This Ain’t Right
Last week the Republican National Committee Chairman, Michael Steele was quoted in an interview with GQ magazine’s Lisa DePaulo saying that he believes abortion is an “individual’s choice”. Here is the excerpt from the interview:
L: How much of your pro-life stance, for you, is informed not just by your catholic faith, but by the fact that you were adopted?
M: Oh, a lot. Absolutely. I see the power of life in that. I mean, and the power of choice! The thing to keep in mind about it, uh, you know, I think as a country we get off on these misguided conversations that throw around terms that really misrepresent truth.
L: Explain that.
M: The choice issue cuts two ways. You can choose life or you can choose abortion. You know, my mother chose life. So, you know, I think the power of the argument of choice boils down to stating a case for one or the other.
L: Are you saying you think women have the right to choose abortion?
M: Yeah. I mean, again, I think that’s an individual choice.
L: You do?
M: Yeah. Absolutely.
L: Are you saying you don’t want to overturn Roe v. Wade?
M: I think Roe v. Wade–as a legal matter, Roe v. Wade was a wrongly decided matter.
L: Okay, but if you overturn Roe v. Wade, how do women have the choice you just said they should have?
M: The states should make that choice: that’s what the choice is. The individual choice rests in the states. Let them decide.
Michael Steele is set to speak at a pro-life banquet event with Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. An Indiana Bishop, Gerald Andrew Gettlefinger of Evansville, has stated that he will boycott the event if Steele speaks. This event is expected to attract 4500 close to people. The Catholic Charities director of Evansville also said he plans to boycott the event as well. I have a problem with this and I would like you to tell me if you think I’m being unreasonable here or not.
Michael Steele has since clarified his position stating “I am pro-life, always have been, always will be.” But apparently this was not enough for the Catholic Bishop who intends to continue his boycott.
What I do not understand is that Steele has made his position on abortion abundantly clear yet the Bishop completely ignores it all. Now I see what so many people get so frustrated with the religious right.
Do you think the Bishop should stand his ground or accept Steele’s response?
Robert
I love theology and the challenge of making deep teachings non-boring. Let's face it, most of the time we hear theological teaching, it really is boring. Does it really have to be that way? Nope.
