You know it would be very easy for the Democratic party to take over a large portion of Republican voters simply by acknowledging the abortion issue. Everyone agrees that abortion in and of itself is not a good thing. On the other hand though it's important for women to have the right to choose. These two premisis don't necessarily have to be in opposition to eachother. It's pretty obvious that Pro Choice people won't vote Republican but at the same time with just the slightest of efforts the democratic party can destroy the Republican base with the slightest efforts towards reducing abortions.

I'm sure if you were to explain to the hard core Pro Choice members that while the party does support their freedom to choose, that the Democratic party wants to what the can to try and offer other altenatives to abortion.

I'm not really sure how it's set up right now, but I suggest that you all introduce a bill that creates an electronic detabase with all potnetial parents looking to adopt children. Then also in the bill appropriate money to centers for expecting mothers that would assist them in the delivery and adoption process. Probably 99 percent of America doesn't think abortion is good in and of itself. And just because you believe in freedom of choice doesn't preclude you from offering legistation to offer alternatives to women. It really would be a political smack upside the Republican parties head!

You know it would be very easy for the Democratic party to take over a large portion of Republican voters simply by acknowledging the abortion issue. Everyone agrees that abortion in and of itself is not a good thing. On the other hand though it's important for women to have the right to choose. These two premisis don't necessarily have to be in opposition to eachother. It's pretty obvious that Pro Choice people won't vote Republican but at the same time with just the slightest of efforts the democratic party can destroy the Republican base with the slightest efforts towards reducing abortions.

I'm sure if you were to explain to the hard core Pro Choice members that while the party does support their freedom to choose, that the Democratic party wants to what the can to try and offer other altenatives to abortion.

I'm not really sure how it's set up right now, but I suggest that you all introduce a bill that creates an electronic detabase with all potnetial parents looking to adopt children. Then also in the bill appropriate money to centers for expecting mothers that would assist them in the delivery and adoption process. Probably 99 percent of America doesn't think abortion is good in and of itself. And just because you believe in freedom of choice doesn't preclude you from offering legistation to offer alternatives to women. It really would be a political smack upside the Republican parties head!

Well, since you've opened the door on your Catholicism by making this statement, allow me to make a couple of Catholic arguments against certain positions which you hold on purpose (and too many of my fellow Democrats hold merely in ignorance since you have not taught them differently) in objection.

"we do not celebrate its practice"

Well, that's good to know. Since, as we know, Jesus said "Thou shalt not celebrate grave evil." Oh, wait, no He didn't.

Instead, He said "Truly, truly, I say to you, every one who commits sin is a slave to sin." and "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." And, didn't John the Baptist leap in the womb when he heard the greeting of Mary? Thank God they didn't have Planned Parenthood then.

"Each of us is committed to reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies". Really? How so?

By reminding people "And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out"?

Or, if that's too extreme, how about reminding people that "out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a man."? Still no, I guess, since that list is pretty close to the current Democratic party platform.

Then how about by teaching abstinence until marriage as a grave social responsibility - to avoid disease, to avoid unwanted pregnancy, to instill the (secular) virtues of fortitude and perseverance? No, of course not.

"but believe also in the primacy of conscience". The primacy of conscience is not part of Catholic doctrine. The primacy of a well-formed conscience, however, is. It's not surprising, this canard has been around for a long time. Let me quote St. Thomas Aquinas:

For instance, if erring reason tell a man that he should go to another man's wife, the will that abides by that erring reason is evil; since this error arises from ignorance of the Divine Law, which he is bound to know. But if a man's reason, errs in mistaking another for his wife, and if he wish to give her her right when she asks for it, his will is excused from being evil: because this error arises from ignorance of a circumstance, which ignorance excuses, and causes the act to be involuntary.

"accept the tension that comes with being in disagreement with the Church in some areas" You don't get to disagree with the Church and remain part of the Church. You can say you are ignorant and don't know the Church's teachings and ask to be taught; you can say you're foolish and stupid, and pray to God for greater understanding and ask the Church's guidance; you can even say you're a sinner and the burden of holiness is to vast for you and beg for relief - but once you've made up your mind that the Church is wrong and you are right - you have cast yourself out of Communion with Her. I welcome you to join the liberal Protestants, about whom it has been said (by R. Niebuhr) that they believe that "A God without wrath brought men without sin into a Kingdom without judgment through Christ without a Cross". Which about sums up how your beliefs present themselves in action quite nicely, I think.

In retrospect, I shouldn't have said "My fellow Democrats", I was once, but I'd really stopped having an any affinity for the Democratic party a couple of years ago, for just these very reasons. I apologize for misleading you...

To BrotherJohn
Are you insane?! You must be. Let's just change your statement a bit to see how outrageous it is those who hold all innocent life sacred:
" Everyone agrees that (killing ill grandmothers) is in and of itself not a good thing. On the other hand though it's important for women to have the right to choose (killing ill grandmothers)" Do you see how absolutely ridiculous that sounds. The Pro-grandma death people might even use the same logic as the Pro-baby death people. "Understand...since women are the primary caregivers of ill family members and they alone must suffer that burden then the euthanasia decision should be left up to them."
Life begins at conception and it is sacred. You can't dance on the head of a pin. Abortion is wrong. As long as the democrats try to parse the issue they will lose.

Bravo to Anonymous,
Let me follow that up with a definition of "Conscience" from the Cathechism of the Catholic Church, which these elected representatives desperately needed to reference before writing this:

(1776) " Deep within his conscience man discovers a law which he has not laid upon himself but shich he must obey. Its voice, ever calling him to love and to do what is good and to avoid evil, sounds in his heart at the right moment....For man has in his heart a law inscribed by God....His conscience is man's most secret core and his sanctuary. There he alone woth God whose voice echoes in his depths"
(1787) Man is sometimes confronted by situations that make moral judgements less assured and decision difficult. But he must always seriously seek what is right and good and discern the will of God expressed by divine law.

Your conscience is from God and God alone....so who are these democrats listening too....?

I applaud this gathering of Catholic Democrat Representatives. This tells America, and the rest of the world that it is possible to be Catholic and a Democrat. The fact that, "[They] do not celebrate its practice," is important for pro-life people to realize. Catholic Democrats understand that if abortion is made illegal that it is not going to cease the problem. Women will still commit abortions and there will be an increase in deaths of pregnant mothers. The problem of unwanted pregnancies needs to be stopped at its roots.

Democrat Catholics realize that it is their job to help create a healthy environment for all families so that abortion will not even become a consideration and will become obsolete.

Truly bloggers, you are making mountains out of mole-hills with the Democrat Catholics asserting that they believe in, "The primacy of conscience." They are simply insisting that they will not be controlled by the papacy which is a fear for a large percentage of Americans.

The church as an administrative body CAN be wrong. As seen with indulgences during the middle ages and the Great Papal Schism, the leadership in the church errs and it is the duty of the laity (i.e Cathlic Democrats) to bring back the church to her natural conscience. Just as saints, like St. Francis and Ignatius of Loyala, have exemplified moral living during periods of papal corruption.

This document also reiterates the basic Catholic and Democratic beliefs that all people deserve health care, education, food, and economic security, which lie in direct contrast with the Republican policy of big business and social darwinism.

I am a Roman Catholic and an American citizen; in fact, my ancestors and living relatives fought in most American wars, including the Revolutionary War. My firm conviction is that the right to life as expressed in the documents of U.S. tradition; namely, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are the instruction we need to refer to, not religion.
Life is a preeminent, first issue-surpassing any other issue. It is not subject to alternatives like which house to buy or which dress to wear. As a moral right for every human being, it is not open to debate or personal vision but only to our Creator's vision. With life, natural law is the only standard. Fortunately, without equivocation, the Catholic Church has always supported life.
If lawmakers and citizens stand united for life, they will receive life and hope because without life there is no hope.