Bishop: Write in “Mother Teresa” to protest pro-choice candidates
by Carder
The leader of Rhode Island’s Catholics is suggesting that voters could write in Mother Teresa’s name or sit out the Nov. 4 election because the candidates aren’t “terribly promising” on the abortion issue.
In a piece posted online Wednesday in The Rhode Island Catholic diocesan newspaper, Bishop Thomas Tobin said that writing in Mother Teresa or Pope Francis in protest would send a signal that voters want anti-abortion candidates.
~ The Associated Press via the Huffington Post, October 15
Clarification: Rhode Island Right to Life has weighed in on this subject, stating that the AP mischaracterized Bishop Tobin’s actual letter. They assert that he instead “recommended three morally acceptable possibilities, the first of which was to vote for the candidate who will do less harm, which is indeed what the statewide pro-life organization in Rhode Island is urging.” RI RTL shares their voting endorsements here.
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
My usual calculus for voting:
1) Discard the pro-abortion candidates from consideration. A leader who cannot discern the right to life is not qualified to discern a budget or lead law enforcement/military personnel. Pick the best of the candidates who respect life.
2) If all of the candidates support abortion, then choose the one who will do the least amount of damage.
3) If there is no discernible difference in potential damage, then cast a protest vote.
In my life and region, I have always had a pro-life choice to support. But if I lived in Rhode Island, I would listen to Bishop Tobin.
Thinking like this is what gets hardcore pro-aborts elected, unfortunately. :(
There is no perfect candidate. Say it with me… “There is no perfect candidate.”
But I agree with Del’s voting list. I would only cast a protest vote if I had a choice between a raging pro-abort and another raging pro-abort.
That’s just me.
Every ballot is looked at by the political parties. I always write in “Pro-Life Candidate” so they know that I bothered to show up to vote, and why I did not vote for any of the above. I don’t like to vote for pro-abort politicians because then that is all that we will get – albeit, perhaps, one slightly less so than another.
I guess you’d never vote for a Rick Perry type then Del.
I think you should all follow Maureen’s plan.
Reality says:
I think
I dunno about that. We should take a vote.
Perry is the longest-serving governor in Texas history. He seems to have served the Texans well, and he supported the recent pro-life legislation. He stood courageously against the President when Obama cut all federal aid to Texas women over the defunding of Planned Parenthood.
Texas women supported Perry like they are supporting Abbott.
But sadly, there are voters in Texas who hate women and children. Or at least, they don’t mind if the women and children suffer. They will vote for Wendy.
I’ve heard this quote attributed to Mother Teresa:
“How can there be too many children? That is like saying there are too many flowers.”
I didn’t agree with her on a number of things, but I absolutely love that quote, and appreciate her stand against abortion.
Thus far, I haven’t had to choose between two pro-abortion political candidates (thank God!). I like Del’s list.
A vote Del? Here? Now that’s funny.
I don’t need a vote to know the extent of your thinking. You stated you couldn’t support “A leader who cannot discern the right to life” and that would include Rick Perry. It does if you think about it anyway.