Republicans and the Sanctity of Life

Ken Connor

by Ken Connor on November 14, 2012 · 8 comments

The same can be said with regard to the marriage issue.  Candidate Romney never made the case for why marriage should be between one man and one woman.  He never articulated the distinct and unique roles that moms and dads play in shaping the identities of their children, in modeling how they are to live and act, and in collaborating on how they are to be nurtured and disciplined.  While his own family was a beautiful example of the benefit of the intact two parent family, examples aren’t arguments.  Romney never made the case for why this family structure is the foundation of civilization and essential to the transmission of cultural values, and so he was left wide open to the accusation that he had developed a newfound (and opportunistic) antagonism towards the homosexual community, a demographic whose agenda he had once supported.

The bottom line?  Mankind is not one dimensional.  Despite what Ayn Rand might tell us, we are more than self-interested, economically-driven creatures.  We are spiritual and emotional and relational beings who seek community in civil society.  Yes we have individual rights, but we also have obligations to our fellow citizens.  Government does have a role to play in our lives, and it is more than just to create an environment in which everyone can have a job.  Sometimes it must extend a helping hand to those in need, to those who need protection.  Mitt Romney and the GOP ignored this reality.  Terrified of alienating the critical “swing voter,” they sang the same verse over and over:  “It’s the economy stupid.”   Not surprisingly, conservative Americans did not join the chorus.

This article courtesy of Center for a Just Society

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Ken Connor

By Ken Connor

Ken Connor is the Chairman of the Center for a Just Society. An esteemed attorney, Connor is affiliated with the law firm of Marks, Balette, & Giessel, a firm nationally known for its successful representation of victims of nursing home abuse and neglect.

Tagged as: abortion, Best of Week, Marriage, Mitt Romney, Republicans, sanctity of life

  • Voice

    You don’t get “2 paragraphs” in our media culture to explain anything. Or in this case “4 paragraphs”. You’d better be careful wacking the Republicans on their furtherance of life and family issues. They are all you have… “for now”. My sense is that they are done doing this. They ARE politicians. Just watch… the “loss” came at the hands of large #’s of young women (think contraception, and abortion) voters. So, who do you think will get thrown under the bus in 2016? Faithful Catholics and Evangelicals did not deliver in this election… the Bishops did not deliver the Catholic vote. And don’t think that faithful Catholics and Evangelicals didn’t vote… they DID… they ARE motivated. The reason the Romney/Ryan ticket did not speak out MORE was because they knew they were in trouble. The “war on women” wasn’t just a clever idea it was POLL TESTED. Face it folks, America is Godless. Hit your knees. We’ve finally reached the tipping point. There aren’t enough faithful Christians anymore to sway the vote on social issues. The battle must be fought hand to hand, person to person. The political system is a no go.

  • Aging Flower Child

    I don’t disagree, but I think I understand the strategy taken, and at this point who knows what would have happened if he tried to speak more on the topic. I think he looked at Rick Santorum and how he was totally pilloried so that even church going Catholics I know referred to Santorum as ‘a zealot’! The media is so anti-life and traditional values, they own the delivery of the message to the world. You articulated everything so well – but I don’t think very many could do that – politicians in particular have to choose every word so carefully.

  • John

    I was disappointed at the failure to address social issues, especially when the Democratic campaign made such a point of mocking God through them.

    My bigger concern now is the cowardice of the Republican party about getting to the truth at the bottom of what is looking increasingly like a fraudulent election. If we ever want the laws to reflect Christian values again, we have to demand legitimate elections, and that starts with getting to the truth about what happened last Tuesday.

    http://servantofcharity.blogspot.com/2012/11/contact-info-keep-pressure-on.html

  • chaco

    I’m reluctant to say that you may be right. I think the reason we’re feeling so defeated is that we were clinging to the Hope that the electorate would finally see through the lies and wake up. I can’t help comparing their willful ignorance to the centurian soldier who went along with the crowd to crucify Our Lord; He didn’t have the moral fortitude to do what was right but deep down knew that he was on the side of wrong; “Surely, this was a man of God !” (Mt. 27: 54). The electorate may have to experience earthquakes and such, like the centurion, before they will be able to admit their wrong. God + 1 = a majority; Our feelings of being defeated can only be remedied by relying on our source of Hope – Not on the fleeting assurance that “The Crowd” provides. Let them lead the debate while defending your right to Freedom of Conscience/ speech by retorting with; “Are you preaching to me ?!” Their deep down sense of being wrong will drive them to defend/ rationalize their position which will inevitably lead to their self-incrimination. ["People are jes' like mules; Don't try to driv'em - jes leave the gate open a mite and let'em bust in."]

  • CharlesOConnell

    The godfather of the ‘Conservative’ Foundation Movement Voted
    FOR Roe v. Wade. http://www.with-friends-like-these-who-needs-enemies.org/Powell.html

  • http://JamesTPereira.com/ James T Pereira

    I think this guy has captured the problem with the Romney campaign succinctly…

    http://alfonzorachel.com/915/one-of-the-main-reasons-why-republicans-lost-the-presidency

  • http://www.facebook.com/larry.case2 Larry Case

    One has to bear in mind that five of the seven justices who voted in the majority on Roe Vs. Wade and Doe Vs. Bolton were appointed by Republicans while the main dissenter was appointed by a Democrat. The Republicans love to pay lip service to the prolife movement while doing absolutely nothing to advance it. Prolife people must hold the Republicans’ feet to the fire if we want to stop the slaughter of children by abortion.

  • kirk

    Mr. Connor – I am happy to see an article like yours, since before the election, close to 100% of the columns and the responses to the columns were making the point that a vote for the Republican was the only moral choice for Catholics. Some of the responders were adamant that any other choice was tantamount to mortal sin, one person said priests should deny communion to anyone who voted Democratic. Yet, I only heard three or four very short statements from the Republican nominee to indicate he was pro-life, or would work to reverse RvW. And one of those statements was in answer to a question from a reporter about his pro-life stance – he said, “No – that’s not on my agenda.” Even that did not phase the militant pro-life believers into reflection on whether their candidate really stood for their cause.
    So, is it simply a foundational thing – perhaps an underlying belief that if he’s Republican, then he’s pro-life, even when he says next to nothing about it, and therefore we must vote for him or face hellfire and damnation? Are there no other pro-life issues, like employment, aleviating poverty, adequate healthcare? Do we fight to end abortion, but once accomplished, care little about the quality of life for the living? I cringe when I hear how many legal abortions are performed, but I also cringe when I see suffering from loss of opportunity, hunger or lack of fair justice.
    It’s easy to see why people jest at One-Issue-Catholics. I maintain that ending abortion is an important component of our Catholic values, but so are all the other social problems. And, it is definitely NOT a “mortal sin” for any Catholic to weigh the issues carefully, vote responsibly, with a clear purpose – even if it means voting for a Democrat.