Pro Ecclesia * Pro Familia * Pro Civitate: Deacon Fournier Puts Smack Down on Prof. Kmiec

At Catholic Online, Deacon Fournier describes his National Public Radio debate with Prof. Kmiec:

I just finished a radio program on 89.3, KPCC-FM, a National Public Radio Station. The program was entitled “Air Talk” and hosted by Larry Mantle. I was invited to discuss Doug Kmiec’s Book entitled “Can a Catholic Support Him”. Doug argues that a Catholic can and should support Obama’s candidacy. It was Doug who suggested to the producer that I appear with him.

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... My articles on Catholic Online have addressed my disagreements with Doug on many of the issues he raises. In this article I simply want to shed some light on the tactical approach now being taken by Doug in his public appearances so that we can expose and oppose them before it is too late. I truly hope that by taking a strong and public opposition to Doug in this manner I can also help him to see that he is erring in some of what he is saying and confusing many people in the process.

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Senator Obama has pledged that as one of his first acts upon assuming office he will sign FOCA (The Freedom of Choice Act) into Law. How can anybody with a straight face claim that he believes that abortion concerns a “moral issue” and then promise to expand it like this horrid Legislation would do? Senator McCain has absolutely opposed FOCA. This is where I discovered a key to clearing away the smoke of Doug Kmiec’s “Federalism v Pro-life” argument.This fact concerning Obama's support of FOCA cannot be refuted. FOCA is lethal for our first neighbors and will actually increase abortions! It will not only have the effect of codifying Roe but will do much more.

Since the Webster and Casey opinions, the Supreme Court has upheld State limitations on abortion, such as requiring parental involvement, informed consent and prohibiting government funding of most abortion. The Court also recently outlawed most so called “partial birth abortions”. FOCA would undo all of this, essentially nullifying any limitations on abortion on demand through all nine months.

Doug was aware of the implications of the Act and seemed befuddled when I raised it. After all, he is endorsing a candidate who promises to sign it if elected. I then quoted a portion of the well written letter from Cardinal Rigali delivered to Congress this week where his Eminence addressed this kind of contradictory approach writing: “…there is one thing absolutely everyone should be able to agree on: We can’t reduce abortions by promoting abortion…. No one who sponsors or supports legislation like FOCA can credibly claim to be part of a good-faith discussion on how to reduce abortions.” This was an effective way of exposing the facts in a new way. Doug tried to return to his script, engaging in a tired effort to address those he calls “Religious Faith Partisans” and their "singular focus" on reversing Roe v Wade. It did not work. Doug knows I am not what he now calls a “Religious Faith Partisan”. I support the full gamut of life issues and embrace the whole life/pro-life position set forth in Catholic Social teaching.

The next place we can clear away the smoke is by contesting Doug's argument that the Democratic Party, by emphasizing economic support for women who “choose” not to abort and “sex education” for young people (whatever that term means), is somehow acting more “morally” than the Republican Party. I simply pointed out that both major Party Platforms now make almost the same promises and it is a non-issue. All he could manage was to try to reach into the past and point out the failures of Republicans. I do not disagree. I insisted that the concern I had for the recognition of the fundamental right to life was not a partisan issue. I made an effort to return the discussion to his support of a candidate who openly fails to recognize the right to life of an entire category of persons, our first neighbors in the womb, and supports the “right” to reach into that home and kill them. Finally, he spoke of Catholic Social Teaching. I know it and embrace it. I insisted that I am a “reluctant Republican”, a former Democrat who left the Party when they failed to hear the cry of the poorest of the poor, children in the womb, and that I was working to ensure that both Parties embrace it. I ended by returning to his misguided effort to persuade Catholics that, when there is a real difference in the candidates concerning the Fundamental Human Right to Life, that one could "morally" choose to support a candidate who favored abortion...

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