Despite losing among Catholics, Obama chooses pro-abortion vice president

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Sen. Joseph Biden of Deleware

Denver, Colo., Aug 24, 2008 / 02:46 pm (CNA).- Recent polls show that Sen. Barack Obama is trailing in support among white Catholic voters by 11 points. On Saturday morning, Sen. Obama announced that he had chosen Sen. Joseph Biden as his running mate, even though the senator from Delaware has a record of supporting abortion, which the Catholic Church opposes.

The Obama campaign finds itself battling for the Catholic vote with a Zogby/Reuters poll from last week showing Obama garnering support from 36 percent of white Catholics. ABC News’ most recent polling shows McCain beating Obama among registered white Catholic voters 50 to 39 percent.

As CNA reported earlier this month, Zogby analyst Fritz Wenzel attributes this gap to the two candidates’ positions on social issues. “Catholics vote largely on a set of conservative values and on social values,” said Wenzel. “On social values McCain has a natural advantage because of his pro-life stance, compared to Obama’s pro-choice stance.”

Nevertheless, Obama has picked Joe Biden, a self-described strong supporter of Roe v. Wade, as his vice presidential candidate.

Biden’s voting record includes a 2004 vote against penalties for someone attacking a pregnant woman and harming her unborn child while committing a separate crime, a vote in 2000 against maintaining a ban on abortions on military bases and a 2006 vote against notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions.

In contrast to these votes is a statement made by Sen. Biden on Meet the Press in April 2007 when he was asked about when life begins. “Look, I'm a practicing Catholic, and it is the biggest dilemma for me in terms of comporting my religious and cultural views with my political responsibility.” … “I am prepared to accept my church's view. I think it's a tough one. I have to accept that on faith.”

When it comes to embryonic stem cell research and cloning, Joe Biden has voted in favor of expanding embryonic research efforts and against a ban on cloning.

In an April 2007 Democratic primary debate, Sen. Biden also explained his stance on a litmus test question about Roe v. Wade for Supreme Court judicial nominees. “I strongly support Roe v. Wade. I wouldn't have a specific question but I would make sure that the people I sent to be nominated for the Supreme Court shared my values; and understood that there is a right to privacy in the United States Constitution.”

Comments: 12

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Raymond Peringer
Toronto, Canada 08/26/2008 05:34 PM EST

It's tragic when Catholics cannot vote for something good, but for something that is a lesser evil. That ensures that the least foul will govern, but still foul.
Do we play the numbers game and weigh deaths due to foreign policy against deaths due to abortion at home?

Published by: david b
ft. lauderdale, fl, usa 08/26/2008 07:20 AM EST

John H. is very confused about the Church's constant teaching on the dignity and inviolability of human life from the moment of conception to natural death. This is no gray area where differing view are acceptable among Catholics who are faithful to thier Church. It is precisely the "pro-life hysterics" who remain in communion with the Church by assenting to her teaching and defending it against all enemies--pro-abortion "catholic" politicians chief among them.

Published by: Anon
Sydney 08/26/2008 05:46 AM EST

These comments are pretty judgemental what about the plank in thy own eye before taking the spick out of you brothers eye? Though I am pro life i am actually pro life for the innocent children murdred in Iraq and those put to death by capital punshment, is that pro life? And yes we must protect and save the unborn but ensure they also have a good quality life to be born into? I trust that those people protesting outside abortion clinics in the name of God are also prepared to financially provide for that life they are saving and to ensure that child isn't born into abuse and/or poverty as the Church also teaches us to look out for the poor and the needy.

Before judging who can and can't receive their Lord and God in the Eucharist, he who is without sin cast the first stone!!

Published by: Sayre
New York 08/25/2008 03:58 PM EST

José, stopping legal abortion is only possible at the level of the supreme court. Nothing else matters. You ask how supporting opponents of abortion has helped? The answer is 4 justices who will vote to overturn Roe v Wade - Thomas, Scalia Roberts and Alito. It is an impressive accomplishment. Overturning Roe v Wade is a process. It may only take one more presidency to succeed Voting for Obama will allow old pro-abortion justices to retire and be replaced by young ones. It will extend the pro-abortion court another 20 years. Don't kid yourself. 40 million dead babies deserve your support.

Published by: Debbie
Ann Arbor, MI USA 08/25/2008 03:25 PM EST

Jose,
The ends do no justify the means. Abortion is always intrinsically evil. Anyone who supports it is not in communion with the church.

Published by: John Haynes
Tulsa, Okla 08/25/2008 03:11 PM EST

As a Catholic I thought we had several beliefs.The "pro-life hysterics" have a rather narrow view of our church.I think these hysterics have left the Church.

Published by: Roy Edwards
Nashville, TN USA 08/25/2008 02:37 PM EST

Jose, please understand that Obama is vehemently pro-abortion and his Senate voting record confirms it. Also, it is my understanding that one of his first avowed acts if he gains the presidency is to sign into law a bill called the Freedom-of-choice Act, which basically is a Federal mandate for acceptance throughout the nation for any type of abortion - period! Any states rights will be erased! I concur with Jeff Johnson. Yes, this is a perfect opportunity for our Catholic Bishops to stand up and confirm what our Catholic Catechism states on abortion. The short version, simply, it is wrong! Period! And a big Amen to Robert A. We as a nation need to wake up to a simple fact: If we cannot appreciate life, which is God's first gift to us. How can we possibly truly appreciate His other gifts to us. I firmly believe that until as a society we right the terrible wrong of abortion, we as a people will continue to suffer. Let's bring back our once great nation. We can. Lord, have mercy.

Published by: Susan Swearingen
Memphis, TN/USA 08/25/2008 12:47 PM EST

I cannot and will not support a pro-abortion president and vice president Catholic or not. It is even more disturbing when the pro-abortion candidate is Catholic.

This is so sad. We must pray.

Published by: Shan Gill
Olympia, WA USA 08/25/2008 06:47 AM EST

The Senator seems to be hugely confused about how the 'right-to-life' issue supersedes all other social issues. Perhaps he has bought into the 'seamless garment' heresy. A shame, really.

Published by: José
Michigan 08/24/2008 06:01 PM EST

Rate: Regular

Ideally, a nation with a moral conscience would not allow legal abortions. However, we do not live in an ideal world. In some countries where abortion is totally against the law, the abortion rate is higher than in the U.S. In some other countries where abortion is even more legal than in the U.S., the abortion rate is lower. Criminalizing abortion and putting women and doctors in jail is not necessarily the best way to save the lives of the unborn. Sometimes it actually works against it. Our public policy positions to prevent the murder of unborn children must be based in reality and not in fantasy. The Democratic Party Platform promises to promote policies that reduce abortion. How many abortions have been prevented by the one dimensional politics of voting for politicians who want to make abortion illegal? We learned in the U.S. that prohibition was not the best way to combat alcohol abuse. It actually caused worse problems. Obama and Biden are not pro-abortion. They both have spoken out repeatedly against abortion and work on practical solutions to save the lives of the unborn. The real question is what is the best way to combat abortion in a nation where there will not be a consensus to criminalize it.

Published by: Jeff Johnson
Collegeville, Mn 08/24/2008 04:35 PM EST

This is the precise perfect moment for the Bishops of this county to stand up and be heard. Joe Biden is not in communion with the Catholic Church, and this situation should be named for what it is.

As a pro-abortion politician, he does not deserve to be vice president; by extension, he does not deserve the Body and Blood of Christ.

Published by: RobertA
Charlotte NC USA 08/24/2008 03:02 PM EST

The Democrat ticket has 2 chattering mouthpieces for the pro-killing dark side of US society. Sadly, one claims to be Catholic. God in His wisdom allows evil people to win elections. I pray the judgement for abortion falls on "Catholis" like Biden and not on the USA.

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