We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.

Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.

Help Now >

Straight Guy with the Catholic Eye: Kerry's Folly

Free World Class Education
FREE Catholic Classes

By Matt Abbott

Did you hear the news? Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry actually believes that life does indeed begin at conception. At least, that's what he told the Dubuque Telegraph Herald.

Say what?

"I oppose abortion, personally. I don't like abortion. I believe life does begin at conception," said Kerry. "But I can't take my Catholic belief, my article of faith, and legislate it on a Protestant or a Jew or an atheist... who doesn't share it. We have separation of church and state in the United States of America."

(Sigh...)

Jill Stanek, pro-life activist and columnist for the IllinoisLeader.com, had this to say in her July 6 column: "Wait, John. If you believe life begins at conception, there can be no 'but.' If your first statement is true, killing innocent human life after conception can only be called murder. And then, would it matter to you what the law states? In 1857, the Supreme Court said blacks weren't human. Would you have sided with the Supreme Court then, because it was the law?"

Frank Joseph, MD (http://www.hometown.aol.com/dfjoseph/abortion.html) had this to say in a recent e-letter:

"If the majority of bishops who were reluctant to deny John Kerry Holy Communion even though he embraces the proposition that women should have the right to have their unborn children killed, they should no longer be hesitant, because Kerry now admits that human life begins at conception.

We Will Pray with You: Light Your Virtual Prayer Candle

"This admission as to when life begins coupled with his advocacy for killing these same human beings should be all the evidence that the weak bishops need to know, to not only deny Kerry the Eucharist, but to publicly excommunicate him.

"No longer can bishops claim ignorance as to the spiritual mindset of Kerry. If bishops cannot see that Kerry is doing the work of satan, then the Pope should defrock all but six.

"This admission by Kerry presents a whole new ball game. If he is not excommunicated after admitting that human life begins at conception, then the American Catholic Church can no longer claim to be Catholic. It is being pulled into hell by these lukewarm bishops who refuse to follow Canon Law for political reasons only. They want Kerry to be president. There can be no other explanation.

"Whatever happened to their commitment to the Word of God, 'Thou Shalt Not Kill?'

"It is obvious that John Kerry does not believe in this Commandment; and if he is not excommunicated, it is also obvious that the bishops, with the exception of six, also do not believe in the Word of God."

For those who truly believe in the sanctity of human life, there are two upcoming pro-life events taking place in two major cities, Chicago and New York.

In Chicago, the Pro-Life Action League will be conducting its fifth annual Face the Truth Tour from July 7 through July 17. For more information about this pro-life campaign, visit www.prolifeaction.org.

And I received this e-mail from Jill Sanders:

"My name is Jill and I am spending this summer with 11 other college students, walking 1300 miles from Augusta, Maine to Washington D.C. to promote the message that, 'You can't be Catholic and pro-abortion.'

"We are hosting a pro-life parade next Saturday, July 10th at 8:30 a.m., beginning in Brooklyn, NY at the abortion mill located at 44 Court St. and ending in the Bronx. We will be stopping at each abortion mill in New York City to pray for an end to abortion.

"I would like to invite you to participate in this awesome opportunity to spread the Gospel of Life in the face of the culture of death. Please tell everyone you know. The more people we have the greater impact we will have on this city. If you can't make it, please pray for us.

"As Catholics, it is our responsibility to defend the dignity of life and the sanctity of the Eucharist. Both are being attacked by our society and we can't stand by and let this happen anymore.

Light Your Virtual Prayer Candle For a Loved One

"For more details about this pro-life parade through the streets of New York City, please contact us on our 'Crusade for Life' cell phone, 540-907-5827. To find out more about American Life League's Crusade for Life, check out www.all.org/crusade.

"Hope to see you on Saturday!"