To Whom It May Concern;
On a Local Catholic radio show it was announced that “BT”, a Catholic parish, was a pro-choice parish, because the pastor isn’t doing enough, in the mind of some for the pro-life cause. I did not hear the comment myself, but was informed by a reliable source.
The person who told me about the comment and I are registered members of this parish (BT). He took sincere offense at the statement as he is on the pro-life group at BT and a supporter of the radio station in question.
I have given the statement some thought and although I think another statement might have expressed the opinion of the Catholic talk show host better, I find little fault in what was said. The following explanation is my reasoning.
There is another pastor in our area that is very pro-life. So, it is said that because of his many homilies on the subject and his rules for different ministries in the parish, such as you must be pro-life to be a Minister of the Eucharist, because of his stance, the parish is known as a “pro-life” parish.
When someone refers to “QP” as a pro-life parish no one gets upset. Yet the designation “pro-life parish” is actually a misnomer. The designation “pro-life parish” can imply that the “whole” parish is “pro-life” yet it is common knowledge that this is not so. Yet everyone knows that it is called a pro-life parish because of its pastor not because everyone in the parish is pro-life.
Hopefully by now the reader can see where I am going with this…
Why, when someone calls BT a pro-choice parish should people suddenly think that it means the whole parish is pro-choice?
My thought is that my friend should look at the statement dispassionately.
What do you think?
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December 22nd, 2006 at 7:35 p12
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December 24th, 2006 at 7:35 p12
hey, me again, your alter ego.
i am an “unregistered” bt member and a “registered” despiser of the qp pastor
i think ALL so called pro-life wannabe’s should take a good, looong look in the mirror. they will find that most are merely “anti-abortionists” which in and of itself is a sometimes noble cause. unfortunately most times tho it not thought thru. by that i mean that for most anti abortionists their care about life ends at the birth. Nary a one goes on to follow that child thru life to see how “its doing
as for REAL pro lifers. they are concerned about ALL life; about protecting it in all its forms from unecessary harm. that includes the whole world, the whole environment, because lets face it, if you allow the world to deteriorate, then life wont survive, and they’ll be out of a “mission”!
real prolifers also ought (by definition) oppose wars and the death penalty. two things that many of them like to “accidently” forget
December 24th, 2006 at 7:35 p12
Definition of Pro-Life:
pro-life (advocating full legal protection of embryos and fetuses (especially opposing the legalization of induced abortions))
WorldNet Search
December 24th, 2006 at 7:35 p12
Amazing, i must accept that definition tho i thought as sure as 1+1=2, that “PRO” meaning in favor of, + “LIFE” meaning any and all living, breathing organisms, and their requirements to continue such “living,” would surely = the protection of all life etc. My bad.
I guess then someone should tell the USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops),
because on their “prolife” site they include death penalty as part of its mission, as well as assisted suicide and euthanasia, none of which are embryo / fetal related.
And after you tell them of the misnomer of their site, head on over to ALL (american life league)
and tell them too since on their site,
their mission statement is:
to build a society that respects and protects individual innocent human beings from inception to natural death - without compromise, without exception, without apology.
and in their declarations state:
no one is exempt from the principle that denying the life of even one human being for the sake of perceived political gains is unacceptable;
and they also state they base their priciples on catholic teaching. Its president states:
We must reclaim what it means to be “pro-life” and stand firm in the truth that every human life, from fertilization to natural death, is created by God and cannot be sacrificed no matter what the political reality.- Judie Brown is president of American Life League.
Im sure, as you are sure, there are many other prolife sites and people confused in the definition and their mission, now narrowly defined to mean the ONLY life that matters is that which HASN”T EVEN BEEN BORN YET. wow, that is weird, to think a “pro lifer” protects only those who havent actually lived yet (outside the womb). you ought be ashamed for misleading people, who thought you might actually be concerned about protecting ALL life. be truthful at least, change your name to what it is, anti-abortionist, or if your looking for something more “catchy” how bout “embyonic embracer” or “fetal favorer”, or “fetuses forever”, Oh here’s a great one - WOMB WARRIOR.
So while according to various dictionaries i am wrong in my definition, i take comfort in knowing that i am in VERY good company.
December 24th, 2006 at 7:35 p12
The ‘definition’ for the term ‘pro-life’ is the most recognized and the most common, not the ‘only’.
You shouldn’t jump to conclusions, assume or be so thin skinned. I am only making a suggestion.