Opinion
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November 7, 2016 (LifeSiteNews) — On October 16, Senator Tim Kaine was asked repeatedly by ABC's Martha Raddatz if Catholics were owed an apology due to open anti-Catholic bigotry expressed by their campaign's senior advisors. According to Raymond Arroyo, “For someone to come and say, ‘I have a political organization to change your church to complete my political agenda or advance my agenda,’ I don’t know how anybody could embrace that.”

But Senator Kaine, who regularly invokes his Catholic faith and touts his background of missionary fervor − certainly considered an asset on stump speeches − cited those views as coming from dumped documents, refusing to give them credence. Regardless, he suggested, “they represent opinions which people are entitled to.” With this response, Senator Kaine demurred for the second time in as many weeks when given the opportunity to defend the Catholic Faith instead choosing to defend his political agenda.

This disingenuous e-mail reveal comes on the heels of a statement of open dissent as Senator Kaine misrepresented yet another essential moral teaching of the Church when asked about abortion during a 37-million-viewer, vice-presidential debate. Many watching indeed included Catholics who were brought to the edge of their seats hoping to witness their faith for once be defended in the ultimate public square, the American television set. Their champion: a Catholic vice-presidential nominee holding seemingly impeccable Catholic credentials now with a place at the table representing the 50-million-strong Catholic electorate after decades of having seen and heard their beliefs and traditions misrepresented, mocked or rendered as mere afterthoughts.

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At the pivotal moment, instead of presenting Catholic teaching accurately, Senator Kaine cites a double-minded position where one can maintain his or her personal belief against abortion, yet give a public endorsement to allow women to make a choice to kill their unborn.

So, who is Senator Kaine…really? I mean in terms of what a well-informed ‘traditional’ Catholic, and moreover, one in public office is supposed to represent as a Christian in the world?  Prone to error common in such duality thinking, he in fact is a walking contradiction that needs to be called out for fraternal correction.

Clearly, the question is begged whether for a Catholic there is ever a possible legitimate dichotomy between a personal versus public position regarding objective, moral truth being addressed. The answer simply is no. Not because of some dictatorial fiat, but because objective truth, is just that, objective, existing in natural law.  

When asked in an October 20 interview to help untangle this distorting rhetoric being expounded by Senator Kaine and others, Father John Trijilio, Jr., Ph.D., co-author of the best-selling book, Catholicism for Dummies, explained.

 “Catholic morality, based on the Natural Moral Law, has perennially taught that it is material cooperation in evil to ‘personally” disagree with a mortal sin yet publically support it.”

“Hence,” he continued to clarify, “the politician who is personally opposed to abortion but publicly votes to support it for whatever reasons is guilty of material cooperation in evil. “Yes, it is far worse to also lend formal cooperation in evil by consenting and condoning the evil act,” he said, “but material cooperation in evil is nothing trivial nor venial.”

Somehow and at some point in Senator Kaine’s life journey, the expediency to choose the path of least resistance or best available 'cost benefit' option crept into his decision making matrix. As a Catholic holding public office however, this very slippery slope must be brought to the fore along with the consequences or rewards afforded those in history who have chosen to heed their conscience and not acquiesce to this sort of peer pressure. Throughout history, many times was an unyielding heroic stance taken by a single person to set in motion a cultural and religious force against the prevailing winds of modernity and secularity. Modeling this type of person, Catholics often look to St. Thomas More who in the 15th century challenged his contemporaries on this point.  Many of them gained wealth, prestige, and political offices by selling their Catholicism. Meanwhile, Henry VIII beheaded St. Thomas More for holding steadfastly to his authentic Catholic principles in face of an immoral law.

Despite facing a cruel death, St. Thomas More held true to his belief that whatever he gained on earth was not worth the eternal damnation of his soul. Who can argue today that politicians couldn't use more than a heavy dose of courage from St. Thomas More, the “heavenly Patron of Statesmen and Politicians?”

If St. Thomas More were alive today, would he as a Catholic statesman and politician support abortion? If a politician sought out his council as a colleague, do you think he would advise them to support the Culture of Life, in accord with the teachings of Christ and his Church, or would he advise them to support the Culture of Death?  While some suggest it might cost him some votes if he states and stands with the Church's unambiguous position on opposing abortion, Senator Kaine is under no threat of martyrdom. No axe man will sever his head from his body. Our democratic Republic affords him the religious freedom to exercise his right as a Catholic to oppose abortion on demand—and he should be encouraged by the example of St. Thomas More to stand up to oppose it, instead of leaning to the example of Pontius Pilate, who washes his hands in the muddy waters of political correctness and condones the murder of the innocents.

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Understandably, doing the right thing takes courage and is made even more difficult particularly when throughout the country, you can easily find many lukewarm Catholic apologists, even some members of the Catholic clergy, who are watering down Church teaching or making it up as they go in order to justify Senator Kaine’s current, untenable position. They rationalize his scandalous support of murder with the notion it is outweighed by his praiseworthy work on behalf of the poor and his singing in the parish choir—as if mortal sin can be canceled out with good works… It cannot… A faithful Catholic, deeply rooted in their faith knows Truth is absolute and doesn't change with a majority vote. Expecting the Catholic Church to change its position on abortion – and homosexual unions for that matter – is the same as expecting modern science to declare the Earth flat to appease a scientist’s whim. No matter the slant given by liberal Catholics, the false framing by leftist news sources, or the feeling of a public opinion swayed by the winds of liberalism, every Catholic is obligated to profess the whole truth of our Faith…even if it means surrendering our life as did St. Thomas More.

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“I made a decision when I came back from Honduras, that I am not going to focus on making as much money as I can make,” said Senator Kaine. “I am going to focus on doing things where I can serve people,” he told the Washington Post. While this commitment is admirable, serving as a Catholic in public office yielding much influence, he is held to a higher standard. He has been given a unique opportunity to represent to the world an example of Catholic integrity; one where no position in favor of abortion is ever justified; and yes, where a single issue such as favoring abortion trumps an infinity of good works and policy positions.

Risking his soul for Catholic votes harms not only his soul, but all who do not understand the moral evil of his position. Arguably, the stakes are high with presidential politics, but Eternal salvation is the highest stake to risk; yet, Senator Kaine does so with impudence as he plays his religious cards fast and loose. His position as a politician claiming to be personally “pro-life” but politically 100 percent pro-abortion is untenable for a faithful Catholic. In fact, he is not a Catholic in good standing as long as he holds a public position favoring abortion. Moreover, if he continues his obstinate persistence in manifest grave public sin by openly and continually supporting abortion, the Church dictates that he may not receive Eucharistic communion. This is what Cardinal Raymond Burke declared to the pro-abortion –  again self proclaimed Catholic Senator Kerry in 2004, and it applies today.

In their heartbreak, disappointment and yearning for a voice at the table, Catholics are calling Senator Kaine out; better yet, they are calling him to step up to the proverbial plate. Senator Kaine is uniquely positioned to change his stance and become a hero for good. He still has the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of the saints rather than push our nation further down the road of moral havoc. If he is truly pro-life, if he is truly a follower of Christ, if he is truly Catholic—then the practice of his faith in public and in private must be one and the same.

Pundits may scoff, “experts” may dismiss this position, and even some prelates may try to discredit what I have written. But with his Jesuit high school education and heart that led him to the mission fields of Honduras, this writer doesn't believe for one second Senator Kaine believes his public position on abortion is compatible with Church teaching. Tim Kaine knows the truth that morality does not change according to prevailing public opinion. Each Catholic is called to practice the Faith at all times in every aspect as spelled out in authentic Catholic teaching.  St. Thomas More never suggested, as Tim Kaine has thus far, it is the Church that needs to come around to his or the culture's views instead of each of us and the culture at-large that needs to come to recognize the inherent goodness and wisdom of the Church.

Catholics can only imagine what it would be like if St. Thomas More was the one representing them in this cultural quagmire where our faith is facing ridicule and is having its authenticity undermined. The character of St. Thomas More, in the film A Man for All Seasons, stated, “I think that when statesmen forsake their own private conscience for the sake of their public duties, they lead their country by a short route to chaos.” Commenting on Tim Kaine's vice-presidential nomination, Mike Huckabee noted, “He's not somebody who puts away his faith when it's inconvenient for him.” Who would have imagined Governor Huckabee's proposition would be tested so quickly on the world stage of American politics?

I invite all to join me in praying that Tim Kaine finds the courage to make the right decision. As one who has already proven to remain true to himself and his beliefs while adapting to all circumstances and times, despite external pressure or influence, St. Thomas More represents “a man for all seasons.” The question and invitation from Catholics offered to Senator Tim Kaine today is, “are you going to be the man for this season?” 

Thomas McKenna is the founder and president of Catholic Action for Faith and Family.