Such Dichotomy, Such Polarisation.

Why is progressive or left of centre politics so pro abortion in contrast with the political right?

 In America at the moment some church leaders are favouring Donald Trump because of his pro life stance which has undoubtedly had a significant impact in advancing pro life policy at home and abroad since he took office. His pro life support is well documented on line for those seeking detail.

Joe Biden, a Catholic, is apparently pro choice.

Protecting babies in the womb is overwhelmingly the pre eminent issue it is argued, given the numbers of abortions. So whoever is the most pro life presidential candidate is the one to vote for it is said no matter how lacking in acumen for the top job he may be.

It is a puzzle how the left can campaign for human rights in areas of race, gender and social class and not apply to the unborn any human rights at all, especially as unborn babies are the weakest and most vulnerable!

Christians hold fast to the gospel imperative of social justice spelled out in the social teaching of the Church while at the same time championing the fundamental right to life of the unborn. The two are of a piece. A single woven fabric which proclaims how precious all human beings are in the sight of God.

The common denominator is that all are made in God’s image and that all are precious and irreplaceable in God’s sight. We are all brothers and sisters as Pope Francis reminds us vividly and eloquently in his recent encyclical teaching, ‘Fratelli Tutti.’ His words about migrants can easily be applied to the unborn.

“Migrants are not seen as entitled like others to participate in the life of society, and it is forgotten that they posses the same intrinsic dignity as any person.. No one will ever openly deny that they are human beings, yet in practice, by our decisions and the way we treat them, we show that we consider them less worthy, less important, less human.”

The gospel holds together the rights of all whether migrants or the unborn as daughters and sons of our Creator God.

If there was a political party that championed the rights of all – those on the margins of society, minorities, migrants, the poor and the unborn, Christians wouldn’t be faced with the conundrum they face in the American elections. An American who did have the whole deal later in her life following her conversion to the catholic Church after an abortion and two subsequent  suicide attempts is Dorothy Day (1897 – 1980). Pope Francis cited her on his visit to the States as one of the great Americans. In his address to Congress he mentions four greats – Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton.

Dorothy Day following her conversion to the Catholic Faith, gave her life to running houses of hospitality for the poorest and most vulnerable, some houses still operate today. She was a campaigner for peace and the Catholic Worker news paper she started, championing Christian values is still published. For her there was no dissonance, no dichotomy. No distinction between her Catholic faith and her social awareness. Everything was of a piece. Her name has now been put forward for canonization as a recognized Saint of the Church.

Read about her in the recent biography,“Dorothy day, dissenting voice of the American century,” by John Loughery and Blythe Randolph.

So where to next in American politics?

Christians should be involved in political parties to bring about change so that unborn babies can be protected rather than denied the most basic of human rights – the right to life.

Anyone affected by the issue of abortion can seek help. www.lifecharity.org.uk