "The Intermediate Coming of Christ," I discuss this subject. Web address: members.toast.net/louisbarta/THE_INTERMEDIATE_COMING_OF_CHRIST All six of my essays are compiled from approved Church sources.
John D August 25th, 2011 4:52 amWell done, Deacon. Irresponsibility is the key to understanding our problems today. People refuse to take responsibility for the sex they have or the children they produce. People care more about materials goods and nice vacations as opposed to raising a family. This self-centeredness cannot continue indefinitely. With 53 million abortions since 1972, we are just beginning to feel the economic impact of killing off a substantial part of the next generation.
Robert Burford August 25th, 2011 4:13 ami feel your pain deacon. That was a wonderful comparison you noted in the 2009 article comparing Eunice Shriver and Ted Kennedy and their life's work. The one thing that should be noted is that many Republicans today straddle the topic of abortion.They will go back and forth depending how the question is asked or who they would be speaking. We need a pro-life party and candidates that have conviction.
albert marek August 24th, 2011 8:19 pmThe Democratic party stands for abortion, same sex marriage, euthanasia, fetal stem cell research and human cloning. All condemned by the Catholic Church. To be a Catholic and a member of the Democratic of the party is a contradiction. No Catholic should be a Democrat or vote for any Democrat candidate for office.
Leave a CommentComments submitted must be civil, remain on-topic and not violate any laws including copyright. We reserve the right to delete any comments which are abusive, inappropriate or not constructive to the discussion.Though we invite robust discussion, we reserve the right to not publish any comment which denigrates the human person, undermines marriage and the family, or advocates for positions which openly oppose the teaching of the Catholic Church.This is a supervised forum and the Editors of Catholic Online retain the right to direct it.We also reserve the right to block any commenter for repeated violations. Your email address is required to post, but it will not be published on the site.
Name *
Email *
Message *More Politics & Policy NewsAny Pro-Life Democrats? Wasserman Schultz and Planned Parenthood Perry and Paul gain ground over Bachman and Romney.PERRY SIGNS PRO-LIFE/ANTI-ABORTION PLEDGEU.S. Presidential Campaign 2012: Morally Coherent Catholics Can Change this NationObama trying real hard to spend $3 million per minute - and succeeding!Obama Halts DeportationsObama administration effort to slow oil and gas drilling thrown outPresident Obama's Approval Ratings CollapseRick Perry, Rick Santorum, the Meaning of Marriage and Political 'Conservatism' Featured NewsCommunist Chinese Regime Arrests Catholic Priests During U.S. Vice President's VisitPerry and Paul gain ground over Bachman and Romney.Warren Buffet has eureka moment in tub, invests $5B in B of AGE snubs U.S., sells technology to ChinaAny Pro-Life Democrats? Wasserman Schultz and Planned Parenthood Bishop Munilla Calls Consecration of Youth to the Sacred Heart by Pope Highlight of WYDPERRY SIGNS PRO-LIFE/ANTI-ABORTION PLEDGEOuter Banks residents: Stop reading this and evacuate!Archbishop Dolan on Knights of Columbus Video »
Aug 23 - Homily: ...
Aug 22 - Homily: The ...
Aug 21 - Homily: The ...
Aug 20 - Homily: Our True ...
Aug 18 - Homily: All Are ...
Christening Gowns & ...
Aug 17 - Homily: Labor of ...
Aug 16 - Homily: The Rich ...
Aug 15 - Homily: The ...
Newsletter Sign Up »Stay up to date with the latest news, information, and special offers from Catholic Online. See Sample
Daily Readings » Reading 1, 1 Thes 3:7-13And so, brothers, your faith has been a great encouragement to us in the middle of our own distress and hardship; now ... Read all
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 90:3-4, 12-13, 14, 17You bring human beings to the dust, by saying, 'Return, children of Adam.' A thousand years are to you like a ... Read all
Gospel, Mt 24:42-51'So stay awake, because you do not know the day when your master is coming. You may be quite sure of this, that if the ... Read all
Most Popular » Commented Viewed Rated Searched U.S. Presidential Campaign 2012: Morally Coherent Catholics Can Change this Nation Papa, the Young Catholics, and Amanda Marcotte: Hope in Madrid Archbishop Dolan: Is it Time for a Renewal of the External Markers of Our Faith? Bachmann Wins, Perry's In, Pawlenty's out, Santorum and Cain are Contenders Silent: Vice President Biden Fails to Condemn China's Forced Abortion PolicyMore Most Popular
U.S. Presidential Campaign 2012: Morally Coherent Catholics Can Change this Nation Nick Ashford of Ashford & Simpson succumbs to throat cancer Papa, the Young Catholics, and Amanda Marcotte: Hope in Madrid Unusual earthquakes strike Colorado and along the eastern seaboard Catholics are Called to Evangelize: Have the Audacity to Take it to the StreetsMore Most Popular
U.S. Presidential Campaign 2012: Morally Coherent Catholics Can Change this NationArchbishop Dolan: Is it Time for a Renewal of the External Markers of Our Faith?Papa, the Young Catholics, and Amanda Marcotte: Hope in MadridA Young Pilgrim Sets the Record Straight About World Youth DaySilent: Vice President Biden Fails to Condemn China's Forced Abortion PolicyMore Most Popular
Holy Family, Holy family, HOLY FAMI Search Bible Holy Family John female saintsMore Most Popular
Featured Book Fireproof - Participant's Guide Fireproof Your Marriage will challenge you to love better, love first and love for a lifetime. This six-week study is founded on ... Featured Product Gold Crosses OroLatina has a tremendous selection of Gold Crosses in Genuine 14 Karat Gold. Give the gift of a genuine gold cross to your ... Where Catholics meet Catholics Editor's Choice Dropping health care Many employers consider dropping care in 2014 Prostitution scandal MP use of funds could topple government Life on Earth Scientists declare 8.7 life forms, or species Illegal pharmacies Google must pay $50 million for listing phonies Who gets stockpile? Libyan arsenal could fall into terrorist hands Iona Abbey Scottish abbey spread Celtic Christianity Complaints mount Hip replacements leave painful side effects Blasphemous? British comic's crucifixion pose infuriates some Wanted dead or alive Khadafi sought after rebels seize Libyan capital Carolinas evacuated East Coast battens down in wake of Hurricane Irene Good news for unborn Fewer doctors are actively performing abortions Managing cholesterol Cholesterol can be managed without medication Virginia rattled State rattled by biggest quake in 100 years A significant snub General Electric passes over U.S. for China Quake hits East Coast Unusual activity strikes Colorado, Virginia // GET THE AD var ad1 = getAd( "the_ad"); // INSERT THE AD // 1 means 1st pos, 2 means 2nd pos, 3 means 3rd pos insertAd( ad1, "ed-chce-ul", 2 );Find Catholic Online on Facebook and get updates right in your live feed.
Become a fan of Catholic Online on Facebook
Follow Catholic Online on Twitter and get News and Product updates.
Follow Catholic Online on Twitter
Copyright 2011 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2011 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
BACK TO TOP About Us About Us Advertisers Careers Contact Us Our Mission Privacy Policy Terms of Service Local Editions Orlando Virginia North San Diego Orange County Los Angeles News U.S. News International Politics PRWire College & University Arts & Entertainment Home & Family Business & Economics Travel Photos Most Popular Newsletters RSS Catholic Life Bible Bookstore Christmas / Advent Daily Readings Directory Easter / Lent Encyclopedia Forum Prayers Saints & Angels Saint of the Day Shopping Vocations Social Networking Twitter Facebook Sponsored Links Marriage Counseling Improve Your Health Marriage Counselor DeeperShopping Books & Bibles Baby Christening Outfits Christian Attorneys $("ul.social-tabs").tabs("div.social-panes > div"); $("ul.most-popular-tabs1").tabs("div.most-popular-panes1 > div"); $('#mycarousel').jcarousel({ scroll: 3, auto: 5, wrap: 'both', initCallback: mycarousel_initCallback }); $('#mycarousel-lg').jcarousel({ scroll: 5, auto: 15, wrap: 'both', initCallback: mycarousel_initCallback }); $("#rate").click(function(){ var postData = $("#rateArticle").serialize(); $("#rateArticle div.button").append(''); $.post('/submit_rating.php', postData, function(responseText){ $("#rateArticle").slideUp("slow", function() { $("#rateArticle").before('Thank you for rating this article.'); }); }, "html" ); return false; }); $("#submit").click(function(){ var postData = $("#sendMessage").serialize(); $(".input-error").hide(); var hasError = false; var emailReg = /^([w-.]+@([w-]+.)+[w-]{2,4})?$/; var nameVal = $("#name").val(); if(nameVal == '') { $("#name").after('Please enter your name.'); hasError = true; } var emailVal = $("#email").val(); if(emailVal == '') { $("#email").after('Please enter your email address.'); hasError = true; } else if(!emailReg.test(emailVal)) { $("#email").after('Enter a VALID email address.'); hasError = true; } var commentVal = $("#comment").val(); if(commentVal == '') { $("#comment").after('Please enter your comment.'); hasError = true; } if(hasError == false) { $('.error').hide(); $("#sendMessage div.button").append(''); $.post('/submit_comments.php', postData, function(responseText){ if (responseText=='success') { $('#sendMessage').slideUp('slow', function() { $('#sendMessage').before('Your comment was posted and is awaiting approval. Thank you.'); }); } else { $('.loading').hide(); $('#sendMessage div.button').append(responseText); } }, "html" ); } return false; }); var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-1273940-1"); pageTracker._initData(); pageTracker._trackPageview();Would you be interested in more articles like this? Yes, I am Interested No, I am not Interested
I am a pro-life liberal and in many ways feel like a political orphan. I am a member of Democrats for Life as well as Consistent Life . I see terrible hypocrisy cutting both ways. I agree that it is ridiculous for liberal Democrats to profess to be standing up for the poor and marginalized while militating against the right to life of the most vulnerable segment of our society. On the other hand, I find it equally insane for conservative Republicans to call themselves pro-life while fighting against national health care in a country where 45,000 people die each year from lack of access to health services. It is not pro-life to fight like your life depended on it against tax increases for hedge fund billionares while pushing cuts in nutritional programs for poor children, ending heating subsides for the poor and lowering unemployment and job training benefits. Indifference is not an option and in such times I suppose each person must choose their "lesser evil." At this point, this has led me to consider myself a Democrat who works hard and often thanklessly to bring about a conversion in which they see protecting the unborn as an innate part of the traditional liberal agenda of protecting the weak and vulnerable.
Appointing life-hating Wasserman to chair the National Democratic party further illustrates the inferiority and moral poverty of Obama's leadership compared to that of a genuine leader such King St. Louis IX, whose feast it is today. But the time is soon coming when America, and every other country on earth, will be blessed with upright kingly leadership installed by the Lord of Hosts. In my free, downloadable PDF essay, "The Intermediate Coming of Christ," I discuss this subject. Web address: members.toast.net/louisbarta/THE_INTERMEDIATE_COMING_OF_CHRIST All six of my essays are compiled from approved Church sources.
Well done, Deacon. Irresponsibility is the key to understanding our problems today. People refuse to take responsibility for the sex they have or the children they produce. People care more about materials goods and nice vacations as opposed to raising a family. This self-centeredness cannot continue indefinitely. With 53 million abortions since 1972, we are just beginning to feel the economic impact of killing off a substantial part of the next generation.
i feel your pain deacon. That was a wonderful comparison you noted in the 2009 article comparing Eunice Shriver and Ted Kennedy and their life's work. The one thing that should be noted is that many Republicans today straddle the topic of abortion.They will go back and forth depending how the question is asked or who they would be speaking. We need a pro-life party and candidates that have conviction.
The Democratic party stands for abortion, same sex marriage, euthanasia, fetal stem cell research and human cloning. All condemned by the Catholic Church. To be a Catholic and a member of the Democratic of the party is a contradiction. No Catholic should be a Democrat or vote for any Democrat candidate for office.
Comments submitted must be civil, remain on-topic and not violate any laws including copyright. We reserve the right to delete any comments which are abusive, inappropriate or not constructive to the discussion.Though we invite robust discussion, we reserve the right to not publish any comment which denigrates the human person, undermines marriage and the family, or advocates for positions which openly oppose the teaching of the Catholic Church.This is a supervised forum and the Editors of Catholic Online retain the right to direct it.We also reserve the right to block any commenter for repeated violations. Your email address is required to post, but it will not be published on the site.
Name *
Email *
Aug 23 - Homily: ...
Aug 22 - Homily: The ...
Aug 21 - Homily: The ...
Read Full Article »