In his work of critical importance entitled Man Against Mass Society, the French philosopher Gabriel Marcel explains that, "..a materialistic conception of the universe is radically incompatible with the idea of a free man: more precisely, that, in a society ruled by materialistic principles, freedom is transmuted into its opposite, or becomes merely the most treacherous and deceptive of empty slogans." (pp. 20-21). In other words, freedom becomes license. Freedom becomes slavery to sin.
Which is exactly where we find ourselves today. A radical subjectivism has taken hold of American culture and jurisprudence. And the consequences have proven disastrous. The U.S. Supreme Court, crippled by this radical subjectivism, has consistently repudiated challenges to its infamous Roe v. Wade decision. In Planned Parenthood v. Casey, Justice Anthony Kennedy asserted that, "At the heart of liberty is the right to define one's own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe, and of the mystery of human life."
But Pope John Paul II, in his Encyclical Letter Evangelium Vitae, No. 20, warned of the dangers to the weak and vulnerable which arise from such a philosophy: "To claim the right to abortion, infanticide and euthanasia, and to recognize that right in law, means to attribute to human freedom a perverse and evil significance: that of an absolute power over others and against others."
Senator Obama and his supporters do claim a right to abortion and do recognize that right in law. And they know full well that this election is critical to their radical agenda which is committed to a perverse notion of "liberty." An idea of "freedom" which insists upon "absolute power over others and against others." In a statement released on the 35th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, Senator Barack Obama said that, "With one more vacancy on the Supreme Court, we could be looking at a majority hostile to a women's fundamental right to choose for the first time since Roe v. Wade. The next president may be asked to nominate that Supreme Court justice. That is what is at stake in this election." (Full statement here).
What is really at stake is the soul of this nation. Gaudium et Spes, No. 51 of the Second Vatican Council teaches clearly that, "..God, the Lord of life, has conferred on men the surpassing ministry of safeguarding life in a manner which is worthy of man. Therefore, from the moment of its conception life must be guarded with the greatest care, while abortion and infanticide are unspeakable crimes."
Will we honor the ministry which the Lord of life has conferred upon us? Will we defend human life? Will we safeguard the weak and the vulnerable? Or will we opt for a radical subjectivism which first denies the sanctity of human life in the womb and eventually culminates in the denial of the sanctity of human life through all its stages*?
As we make our choice this election, let's remember the warning of Fr. Vincent Miceli: "When man becomes God, history testifies that then millions of men become imprisoned slaves, terrified automatons and murdered corpses. Society, in the words of Gabriel Marcel, becomes a ‘termite colony.’" (The Gods of Atheism, p. 463).
* "..the Nazi extermination programme began with the elderly, the sick, the mentally ill...Rabbi Cooper said that the killing of the disabled was a kind of training ground for the Nazi regime to 'fine-tune' its 'technology of death.'" (Read full text here).
* The parents of Terri Schiavo suffered as she was murdered by court-ordered starvation. Read here.
Related reading here.
4 comments:
That's precisely why I am voting for Senator John McCain. I have always been registered a Democrat. But I have become increasingly concerned about the Democratic Party's abortion and same-sex marriage agenda. I just don't think I can justify voting Democrat any longer. It saddens me to think of what the Democratic Party has become.
Thanks for your posting.
On October 3, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI received a group of the Knights of Columbus and told them "I express my appreciation of your efforts to provide a solid formation in the faith for young people, and to defend the moral truths necessary for a free and humane society, including the fundamental right to life of every human being."
Paul, your efforts at promoting and defending Church teaching are most commendable. As is your prophetic voice warning of the dangers which our culture faces.
There are, no doubt, many who smugly dismiss your warnings because they have succumbed to moral blindness. But as our culture slips more and more into an abyss of moral relativism, your Blog - and a few others like it - are a beacon of light and hope.
May the Lord Jesus bless you and your apostolate.
Obama's abortion policies could end up closing Catholic hospitals.
Visit this link:
http://www.lifenews.com/nat4527.html
Stop the Obama Constitutional Crisis
Sign the Petition at http://www.rallycongress.com/constitutional-qualification/1244/stop-obama-constitutional-crisis/
Article II, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution reads: "No Person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States at the time of the adoption of this constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained to the age of thirty five years, and been fourteen years a resident within the United States."
There are numerous allegations to Obama's claim of natural birth in the U.S. On the web and in the media, all raising suspicion and doubt as to Obama's actual place of birth and qualification to run for president.
A lawsuit in Honolulu in the First District Court is seeking a court-order to open Obama's secret birth records. Obama has thus far neglected a Freedom of Information request for the records at two hospitals in Hawaii.
Lawsuits in Washington, Georgia, California, Florida, New York and Connecticut are seeking state Superior Courts to force the states' Secretary of State, as the chief state elections officer, to perform their state constitutional duties to require original certifying birth records from Mr. Obama that would verify his birth in Hawaii.
Philip Berg's months-long lawsuit in Federal Court in Philadelphia reached a dramatic plateau as Mr. Obama and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) failed to respond to the court that Mr. Obama is not a natural born U.S. Citizen and therefore not qualified to run for office of President of the U.S. They admitted to Obama's non-qualification by their failure to respond to a 30-day court ordered discovery in which Obama and the DNC were ordered to answer a petition by Berg. Mr. Berg has stated that if the Federal court chooses to dismiss he will appeal all the way to the Supreme Court.
These allegations will not go away until Mr. Obama produces proof to State and federal authorities. If he will not do so voluntarily he must be compelled by every means available. You, as an employee of The People, have sworn an oath to support and defend the Constitution. We The People are demanding you to make every effort, both public and private, to resolve this fundamental Constitutional question.
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