Council 112 Respect Life Report October 2006

Tony Marino is an Air Force veteran who later received a degree in English Literature at Long Island University. For more than 30 years, he was an insurance agent for Aetna before eventually becoming a private insurance consultant. Since his retirement in 2003, he has devoted himself to the service of St. Peter's Parish in Concord and the Right to Life movement in New Hampshire. Tony has been married to his wife, Annette for more than 40 years. They have ten children and 22 grandchildren.

We are once again entering the political season, and I believe that it is important for all of us to take a look at one of the more evil problems affecting our daily lives: abortion. The Bishop’s Pastoral Plan For Pro-Life Activities asks all Catholics to deepen their understanding of the sanctity of human life, and the humanity of unborn children. All Catholics, all Christians, indeed, all people of good will are asked to recognize the moral evil involved in intentionally killing the unborn, and every individual is asked to make efforts directed at restoring legal protection to those unborn lives. In this political season, we can fulfill that obligation by identifying candidates who support the “Culture of Life”.

There are Catholics who believe that the application of “Catholic theology” to civil society and politics is an intrusion of religion on politics. I do not subscribe to that belief. We are not two persons, one non-denominational in public, and the other Catholic in private. We carry with us, at all times, a set of moral values guided by an enlightened conscience, a conscience that should be formed by the Word of God, assimilated by faith and prayer, and guided by the authoritative teaching of the Church. The authoritative teaching of the Church, on abortion, as found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition, page 548, is that, “Direct abortion…is gravely contrary to the moral law:” Therefore, we cannot support or advance abortion, either by what we do as individuals, or as voters in an election.

During this election season, we are obliged to find and support those candidates who support the “Culture of Life”, and we cannot let candidates dupe us into believing that somehow they can separate their professional from their personal life. If the candidate supports and promotes abortion, or other evils associated with the “Culture of Death”, his or her personal beliefs are irrelevant. Likewise, you cannot disassociate the candidate’s support of abortion from your voting consideration because the candidate supports social policies you admire, or other positions you believe are important, such as good schools or health care. The late John Paul II states in Christifideleles Laici, that, “…the common outcry which is justly made on behalf of human rights – for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture – is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and condition to all other personal rights, is not defended with maximum determination.”

Father Frank Pavone, National Director, Priests For Life has provided ten steps toward voting with a clear conscience:

2. Know the candidates. This means knowing your candidates position on issues, especially “life” issues.

3. Find out where your candidate stands. Reject candidates who do not support life.

4. Distinguish policy from principle. e.g. the principle is support for abortion, the policy may involve parental notification.

7. The Party matters. Putting an individual candidate in office provides power to that candidate’s political party. Where does that party stand on life issues.

8. You may have to choose “limiting evil”. If, for example, both candidates support abortion, you may have to choose the one who will do less damage. As stated in 7 above, the party may dictate your vote.

9. Support your candidate with more than a vote. He needs help with voter contacts, signs, handing out literature, etc. Contact your candidate and see how you can help.

10. call friends and urge them to vote. Take the day off and get people to the polls, watch their children, and help the candidate where he needs assistance.

God bless. May the holy Spirit guide you during this election.

	COUNCIL #112 • 52 Bradley Street • Concord NH 03301 • (603) 228-8927 •

RETURN TO RESPECT LIFE PAGE AWARDS AND HONORS BIRTHDAYS CHURCH PROGRAMS COMMUNITY PROGRAMS COUNCIL NEWS FAMILY PROGRAMS FIRST DEGREE TEAM GOOD OF THE ORDER INSURANCE KNIGHT OF THE MONTH LINKS OUR GRAND KNIGHT PHOTOS VIDEO OF THE MONTH YOUTH PROGRAMS CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO VISIT OUR FATHER McGIVNEY SITE	Tony Marino is an Air Force veteran who later received a degree in English Literature at Long Island University. For more than 30 years, he was an insurance agent for Aetna before eventually becoming a private insurance consultant. Since his retirement in 2003, he has devoted himself to the service of St. Peter's Parish in Concord and the Right to Life movement in New Hampshire. Tony has been married to his wife, Annette for more than 40 years. They have ten children and 22 grandchildren. Council 112 Respect Life Report October 2006 We are once again entering the political season, and I believe that it is important for all of us to take a look at one of the more evil problems affecting our daily lives: abortion. The Bishop’s Pastoral Plan For Pro-Life Activities asks all Catholics to deepen their understanding of the sanctity of human life, and the humanity of unborn children. All Catholics, all Christians, indeed, all people of good will are asked to recognize the moral evil involved in intentionally killing the unborn, and every individual is asked to make efforts directed at restoring legal protection to those unborn lives. In this political season, we can fulfill that obligation by identifying candidates who support the “Culture of Life”. There are Catholics who believe that the application of “Catholic theology” to civil society and politics is an intrusion of religion on politics. I do not subscribe to that belief. We are not two persons, one non-denominational in public, and the other Catholic in private. We carry with us, at all times, a set of moral values guided by an enlightened conscience, a conscience that should be formed by the Word of God, assimilated by faith and prayer, and guided by the authoritative teaching of the Church. The authoritative teaching of the Church, on abortion, as found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition, page 548, is that, “Direct abortion…is gravely contrary to the moral law:” Therefore, we cannot support or advance abortion, either by what we do as individuals, or as voters in an election. During this election season, we are obliged to find and support those candidates who support the “Culture of Life”, and we cannot let candidates dupe us into believing that somehow they can separate their professional from their personal life. If the candidate supports and promotes abortion, or other evils associated with the “Culture of Death”, his or her personal beliefs are irrelevant. Likewise, you cannot disassociate the candidate’s support of abortion from your voting consideration because the candidate supports social policies you admire, or other positions you believe are important, such as good schools or health care. The late John Paul II states in Christifideleles Laici, that, “…the common outcry which is justly made on behalf of human rights – for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture – is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and condition to all other personal rights, is not defended with maximum determination.” Father Frank Pavone, National Director, Priests For Life has provided ten steps toward voting with a clear conscience: 1. Make sure that you vote in the 2006 election. 2. Know the candidates. This means knowing your candidates position on issues, especially “life” issues. 3. Find out where your candidate stands. Reject candidates who do not support life. 4. Distinguish policy from principle. e.g. the principle is support for abortion, the policy may involve parental notification. 5 Weigh other issues, but remember the words of John Paul II, quoted above. 6. Keep your loyalty focused on Jesus. 7. The Party matters. Putting an individual candidate in office provides power to that candidate’s political party. Where does that party stand on life issues. 8. You may have to choose “limiting evil”. If, for example, both candidates support abortion, you may have to choose the one who will do less damage. As stated in 7 above, the party may dictate your vote. 9. Support your candidate with more than a vote. He needs help with voter contacts, signs, handing out literature, etc. Contact your candidate and see how you can help. 10. call friends and urge them to vote. Take the day off and get people to the polls, watch their children, and help the candidate where he needs assistance. God bless. May the holy Spirit guide you during this election. Next Article -->
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