The Casey Milestone: Moving Beyond the Abortion Quagmire?
Thursday August 14, 2008
News broke yesterday that Senator Robert Casey Jr. will address the Democratic Convention in Denver later this month. For many Catholics, this is an important symbol and step towards healing the bitter disappointment that so many of us experienced...
Add to Del.icio.us
Add to Technorati
Add to Digg
Add to Newsvine
Add to Facebook
Add to StumbleUpon
Advertisement
Advertisement
Search This Blog
About Progressive Revival
Diana Butler Bass and Paul Raushenbush both stand firmly within the Mainline Protestant tradition and, along with guest bloggers of all religious backgrounds are dedicated to the revival of religious progressivism and its influence in American politics.
Contributors
Diana Butler BassDiana Butler Bass is a commentator and scholar in American religion. She is the author of seven books including A People's History of Christianity: The Other Side of the Story (HarperOne, 2009).
» Posts by Diana Butler Bass
Paul RaushenbushModerator of the Progressive Revival blog and the Associate Dean of Religious Life at Princeton University.
» Posts by Paul Raushenbush
Subscribe
Recent Posts
Most Popular Posts
- Religious Voices for Gay Rights at the National Equality March:
- Witchcraft and Children in Africa: How to Read the Bible Badly:
- Vatican Woos Conservative Anglicans: This is News?:
- Dear President Obama: Stop the War in Afghanistan:
- Election 2009 Mixed Blessings:
- Burn In Hell Halloween:
- Halloween 2009 vs All Saints Day (Eternally):
- Pro-Football, Injury, and Clear Christian Conscience :
- The Power of Words: President Obama Receives the Nobel Peace Prize:
- Bill Donohue is Angry at Radical Secularists...Again:
Calendar
Top Features
- Seven Patron Saints for Healing and Comfort
- A Prayer for Children Going to School
- Accidental Blessings
- Inspiring Barack Obama Inauguration Quotes
- Don t Take Away My Coffee
- Other People s Beds
- We Have It All
- Multifaith Mealtime Prayers
- Man in the Mirror
- John McCain: Constitution Established a 'Christian Nation'
This is an important call to all those who care about the common good. It is absolutely essential to the credibility of the Catholic position on abortion that its ideals of "solidarity with women" make a concrete and practical difference to the real options facing pregnant women, girls, and families. The efforts on abortion need to be firmly and consistently linked to the bishop's teachings on topics like the economy (Economic Justice for All) and health care (Resolution on Health Care Reform). This calls for simulataneous attention to a number of interlocked political and social issues, as the bishops state in Faithful Citizenship 2007. Data in the US and other countries show that abortion rates drop as social supports for families rise.
I fully concur with Kelley's insights. I join her in the hope that Sen. Casey will use his speech at the convention to move the political conversation forward in support of an inclusive pro-life vision. Senator Obama's vision of Hope and Change provides a timely opportunity to open the doors of the Democratic Party to welcome those of us who for various reasons, including religious principles, desire to support a more consistent ethics of life. It is time for democrats to reach across the aisle and begin a process of healing that will allow further 'democratization' of the Democratic Party. Following Senator Obama's example, which I would characterize in terms of building a 'politics of inclusion,' the time is ripe for the Democratic Party to embrace the common good that can result from embracing this Catholic pro-life-vision. As Kelley puts it: "The deep call within centuries of Catholic social teaching is for a culture that puts human life and dignity over materialism, community over excessive individualism, and principle over profit. Now there's an agenda we can all get behind."
MDiaz
Associate Prof. of Theology
Now that I see that Tom Ridge may be on McCain's "short list" it seems that the pro-life group has no choice but to look to the Democrats for help.
This measure of support for pro-life issues of health and care is the most important move the party has made in the last twenty or so years. I applaud them and hope that it is not just the same lip service that the GOP has handed down since Reagan.
Casey was not denied the podium in 1992 because of his pro-life position. He was denied because he refused to endorse the ticket, Bill Clinton. This canard has gained wide distribution but the fact remains it was because of Casey's stance on the ticket, not his stand on abortion that caused him to be denied the podium.
My understanding is that the Senator Obama and his people really listened to the voices of the faithful who have argued for more balance in the Democratic platform and that it reflect more fully the consistent life ethic. The choice of Senator Casey as a speaker is also welcome since he will be able to give full throated voice to the common good agenda, an agenda which is sorely needed if we are to address, and implement remedies for, the tough problems being left in the wake of eight years of bad judgements and disinterested (to put it kindly) government. I feel like my values as a Catholic are being more fully represented in this campaign than any in a very long time. Even though I respect greatly John McCain's courage, it is time for our nation, as one people, to move in a new direction.
Exactly what I was thinking. The balls in Casey's court, although I'm not sure the junior senator from PA wants it. Navigating the politics of a Democratic party owned by pro-choice interests is no small order, especially for a young senator with a bright future. It will be fascinating to see how he plays it.
To see how the right is playing this, visit:
http://www.catholic.org/politics/story.php?id=28917
Cheryl Fuller, PhD:
Jerry Brown's sister, who endorsed him over Clinton, was allowed to speak at the convention in 1992. Casey was denied solely for his prolife position. The endorsement excuse is the canard here.
There's a bit of mythmaking over the Casey speech, but it doesn't diminish the perception that he was disallowed for his pro-life views. Even if it is largely a myth, it is an enduring perception that the Democrats need to grapple with.
I'm still not convinced that wooing Reagan Democrats--who abandoned the party over race more than social issues--should be the number one goal of Obama. Democrats are already more inclusive of pro-life people than Republicans are inclusive of pro-choice people. Still, there is plenty of work to be done.
Michael: Everything in your post is a lie, including the words "a" and "the".
As I said, mythmaking. But it's a sincere belief and one that must be understood, regardless of where reality comes down.
Elmo,
You could choose to engage in discourse in a respectful way, or you can insult and demean others for simply their views.
WWJD?
Are there any rules on this blog about commenters being respectful of others who are simply expressing their views? I don't think that calling people liars is helpful or meaningful to the discussion. WWJD?
Michael: This may be your belief, but it is also one presented without any proof whatsoever and yet you say I must understand? Why? These are simply false statements. There is nothing to understand.
Let me be an example for you by backing up my assertion that your post is full of lies with my reasons for saying so:
1.) DNC Convention Mythmaking -- The real myth is that Casey Sr. was excluded from the convention because he did not endorse Clinton, not because of Casey's prolife views. Fact: Kathleen Brown spoke at the convention despite her endorsement of Jerry Brown.
2.) The racism of Reagan Democrats -- you assert this without any context or proof. I can tell you firsthand that I, and other conservative, prolife Democrats that I know, are alienated from the party for reasons other than race and in fact, some of us are not even white.
3.) The "inclusiveness" of pro-choice Dems -- that is just laughably false. As Democrats for Life president put it on the group's website before this election cycle, "Anti-abortion groups just had no seat at the table."
Connie:
WWJD? He would tell people to "beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves".
In other words, he would call people on their lies.
Sorry, if that offends you.
1. Kathleen Brown spoke because her brother was a nominee for president. It's not unusual that a strong supporter of one of the other top nominees is going to speak at the convention.
2. The rise of Reagan Democrats coincided with attempts by the GOP to use race as a wedge issue. While social issues were an attraction, it's hard to dismiss the fact that the race played a role in attracting many of those working-class white ethnic voters. Wooing religoius conservatives and those alienated by race was an intertwined effort, not two separate efforts.
3. Unlike the GOP, Democrats have allowed pro-life Democrats to speak at recent conventions and talk about abortion. Except for a single line in Colin Powell's speech, no Republican has spoken in support of abortion rights at the convention since before 1992. In 2004, a pro-life Democrat--Jsmes Langevin--spoke at the convention and discussed pro-life issues.
1. Kathleen Brown spoke because her brother was a nominee for president. It's not unusual that a strong supporter of one of the other top nominees is going to speak at the convention.
Exactly. She endorsed Jerry Brown and refused to change her endorsement for Bill Clinton yet got to speak. Casey, a governor of a heavily populated swing state, also did not endorse Clinton and was denied the chance to speak after letting it be known that he wanted to speak about abortion.
2.) Correlation does not cause causation. And actually, the GOP began trying to use race as an issue in the 60s with the so-called "Southern strategy". "Ethnic" voters didn't actually begin leaving the Democrats until about 1980, about the time that opponents of abortion began seriously organizing politically, that prolifers (white "ethnic" Catholics) began leaving the Democrats, seeing in Reagan the first candidate who would be sympathetic to their views.
3.) Langevin introduced Ron Reagan Jr. at the convention and spoke about stem cell research -- which isn't the same as addressing abortion, though he probably would have liked to. That same year, a prolife Democrat, Zell Miller, addressed the GOP convention, speaking against abortion -- the only speaker at either convention to do so.
So, Michael, I do not know what universe you are drawing your opinions, beliefs, facts, etc., from, but a quick google of all of these issues will pretty easily put your claims to rest.
Well, your is definitely one interpretation of the facts. Mine is another. Nevertheless, we do need attend to the real pain that shapes the Casey story, whether true or imagined. We can't, however, let it hijack the direction of a party or cloud good policymaking.
Michael, I wouldn't call yours an interpretation of the facts. You are basically making up reality to suit your world view without much interest in facts.
Democrats can acknowledge the real pain caused by allowing the abortion industry to hijack the party without fear -- there is almost no chance that prolifers could ever take over the party and finally get a chance for sane, "good policymaking" to take place.
Post a Comment
By submitting these comments, I agree to the beliefnet.com terms of service, rules of conduct and privacy policy (the "agreements"). I understand and agree that any content I post is licensed to beliefnet.com and may be used by beliefnet.com in accordance with the agreements.