What About Abortion?

Four years ago, when I was a senior at Notre Dame, Joe Lieberman came to Notre Dame to campaign for the Catholic vote in the 2000 election. He gave a speech on religious values in the public square. I was there. In fact, about 20 minutes into the speech I became indignant. I was angry that this man was at Our Lady's University talking about how religious values were important, but at the same time was silent about his support for the murder of unborn children. I knew that this speech would serve his political ends, a picture with Monk Malloy, some shots of him in front of the Notre Dame seal, and a wink and a nod that Notre Dame was behind him.

So I couldn't take it, and I shouted: "What about abortion?"

And my voice rung out. He paused and continued talking, ignoring my question, so I shouted again "What about abortion Senator Lieberman?"

He merely responded that he had been invited to speak and that I should respect that right. The security guard, Cappy Gagnon, came up to me and said "I agree with you, I'm proud of you, but if you won't promise not to do it again, I have to take you out."

I sat silent the rest of his speech, wanting to do it again . . . but I didn't. It ended, and then the drama began. Notre Dame Right to LIfe, which I had been a member of since my Freshman year, disasscoiated itself from me. Mandy Reimer, who I thought was my friend, told me "You know, I have to denounce what you did." And she did, saying I was not a part of Notre Dame Right to Life. Monk Malloy walked past me, ignoring me, until I asked him for a blessing. And countless students came up to me and angrily told me how I had "shamed" Notre Dame. I even got food and drinks thrown at me a few times as I waked up and down Notre Dame Avenue from school to the Padre Pio House where I lived.

It was a difficult time and, truth be told I had some great friends (and strangers) who were behind me, but I didn't expect the negative reaction. At the moment I did it, I didn't think about any reaction. I wasn't planning to do it, I just did it. Yet Fr. Michael Baxter, Prof. Freddoso, and even Fr. Scully seemed proud. There were some people at Notre Dame who weren't ashamed.

I guess I'm reflecting on this now because it was 4 years ago this week that I had my little run in with Joe. It's 4 years ago and what has changed? We have passed laws protectingn infants born alive, we have laws against partial birth abortion, we have laws that actually make it a crime of double homicide when you murder a pregnant woman and her unborn child dies as well. We have made some gains, but we have much left to do. Still every day 4,000 of my little brothers and sisters are killed by abortion in America.

The fact is, President Bush isn't a great pro-life president. I'm pretty disappointed in him on a lot of fronts. But I cannot begin to fathom how our Culture of Death would have advanced had the alternative become president.

The same choice stands before us today. Only, this time its more stark. Apparently both candidates beleive that the unborn "fetus" is a human being with dignity and a right to life. However, one candidate believes that this is a personal religious belief that means nothing in the public sphere, and the other believes that it is the responsibility of America to make sure that the unborn are "welcomed in life and protected in law."

I am not comfortable with the war in Iraq. I think it was a greavious error. I think many economic policies in the Bush administration are not helpful to the working poor. I think that George Bush is a big government Republican, and I'm a fan of subsidiarity.

However, I still can't get away from the issue of the unborn. 40 Million dead since 1973. That's more than the population of California.

So bear with me as I try to make a judgement on the upcoming election. You will see me repost some article that I have already posting these last few weeks. You will hear from people who have been influential in my formation. You will hear, mostly, from me (it's my blog, after all). I hope that the thoughts I try to offer (and especially the thoughts of my betters) will be an aid to you in responding to the Election 2004.

What I am certain of, despite all my frustration, is that there is a Hope that is present, not distant. I have already won. He is here.

Comments

[ben]

You GO Steve!

I often worry that I do not do enough about abortion. Chiefly, I use my vote, and I go pray at the local slaughter house a few times a year. But this is one area where we need to be more vocal and less tolerant. There is no room for compromise, we are talking about murder. Lives are at stake.

Remember the words of Our Lord:

"Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword."

Surely, we should not seek violence, but we most certainly should not afford the devil hospitality in our own house (assuming ND is still Catholic).

One wonders if those who opposed you at ND would have felt ashamed had they been there when Our Lord chased the money-changers out of the Temple. He didn't just yell at them, He hit them with a whip!

[Jill]

Hi, I found your blog searching for info on the Therese movie, and I found this post interesting. I admire you very much for your standing up to Joe Lieberman. If only more people would call politicians who court the Catholic vote to task. I was just wondering, what makes you say President Bush is not a great pro-life president? Is it because of the war? You yourself cited a few new laws that President Bush signed into law, all of which I would call "pro-life" legislation. just wondering.
Great blog!

[jmjtina]

YOu know I would have joined you. After they told you to stop, I would have repeated the question. There is a fine line about "speeches" and "famous-gracious" people coming to "talk" about "issues" when babies lives hang in the balance and they ignore them. I didn't know there was SO MUCH written about the event about this "Issue" that wasn't brought up. Did you realize that? (I'm sure you did) With EVERYTHING that was "talked" about during his speech, there is a heck written about what he didn't talk about: abortion. Go Blazer!

[immaculata]

You have a lot more guts than I would have! I'm proud of you!