Fr. Reese Confuses Honesty and Betrayal
Talking nonsense and calling it Catholicism has long been a specialty of Father Thomas Reese who said today that a majority of Catholics voted for Obama but if Obama actually supports the Freedom of Choice Act then he will have “betrayed” Catholics, according to Boston.com. What?!
That will be a betrayal? That? Fr. Reese, the guy voted three times for infanticide. Infanticide! The guy has promised that the first thing he would do in the White House is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. His signing that would not be a betrayal. That would actually be keeping his word.
The Rev. Thomas J. Reese, a senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University, last night e-mailed his analysis, saying, “Catholic voters ignored the instructions of a group of vocal bishops and delivered 54% of their vote for Barack Obama as president of the United States.” He cited a number of factors — the importance of the economy, the endorsement of Obama by a few highly visible anti-abortion lay Catholic intellectuals, the presence of Biden on the Democratic ticket, and Obama’s support for abortion reduction. But, Reese warned, “Will the abortion debate rise up again in four years at the next presidential election? A lot depends on President Obama and the Democratic Congress. If they push through the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), then they will have betrayed their pro-life Catholic supporters. This will make it nearly impossible for these people to support them again. On the other hand, if they make a priority the enactment of an abortion reduction bill, then it will be more difficult for the bishops and the Republicans to portray the Democrats as the pro-abortion party.”
Look, this is a classic example of drawing a new line in the sand every time it’s crossed and then saying, “this time I really really mean it.” No more evidence is needed that Barack Obama is not simply pro-choice. He is pro-abortion. Recall if you will his “punished with a baby” comments. If Fr. Reese chose to play ostrich this election year, that’s his choice. He shouldn’t generalize his lack of clarity to all Catholics.