BARACK Obama is pro-choice, yes. Does that make him pro-evil? No.

I cannot imagine how any society can define a person as evil because he supports freedom of choice. If Obama does not sit well with Catholics, it is not because he presents the epitome of evil. It is because he presents the epitome of leadership for the entire constituency not just for a few sectors of society.

I am not anti-life. But I will always be pro-choice. Contrary to what others may think, I am not batting for abortion. But I believe in freedom of choice—-even if that choice entails abortion. This is the reality of adulthood. When you offer choices, you accept the choices made—-whatever they are.

This is the lifeblood of a democracy. And lest you need reminding, Obama is not a leader of a church. He is a leader of a country.

With choices comes accountability. You only need to answer for yours. Let others answer for theirs. Terminating a pregnancy is not an easy decision. But sometimes, circumstances compel others to make difficult decisions. Real Christianity dictates we show compassion rather than condemnation.

Do I believe in God? Yes. Do I believe in gospel truth? No. I neither believe nor support dogma. For me, obedience is NOT the highest virtue. Submission is. And make no mistake—-they are NOT the same. Obedience is to never question the truthfulness of anything. Submission is to question and then to accept the truthfulness of something.

When you submit, you walk with your eyes wide open—-you think, you ponder, you struggle before you arrive at your decision. Hence, the decision to submit carries significance. When you obey, you walk with your eyes wide shut and plunge into oblivion.

If Catholics think that abortion, artificial methods of contraception, divorce and capital punishment are evil, I will not argue with them. That is their concept of right and wrong, not mine. And if my convictions are worthy of Catholic condemnation, I will accept the mortal judgment of the Catholic Church.

But I will stake my soul on the belief that God does not demand obedience but submission from me. If God had wanted me to follow blindly, He would have made me a robot. But God made me a human being and granted me the gift of free will. What greater clarity do I need that God wants me to think?

Catholics who are up in arms should understand—-I opine. I do not evangelize. This is an opinion, not an edict. Where does the fear come from? I am neither preacher nor prophet. If anything, I am a heretic. If your faith is as unwavering as mine, you should have nothing to fear.

What is evil? I doubt if dissension and disobedience are evil. Choice certainly is not. But hypocrisy and self-righteousness, I call evil. Greed, corruption, oppression, sexual misconduct and molestation—-these are evil.

I absolutely agree that those who depart from Catholic tenets should abstain from receiving Holy Communion. But shouldn’t this rule apply to those GIVING Holy Communion as well? If you are not worthy to GIVE Holy Communion but you do it anyway, I think that might fall under the fiery definition of evil.

(sunstarcebucolumnist@yahoo.com)

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(November 23, 2008 issue)
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