Democrats Celebrate Abortion in Chicago (and Nominate Kamala for President)

The position of the Catholic Church is abundantly clear on the issue of abortion.  Abortion is the deliberate, evil taking of a human life in the womb.   The position of the Democratic Party is equally clear on the issue of abortion.  Abortion is a “right” that is to be celebrated and protected, and promoted by the government.   These stark contrasts have been undeniably demonstrated in Chicago this week as the Democratic Party gathered for their Convention for the coronation of Vice President Kamala Harris as their candidate for the Presidency. 

 
In paragraph 2271 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Church declares "Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law."  

In his 1995 encyclical Evangelium Vitae, Saint Pope John Paul II wrote “Among all the crimes which can be committed against life, procured abortion has characteristics making it particularly serious and deplorable. The Second Vatican Council defines abortion, together with infanticide, as an 'unspeakable crime.'"  (See paragraph 58.)

 
In stark contrast, the Democratic Party at the national and state level has been tirelessly working to promote abortion and overturn the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision which legalized abortion for six decades.  States like California have been promoting themselves as abortion sanctuaries for women who live in states where abortions are being restricted by state law.

At the 1996 Democratic National Convention, President Bill Clinton declared, “abortion should not only be safe and legal, it should be rare.”     ( https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/remarks-accepting-the-presidential-nomination-the-democratic-national-convention-chicago  )  That view is no longer shared by the Democratic Party.

 
At the 2024 Democratic National Convention, abortion was celebrated and promoted.  For two days during the convention, Planned Parenthood operated a mobile van offering free abortions and vasectomies.  Pro-abortion supporters were demonstrating outside the convention, many of whom were dressed in abortion pill costumes.  Speakers such as President Joe Biden, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, former First Lady Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton called for the restoration of Roe v. Wade and the protection of “reproductive rights” – a deceitful euphemism that hides the true nature of abortion.  The second night featured speeches by Planned Parenthood President Alexis McGill Johnson, former Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards, the head of  Reproductive Freedom for All (formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America) Mini Timmaraju.

 
On the issue of abortion, the Democratic National Convention was a bonfire of deliberate obfuscation and demagoguery. Rather than call abortion what it actually is, ie. the killing of a pre-born baby, pro-abortion speakers glowingly spoke of abortion as “reproductive freedom” and a “reproductive right.”  In her speech before the 2024 convention, Planned Parenthood President Johnson emphatically declared “We cannot call ourselves a free nation when women are not free.”  Of course, the freedom that she is referring to is the “freedom” to kill one’s own baby in the womb.  

 
“Every generation of Americans needs to know that freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought,” said Pope St. John Paul II during his Homily for a Mass held at Oriole Park in Baltimore in October 1995.  His words are no less true today. 

 
Over the last several years, abortion has become the raison d’etre of the Democratic Party and its candidates for federal and state office. “The Democratic Party’s fanatical support of unlimited abortion—anytime, anywhere, and for any reason—is absolute and fundamental to the party’s identity,” said Carol Tobias, President of National Right to Life ( see https://nrlc.org/communications/democratic-national-convention-the-ratified-party-platform-promotes-unlimited-abortion/ ).  

 
On the first night of the convention, the Democrats overwhelming approved a Party Platform which explicitly proclaims the restoration of Roe v. Wade as a prime objective and the promotes of abortion “rights.”  Interestingly, in nineteen instances, the Platform references the “second term” of President Joe Biden.  For example, on page 50 is written “And in his second term, President Biden will continue to support access to FDA-approved medication abortion, appoint leaders at the FDA who respect science, and appoint judges who uphold fundamental freedoms.” ( See https://democrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/FINAL-MASTER-PLATFORM.pdf  )

The undeniable fact is that Planned Parenthood makes its money by performing abortions, ie. killing babies in the womb.  And the Democratic Party receives substantial amounts of campaign contributions from Planned Parenthood.  For example, this past June, Planned Parenthood announced that it would be spending $40 million to support pro-abortion Democratic candidates in this November’s election.  In the 2020 General Election, Planned Parenthood spent $45 million to support Democratic candidates and it spent $50 million on the 2022 Mid-Term Congressional Elections. ( See https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4737195-planned-parenthood-spending-abortion/  and https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/planned-parenthood-to-spend-40-million-ahead-of-november-on-democrats-supporting-abortion-rights   ) 

 
Meanwhile, the Biden Justice Department is persecuting and imprisoning ordinary Americans for public voicing their pro-life opinions.  Early on the morning of 23 September 2022, heavily armed Federal agents seized pro-life advocate Mark Houck at his home for alleging violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act).  Ultimately, Houck was tried and acquitted of these charges in Federal court by a jury. (See https://www.ncregister.com/cna/mark-houck-and-wife-sue-fbi-and-doj-for-malicious-prosecution-era-of-targeting-pro-lifers-is-over  ).  Other pro-life advocates have not fared so well when persecuted under the FACE Act. 

 
On the first night of the Democratic National Convention, Cardinal Blaise Cupich, the Archbishop of Chicago, offered an invocation.   In addressing the Democratic National Convention, Cardinal Cupich had an opportunity to witness to the truth of Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church, especially on the issue of life, before an audience that was largely indifferent to that message and at worst, hostile.  It was a chance to communicate with authority a message that few there wanted to hear but needed to hear nonetheless.  Instead, he spoke of peace and unity.  See https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/258805/cardinal-cupich-decries-fear-of-the-other-calls-for-unity-at-democratic-convention  

 
While Planned Parenthood was not only promoting abortion but offering free abortions nearby, Cardinal Cupich said not a word in defense of those most effected by abortion, those defenseless and silent in the womb.  “Cupich’s address was notable for its silence on certain issues, especially pertaining to Catholic morality,” stated Life Site News afterwards. See  https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/cardinal-cupich-prays-for-unity-and-peace-at-dnc-where-abortionists-are-waiting-to-hack-babies-to-pieces/?utm_source=featured-news&utm_campaign=catholic  .

 
Illinois Right of Life President Mary Kate Zander condemned Cardinal Cupich’s participation in the DNC.  “Cardinal Cupich missed a clear opportunity last night to condemn their vile, murderous policies and, in effect, betrayed the vibrant pro-life community that he once aligned himself with in our state,” she said.  See https://illinoisrighttolife.org/press-release-illinois-right-to-life-responds-to-cardinal-cupich-invocation-at-democratic-national-convention/  

 
Cardinal Cupich’s silence at the Democratic National Convention reminded me of the courageous witness of Pope St. John Paul II in Denver, Colorado on 12 August 1993. With pro-abortion U.S. President Bill Clinton beside him, the Pope declared, “The best traditions of your land presume respect for those who cannot defend themselves. If you want equal justice for all, and true freedom and lasting peace, then, America, defend life! All the great causes that are yours today will have meaning only to the extent that you guarantee the right to life and protect the human person".  See https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/speeches/1993/august/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_19930812_welcome-denver-gmg.html  

 
Cardinal Cupich’s silence at the Democratic National Convention also stands in stark contrast to Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki’s public prayer at the Republican National Convention several weeks ago.  “For 248 years, we have sustained this vision to guard the dignity of every life from conception to natural death, to protect their liberty especially to speak freely and to worship you and to support their pursuit of happiness through this life to the next,” he said.  See https://www.ncregister.com/news/archbishop-listecki-rnc-full-prayer-speech  

 
I do not have a problem with Cardinal Cupich appearing at the Democratic National Convention.  The problem is the message that Cardinal Cupich delivered to the Democratic National Convention and more egregious, the message that he failed to deliver there, namely that of witnessing the truth of the Gospel and the Catholic Church on vital issues like life and the protection of the pre-born. 

On the final night of the Democratic Convention, Kamala Harris accepted the nomination to be the Democratic Candidate for President.  In her acceptance speech, Kamala left no doubts as to the direction that her Administration would take regarding abortion.  “And when Congress passes a bill to restore reproductive freedom, as President of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law,” she said.

Abortion supporters are quite adept at deceitfully disguising the true nature of abortion.  Abortion supporters used to advocate for a woman’s “right to choose” and identified themselves as “pro-choice.”  Now they are champions of “reproductive freedom.”   As a standard bearer for the pro-abortion movement, Kamala is one of the best at employing such deceitful language.

 
These last several days in Chicago, we have seen how far from “safe, legal and rare” the Democratic Party has deviated since the Clinton Presidency.  Abortion is now a righteous crusade that is celebrated and promoted by the leaders and candidates of the Democratic Party.  Meanwhile, thousands of pre-born human beings are being murdered in the womb under the pretext of “reproductive freedom” and abortion providers like Planned Parenthood are reaping the profits of Democratic Party abortion advocacy.