Catholic Lawmakers Ignoring Bishops - AP
"I believe that what I do as a public servant is in accord with church teaching," said Virginia Lt. Gov Tim Kaine, the presumptive Democratic candidate for governor next year. He supports abortion rights with restrictions such as requiring parental consent for minors and banning late-term abortions. "It hasn't caused me discomfort as a Catholic personally," he said.
Ah, as long as it doesn't cause a politician discomfort that it is a-ok! This is, of course, a fallacious interpretation of the so-called primacy of conscience. If one's conscience isn't properly formed to begin with, or if it's been killed by pathologies of modernity, it can't be a trusted.
This probably isn't a full quote of Lt. Gov Kaine, but it's clear that what is behind these statements is a subjective ethical and moral view, in addition to a faulty understanding of Church teaching.
Huh. I thought it was recently "discovered" that an abortion causes discomfort to its victim. Guess it's just Mr. Kaine's comfort that matters.
Don't be too hard on Kaine - he probably grew up in the Richmond Diocese.
Don't be too hard on Kaine - he probably grew up in the Richmond Diocese.
If he did, he has a good case for invincible ignorance.
Oh well...at least we can rest easy now that Kerry has declared his firm belief that "life begins at conception."