Obama’s Hardly “Catholic Advisory Council”

This presidential campaign’s award for “Oxymoronic Term” goes to Barack Obama. Obama’s “Catholic Advisory Council” is Catholic in name only, which is fitting since Catholic ideals are as essential to Obama’s political platform as the appendix is to the proper functioning of the human body. Sure Obama may agree with the Church on issues such as the Iraq War or Immigration, but when it comes to the issues regarding life and its beginnings (abortion and embryonic stem cell research) his views could not be more anti-Catholic. For ex., in a Catholic News Agency column analyzing the members of Obama’s pseudo Catholic council, Deal W. Hudson states, “five senators and 13 House members have earned 100 percent pro-abortion ratings from NARAL” (http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/column.php?n=216)

If you want to know where Obama really stands concerning Catholic teachings, just review his voting record.

· From 2005-2007 the NARAL Pro Choice America has given Obama a 100% for his Congressional Record on Choice. Here is a quote from a speech given by Obama celebrating the 35-year anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. It is posted on the NARAL website at http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/elections/statements/obama.html: “Throughout my career, I've been a consistent and strong supporter of reproductive justice, and have consistently had a 100% pro-choice rating with Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America”.

· As reported by the website www.HumanEvents.com, Obama voted against bill SB 1661 (2002), listed as a part of the Born Alive Infant Protection Package that “would create a cause of action of a child is born alive after an abortion and the child is then neglected through failure to provide medical care after birth”.

· A press release posted on Obama’s senatorial website (http://obama.senate.gov/press/070411-obama_renews_su/) expresses his support for embryonic stem cell research. The headline of the Wednesday, April 11, 2007 release reads, Obama Renews Support for Embryonic Stem Cell Research. Obama is then quoted saying, “I stand in full support of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act as I did when this bill was introduced and sent to the President’s desk in the 109th Congress. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this bill.” He also makes it clear that he understands little as to why opponents disagree, “I am frustrated by the opposition this bill has generated and saddened that we are preventing the advancement of important science that could potentially impact millions of suffering Americans.”

Forget Obama’s eloquence, his engaging smile, and his appeals to moderation. This is a candidate whose views are as antagonistic to Church teachings as any presidential nominee in American history.

Donald Tremblay