Ferrara on voting this November (while holding his nose)

Catholic lawyer, author and columnist, Christopher A. Ferrara, is not happy with the Republican Party. Yet he believes that it is a Catholic's duty in this year's election to vote Republican. He minces no words about this. His two-part analysis and argument can be found here:

1. "Why I am Voting Republican this Year (While Holding My Nose)" (Remnant, September 1, 2008)
   
   
2. "Why I am Voting Republican this Year – Part II (And I am still holding my nose)" (September 3, 2008)

In Part II, Ferrara "front loads" the relevant facts:

First, the Republican Party Platform for 2008 does not condone abortion in any case, not even in cases of rape, incest or “life of the mother,” but declares that “we assert the inherent dignity and sanctity of all human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed. We support a human life amendment to the Constitution, and we endorse legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment’s protections apply to unborn children. We oppose using public revenues to promote or perform abortion and will not fund organizations which advocate it. We support the appointment of judges who respect traditional family values and the sanctity and dignity of innocent human life.”

Second, candidate McCain, clearly in response to pressure from the pro-life constituency, has abandoned any attempt to insert “exceptions” into the Republican plank on abortion.

Third, under pressure from the pro-life constituency, McCain selected as his running mate an unreservedly pro-life mother of five who just gave birth to a fifth child with Down syndrome, rejecting the option of abortion.

Fourth, under pressure from the pro-life constituency, McCain has promised to appoint Supreme Court justices like Alito and Roberts, who at least can be expected to provide votes for the overruling of Roe v. Wade on the ground that the issue of abortion is for the states to decide.

Fifth, the Democratic Party platform declares precisely the opposite of the Republican Platform: “The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman’s right to choose a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay, and we oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine that right.”

Sixth, Barack Obama not only supports unrestricted abortion on demand, including “partial birth” abortions, but has even opposed efforts in the State of Illinois to prohibit the passive euthanasia of babies who survive botched abortions.

Seventh, Obama has promised an aggressive federal campaign to promote “abortion rights,” including Supreme Court appointments.

In case some critics still don’t see the big picture, let me connect all the dots: Thanks to sustained pressure from the pro-life movement, including threats to boycott this election, the Republican Party has adopted an official position that is pro-life without exceptions, whereas the official position of the Democratic Party is pro-abortion without exceptions. And it does not matter that McCain might personally be soft on abortion. He now understands quite well that he cannot afford politically to buck the 2008 Platform, and that a “pro-choice” Republican Party will fail at the polls.

... At the risk of being tedious, let me restate the argument this way: Obama is a pro-abortion fanatic, and his party’s platform is fanatically pro-abortion. His election would be a grave evil we have it in our power to prevent by voting against him. Since we would not in any respect be endorsing abortion by voting Republican, given the Party’s platform, there is no rational basis for the claim that voting for McCain-Palin would constitute even material, much less direct, cooperation in abortion. Ergo, our vote for the Republican Party in this particular election would appear to be morally imperative, in view of the alternative of Obama-Biden.

... Vote as you please, or vote not at all. But then do not complain about a single thing Barack Obama and his minions will do to you, your family, and our nation if he is elected. Be silent in the face of injustice and moral calamity, because you will have gotten exactly what you asked for.

Ferrara is not only a conservative Catholic, but a very sharp lawyer. Whatever your political orientation, his thoughtful and articulate analysis is well-worth considering.

[Hat tip to C.G.-Z.]