You might have missed it invocation On the first day of the Democratic National Convention last month. The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Chicago, Cardinal Blaise Cupich, prayed for peace, hope and love in vague and unchristian terms.
The problem wasn’t so much the prayer as the context, which was a veritable pro-abortion carnival. outside the convention, Mobile clinics offer free abortions and sterilizations. Ever more strange, pro-abortion activists parade, cosplayed as White mifepristone tabletsand setup a A massive 18-foot-tall inflatable intrauterine device.
Is it necessary for a cardinal of the Catholic Church to remain silent about the destruction of millions of preborn lives in order to support other moral issues?
Some speakers praised abortion and in vitro fertilization but rarely mentioned the struggles of the working class or the broader plight of the oppressed — issues Democrats were once known for championing.
But the behavior of the Democratic Party outside the DNC carnival has been worse. During Joe Biden’s tenure, the Justice Department a Campaign of persecution against pro-life activistsThey are often jailed for peacefully protesting outside clinics where mothers are going to abort their unborn babies. The most recent person is targeted 89-year-old Eva Adelwho survived a communist death camp as a child in Yugoslavia before fleeing to America.
Considering all this, how can the archbishop of Chicago be justified — even himself – To bless such an apparently immoral and anti-religious event?
Cupich would likely claim that he was not endorsing the Democrats’ pro-abortion plank, but all the other planks that align with Christian teaching, such as caring for the marginalized, upholding social justice, and welcoming the stranger. Finally, according to “Coherent life policy,” also known as the “seamless garment” theory, there are different ways to be pro-life, and all are equally valid. If traditional Catholics interpret the ban on murder to oppose abortion, progressives see it as illegal. May be interpreted as providing welfare rights to aliens.
Kapich might argue that it follows Example of Pope Francis Avoiding overemphasis on issues such as abortion and homosexuality. Accordingly, Christians must view abortion as a complex problem in an increasingly complex world. This moment calls for more listening and dialogue and less judgment and action.
The political dimension complicates matters. While the Catholic Church must not align itself with any political party, it is expected to work within various political systems and serve the community. So, even if supporting the presidential campaign The most anti-Catholic candidate In recent memory, Cupich believes she should still join almost half the country in supporting Kamala Harris.
Also, it’s not easy sensible For an eminent member of the clergy to add his voice to encourage a political party that may come to power? By accepting the invitation, don’t archbishops make Christians more likely to sit at the table?
Moral ambiguity
With all due respect to Cupich, these arguments fall flat and only hurt Christian communities. It is simply a rhetorical sleight of hand that turns Christianity, evangelicalism, and progressive politics into their opposites.
The invitation is not a politically benign, neutral act. Under the circumstances, it is a virtual endorsement. Therefore, applying “seamless garment” thinking to this case excuses moral ambiguity.
Seamless apparel should support an ethical framework that is coherent and holistic, not zero-sum, relative and utilitarian. It means that being pro-life in one way (eg, protecting the unborn) should not preclude being pro-life in another (eg, protecting the poor and marginalized.) The two positions are in practice completely mutually exclusive. is and should be consistent. Also supported in theory.
Cupich’s presence at the DNC suggests the Catholic Church has made a trade-off: In order to support the marginalized, it must embrace a political party that advocates the legality of killing the unborn at any stage of pregnancy — even after birth. Rather than maintaining a seamless moral stance, these compromises tend to break down into certain partisan litmus tests.
As a result, he put himself in a position to defy the Democrats’ virtual idolatry of abortion and contraception. But is it necessary for a cardinal of the Catholic Church to be silent about the destruction of millions of preborn lives in order to support other moral issues? If the Democrats and their progressive allies didn’t make an idol out of infanticide, Christians could do it without compromising their faith.
As for the political argument of trying to forge ties with a potential ruling party in an attempt to influence them, this almost always backfires: the church becomes more worldly and corrupt while the state continues to become less Christian.
A sign of surrender
As historian Tom Holland details in his masterpiece “Dominion,” beginning with Pope Gregory VII’s rejection of excommunication (clergy by ecclesiastical leadership) in the 11th century, the Catholic Church has traditionally functioned best when it does so on its own terms and Challenge political authorities to follow or stay away (i.e., ostracize). As a result, those in government will at least pay lip service to Christian teachings or show a reasonable amount of tolerance to the Church.
When the teachings of the Catholic Church are compromised to satisfy political ideologies, it inevitably loses life and ceases to be a public presence. One need only look at Western Europe, where churches are currently declining or being incorporated by government authorities.
Cupich’s call sends a clear signal of surrender to secular modernity, the culture of death and the supremacy of the state. This act represents an unforgivable and incredible concession to the enemies of Christ. Experience and common sense show that Cupich and other like-minded progressives are really “casting pearls before swine,” who will crush them and tear faithful Christians apart.
Post Cupich’s DNC prayer casts pearls before pro-abortion swine appeared first The Blaze.