No virtue in allowing pro-choice viewpoint on campus
The editorial, “No Choice,” in the October 31 issue of The Saint gives flesh to proverb that “the devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.” The editors of The Saint enlist Pope Benedict XVI as an ally in their argument for allowing pro-choice viewpoints to be heard during pro-life week as a way of “accomplish[ing] a ‘new synthesis’” they believe is advocated by the Pope’s comments to CELAM.
Such optimism is based upon the mistaken idea that the “culture of death,” represented by the pro-choice view, is expressive of “authentic culture” and thus a genuine expression of diversity that should be respected. Catholic Moral and Social teaching aims at promoting human flourishing. One cannot say that abortion does that. It destroys human life, whether we are talking about the millions of babies’ lives lost each year through elective abortions, or the loss of women’s lives due to illegal or legal abortion procedures gone horribly wrong. For this reason, the Pope would find no virtue, either intellectual or moral, in The Saint’s attempt to recruit him as a poster child for their new synthesis.
- Dr. Dennis J. Marshall, Theology Dept.
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I hope people read this article.
This is exactly why I get annoyed at the Church and at Catholics. Dr. Marshall seems to be saying, essentially, that pro-choice advocates should not be allowed to speak on campus, and that anyone who supports them being given a chance to SPEAK is doing the devil’s work. I’m not an outspoken pro-choice advocate, but there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be allowed to argue the validity of their position.
Aquinas should not be about indoctrinating the church’s viewpoints into all students. We’re college students, we’re adults, and there’s no reason we should be babied by being given one side of an issue as the ultimate truth. If the pro-life cause is truly the superior viewpoint, then educated college students would surely listen to both sides of the issue and oppose abortions as a result, without being deprived a chance to listen to both sides of the argument.
I’m not saying that the pro-choice viewpoint is right; I’m honestly not. But for pete’s sakes, can’t we figure it out for ourselves without it being shoved down our throats?
I’m in complete agreement, Ryan.
I have only one thing to add:
Dr. Marshall, it is positively reprehensible and frankly, irresponsible of you to use the kind of rhetoric you’re using. You’re a very smart man, you know full well what you’re doing with phrases like “the devil can cite Scripture for his purpose” and calling pro-choice a “culture of death.”
If you want to make an argument, do so on its own merits, don’t demonize those who disagree. As a faculty member and a representative of the theology department, I would hope for and expect more intelligent and less inflammatory sentiments from you.
Please, passionately defend your position, but for God’s sake, try to be more responsible with how you do it.
I think some people are missing the point of Dr. Marshall’s letter to the editor. I agree with him that the Pope would be upset to read how his quote was used in the SAINT as an advocate for the pro-choice movement.