Comments on: How do I vote pro-life, AND pro-planet, pro-poor, pro-peace, pro-refugee?

By: EDIE BAKKER

EDIE BAKKER — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 11:15:30 +0000

My husband and I just got kicked out of our large church in America for voting for a democrat. We are strongly pro-life, but we also care about the environment, healthcare, the poor, the asylum seekers, Muslims, and everyone else that exists. We care. Is that a reason to be kicked out of a large evangelical church? We live in the southern “Bible-belt” where most evangelical Christians are strong Trump supporters. This we now meet together with a couple of friends in our home. Your article resonated with me!

By: Stuart lawrence

Stuart lawrence — Sun, 10 Mar 2019 21:53:15 +0000

I do not alike abortions but not back yard abortions and ALP is just stating the obvisious regarding abortions and so is the Green Party.

By: Michael Frost

Michael Frost — Sat, 09 Mar 2019 20:54:08 +0000

In reply to Bruce. In my article I clearly pointed out that some people have used the Seamless Garnent doctrine to assert moral equivalency between the protection of life and the promotion of human dignity, but Barnardin didn’t see it that way (he’s quoted in the article on moral equivalence). The fact that you found one person who misuses the Seamless Garment idea doesn’t mean the idea itself is invalid.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Sat, 09 Mar 2019 11:42:08 +0000

Spot on Kate.

I’ve heard of the “seamless garment” and it strikes me as a highly suspect attempt to supplant (“enhance”? ) the gospel (as did liberation theology). So I Googled it. Here’s a quote from archbishop of Chicago which supports the idea it promotes moral equivalence, contrary to your claims: “While commerce in the remains of defenseless children is particularly repulsive, we should be no less appalled by the indifference toward the thousands of people who die daily for lack of decent medical care; who are denied rights by a broken immigration system and by racism” (https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-blase-cupich-abortion-planned-parenthood-perspec-0804-20150803-story.html)

By: Katie

Katie — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 22:33:57 +0000

You can’t realistically be pro anything without a strong economy. Ultimately many decisions around these issues are settled on for economic reasons. And where ideology takes over we end up in more debt. The church must be pro poor but the government’s role must be pro economy and freedom of conscience or none of our good intentions can be realised. So I’d say vote for conservative economic policies, limited government and pro life. Australian Conservatives have sound principles.
The church needs to step up where there are other needs.

By: Ian Powell

Ian Powell — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 10:43:28 +0000

Yep – thanks a lot – have reposted
I am probably gonna write to Tania Plibersek and ask her does she want to make it really hard for many of us Christians to vote Labor – she was local member where I lived some years back and she seemed open and reasonable – we’ll see I guess

By: Suzy Tieman

Suzy Tieman — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 08:38:03 +0000

You’ve really captured my dilemma. Every election is an impossible ethical riddle to untangle.

By: Peter McCrindle

Peter McCrindle — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 21:41:19 +0000

Good questions Mike. As usual, a well articulated head and heart challenge, without denying the complexity of these issues (especially when politics is involved). I’m with you.