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Dems Plan Subtle Changes to Party Platform to Lure Catholic, Evangelical Votes at Convention

Will vote on language that calls for reducing "the need for abortions" while ensuring the party's holy grail of abortion-on-demand remains sacrosanct

By Peter J. Smith

DENVER, Colorado, August 12, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - When the Democratic National Convention (DNC) gets underway in Denver, the party will vote on plans to adjust its platform to make its position on abortion look friendlier to Catholic and Evangelical voters without angering radical feminists.

Delegates at the DNC, which starts August 25, will vote on language that calls for reducing "the need for abortions" while ensuring the party's holy grail of abortion-on-demand remains sacrosanct.

The proposed revised language of the Democratic party's abortion plank reads:  

"The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman's right to choose a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay, and we oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine that right. The Democratic Party also strongly supports access to affordable family planning services and comprehensive age-appropriate sex education which empower people to make informed choices and live healthy lives".

"We also recognize that such health care and education help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and thereby also reduce the need for abortions. The Democratic Party also strongly supports a woman's decision to have a child by ensuring access to and availability of programs for pre and post natal health care, parenting skills, income support, and caring adoption programs."

The new plank nuances the rhetoric, but otherwise retains the party's commitment to preserving abortion-on-demand as found in the language of the current platform, which reads:

"Because we believe in the privacy and equality of women, we stand proudly for a woman's right to choose, consistent with Roe v. Wade, and regardless of her ability to pay. We stand firmly against Republican efforts to undermine that right. At the same time, we strongly support family planning and adoption incentives. Abortion should be safe, legal, and rare."

The proposed language revision is part of a broader strategy devised to persuade Catholic and Evangelical "values voters" to leave the GOP and support the Democratic Party's candidates, the vast majority of whom support pro-abortion policies. At the same time, the party cannot afford to offend the party's significant abortion-supporting base, which is very sensitive toward any display of weakness on the abortion issue.
 
Homosexual activists have also expressed displeasure with the Democrats' proposed ideological makeover, as the new platform would say simply that the party supports "all families," instead of explicitly mentioning "gay and lesbian families."

Rev. Jim Wallis, a liberal Evangelical activist, and constitutional law professor Doug Kmiec, a reputed conservative Catholic, both support pro-abortion Barack Obama and are behind the scheme to encourage "values voters" to turn to the Democratic Party with the idea they can support a "reductionist" strategy toward abortion and vote for pro-abort politicians.

Although Kmiec has stated that his Church would value a "reductionist" approach to abortion and that Obama is a "natural" candidate for Catholics, the US Catholic bishops and the Vatican have taught otherwise. The Catholic Church says abortion and same-sex "marriage" are "intrinsic evils" to life and family and Catholics cannot vote for politicians willing to advocate them, especially when morally superior alternatives are available.

The Catholic bishops of Kansas have also reminded voters once again that Catholics would "commit moral evil" by voting for a candidate hostile to life and family, especially when there is the opportunity "defeat one who poses an even greater threat to human life and dignity."  (http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/aug/08081207.html)

Kmiec was denied communion earlier this year by his own pastor for causing public scandal over the Church's position on politicians and abortion for his endorsement of Obama.

Other Catholic leaders, however, have stated the time has come for Catholics to stop making excuses for pro-abortion politicians, including the Democratic party, and start withholding their votes until their beliefs are valued more than abortion advocates.

Supreme Knight Carl Anderson told the Knights of Columbus at their annual convention in Quebec City last week that Catholics must "end the political manipulation of Catholic voters by abortion advocates" whom he said entangle "Catholic people with abortion killing."

"We will never succeed in building a culture of life if we continue to vote for politicians who defend and support a culture of death," said Anderson. (http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/aug/08080703.html)

"Imagine if this year millions of Catholic voters simply said 'no' - 'no' to every candidate of every political party who supports abortion," he declared.

"It's time we stop accommodating pro-abortion politicians, and it's time we start demanding that they accommodate us."

See related coverage by LifeSiteNews.com:

No Compromises: Kansas State Bishops Declare Voting for Abortion Candidate is "Evil"
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/aug/08081207.html

Supreme Knight of Columbus Calls for Real "Change" on Abortion and Catholic Revolt against Obama Nation
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/aug/08080703.html

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