Some suggest that the horrific attacks on Minnesota legislators and their spouses, which took the lives of two people, and almost killed two more, were motivated by the accused assailant’s wish to eliminate two state officials who favored abortion on demand.
Law enforcement is still investigating the incidents. Many details are unknown. Much is speculation. No trial has begun in the courts.
Still, assuming that this was his motivation, it raises an interesting consideration regarding abortion or any aspect of public policy.
Pro-life Americans have long been dismayed by politicians, at all levels of government, who support the destruction of unborn human life. The dismay is well-taken, but democracies produce politicians of different opinions.
Democracies also have a sure, time-tested way of removing from authority elected figures whose views fail to appeal to citizens. It is called defeat at the polls.
Remember the once prominent political figures who ran for the presidency and today are only private citizens — Mitt Romney, Hillary Clinton, John Kerry and Kamala Harris? Remember would-be Vice Presidents Sarah Palin, John Edwards and Paul Ryan?
The people voted against them and away they went. Dog catchers, elevator inspectors and neighborhood fire chiefs have more power.
Pro-abortion politicians, at all levels, are in office because they were duly elected. More citizens voted for them than against them. This focuses the discussion not upon the politicians but upon the voters.
Where are the pro-life voters? Where are Catholic voters?
An issue central to Catholic morality
Look at the 10 American states with the highest percentages of Catholic voters: Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, Connecticut, New York, California, Illinois, Louisiana and New Hampshire.
Twenty United States senators represent these states in Congress, a fifth of the total in the chamber, enough to have an impact.
Of the 20, 18 support legalized abortion. Only Louisiana’s two senators are pro-life.
None of them, pro-life or not, simply walked into the Capitol and sat down at a desk in the Senate. None concealed his or her views on abortion. Each was elected.
Every even minimally informed person knows that the right to life is central to Catholic morality. In that regard, American bishops have exercised their teaching responsibility well. Catholics can not plead ignorance of Church teaching as an excuse. But many Catholics, albeit opposed to abortion, honestly find other issues more compelling, and pressure from society on them is overwhelming.
Abortion became a national point of discussion in 1972 when the United States Supreme Court ruled that abortion was every pregnant woman’s right.
Many Americans were shocked. Many were pleased. Those who respected the right to life knew, if they had any grounding in civics, that they had to win the hearts and minds of Americans if abortions were to be curtailed. They had to fight abortion by turning the rank-and-file against abortion.
Building a pro-life mindset
This still is the best plan. Today’s pro-life position is at an advantage not available in 1972. While Roe v. Wade was in effect, it was difficult to pass legislation that impeded abortions.
Three years ago, the Supreme Court overturned Roe. Many well-intentioned Americans thought that this meant that abortion would be outlawed. It did not. But it did put the question totally in the hands of citizens.
Simply put, if most people in any state opposed abortion, their will could become law through the constitutional political process.
Building a pro-life popular mindset is more crucial than ever. Many states have legalized abortion. Other states went the other way. All acted based on citizens’ opinion, not the unchecked impulse of politicians.
When most people disapprove of abortion, the politicians who serve because the people elected them will get the message.
So, shine the spotlight on the people who place politicians in authority. Convincing people in all states to take a stand is the pro-life movement’s only realistic hope. It will be difficult in this culture.
