To the editor:
Douglas Kmiec, former constitutional legal counsel to Presidents Reagan and Bush, architect of Reagan’s pro-life policies, and arguably the nation’s brightest conservative Catholic legal mind, recently argued that Catholics concerned about the sanctity of life and social justice are best served by an Obama presidency.
Kmiec argues that the failed 20-year strategy to reduce abortions by overturning Roe vs. Wade hasn’t saved a single unborn life, and that failure demands that Catholics try a different strategy to make abortion rare.
Kmiec notes that Obama is not pro-abortion, believes the moral seriousness of abortion must be addressed, and has long embraced teaching personal responsibility as the surest way to dramatically reduce unwanted pregnancies and abortions.
Kmiec would rather choose an Obama who supports faith-based crisis pregnancy centers that effectively reduce the number of abortions than continuing with a failed strategy that hopes for a future Supreme Court Justice “who may or may not toss the issue back to the 50 states.”
Kmiec asks, “Which course is more effectively choosing life?” Given Obama’s support for adequate healthcare and other social justice issues, and his opposition to a crippling war, Kmiec asks, “how could a Catholic not support Barack Obama?”
Bill Checovich, Madison