Within a few hours of Hilary Clinton choosing Senator Tim Kaine as a running mate, the first two headlines on google were: "Clinton picks anti-abortionist" and "Clinton chooses pro-abortion senator." Those headlines were soon replaced but his record on abortion will no doubt be an issue. The contradictory headlines are evidence of the hopeless rhetoric used about abortion. So long as people are immediately classified as either "pro-life" or "pro-choice" there will never be a conversation about abortion. Kaine will be criticized as inconsistent but he represents the majority of the country, including most Roman Catholics. He is personally opposed to abortion but he knows it is not going away. He has therefore worked to reduce abortion in ways that respect differing views. As the recent World Health Organization's report found, whether abortion is legal or illegal in a country makes little difference in the number of abortions. The one certain way to lessen the number of abortions is by education, including the ready accessibility of birth control. Kaine has actually done that. The Roman Catholic bishops have followed a self-defeating and ineffective strategy. If they want to reduce abortion, they should be strong advocates of birth control. The WHO 's study most important finding: 80% of women who have abortions did not have access to adequate birth control.
Besides being more practically effective, the position of Catholic politicians, such as Kaine, reflects the long Catholic tradition on abortion until the last 50 years. Abortion was considered morally wrong but a clear distinction was made about early abortion that is not homicide. The relevant question is not "When does life begin?" (a biological question) but "When does a baby come into existence?" (a philosophical question). There has never been and there probably never will be agreement about when a person comes into existence, what Catholic tradition called ensoulment. But there was near unanimity that it is not until some weeks into pregnancy. The most sensible position for people concerned about abortion is to support effort that make abortions that do take place be as early and safe as possible.
For a documenting of Catholic tradition on abortion, see my chapter on abortion ("Can We Talk?") from my book, Missed Opportunities: Rethinking Catholic Tradition.
Besides being more practically effective, the position of Catholic politicians, such as Kaine, reflects the long Catholic tradition on abortion until the last 50 years. Abortion was considered morally wrong but a clear distinction was made about early abortion that is not homicide. The relevant question is not "When does life begin?" (a biological question) but "When does a baby come into existence?" (a philosophical question). There has never been and there probably never will be agreement about when a person comes into existence, what Catholic tradition called ensoulment. But there was near unanimity that it is not until some weeks into pregnancy. The most sensible position for people concerned about abortion is to support effort that make abortions that do take place be as early and safe as possible.
For a documenting of Catholic tradition on abortion, see my chapter on abortion ("Can We Talk?") from my book, Missed Opportunities: Rethinking Catholic Tradition.
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