Mirror of Justice: More from Cathleen Kaveny on Catholics, Abortion, and the Presidential Election
I don't intend to post much at all about the election. One side issue, though, is how certain Catholic apologetics have used the election process to intimidate and extort-- there are no polite words--a vote their way. This article explains how it's done and why it's wrong. Unfortunately some of this intimidation and extortion is from the clergy. Sad. This is the evil that happens when apologetics "know" they have all the answers.
Cathleen Kaveny is not criticising those who advocate a vote for or against a political cadidate. She is criticizing those who claim that peope sin merely by voting for a candidate. Just because you can't think of a proportionate reason to vote for or against a particular candidate doesn't mean that other people can't either. To suggest that others can't is a sign of absurd arrogance. Ms. Kaveney correctly observes that Cardinal Ratzinger, an intellect in his own right, doesn't even make this attempt.
Cardinal Ratzinger also does not call folks "Rambo Catholics" either. Pot, kettle and all of that.
Posted by: Elena | October 21, 2004 at 09:01 AM
I' not sure what you meant. Ms Kaveny is not challenging Cardinal Ratzinger at all as far as I can tell. She agrees with him. What he is also not doing is calling Catholics who vote for a Kerry automatic sinners. It appears that Cardinal Ratzinger is saying that voting for Kerry in support of his abortion position is a sin, but a vote for Kerry in spite of his abortion position is material cooperation with evil which is permitted for porportionate reasons. Material cooperation is different than formal cooperation. If it was formal cooperation with evil, Catholics could not vote for Kerry for any reason. Catholics who say its a sin to vote for Kerry confuse material and formal. Cardinal Ratzinger's distinction between the two forms of cooperation with evil, as Kaveny states, was no accident.
And I'm not saying that all Catholcis who are voting for Kerry do have proportionate reasons, but some do. If there's any doubt,the matter is between the Catholic, his confessor, and if needed, his bishop--and nobody else.
Other Catholics assume a mantle that is not theirs if they condemn a fellow Catholic for voting for Kerry. Those Catholics are the ones that Kaveny objects to. I think she's right.
Posted by: Unapologetic Catholic | October 21, 2004 at 02:36 PM
"Those Catholics are the ones that Kaveny objects to. I think she's right."
No... she is actually doing the same thing she is accusing others of... she is being threatening and abrasive.
You know, there is a dearth of leadership from the hierarchy in this country and Rome over what exactly is the right position on this, although overall I would say there is huge support for the pro-life position. Catholics are still called, (last time I checked my catechism) to instruct the ignorant and admonish the sinner. Ms. Kaveny is expecting Catholics who have been hearing for 30 years about evils of abortion, to suddenly suck it up, and keep their damn mouths shut because ... gosh golly it makes her feel bad because she really likes Senator Kerry. and the bishops stand by and do nothing.
Oh... and I like Cardinal Ratzinger... but last time I checked he wasn't the pope, nor was he speaking infallibly. In fact that particular statement left a lot of people still scratching their heads wondering what the heck he meant?
Posted by: Elena | October 22, 2004 at 03:52 AM