God or Mammon?

Our 2 Cardinals have both made robust comments about changes to the Abortion Act, in particular reminding our MPs about their duties as Catholics against their duties as an MP. They clearly face a dilemma; either way offending some element of their constituency. One Lancashire MP, if newspaper reports are correct, works it out along the lines of: I am an MP who is a Catholic, not a Catholic MP. Sounds like the influence of a good Jesuit education or a talent for political spin.



But it won't wash. You cannot resolve such a moral dilemma by choosing a noun instead of an adjective. If this MP chooses to abstain or to take a pro-abortion stance then it is clear which element of the constituency has the strongest call.



Yes it is difficult and we encounter the old arguments about back street abortions etc. all of which were and would be terrible and wicked things; but this MP and all other Catholic MP(or those MP who are Catholic) do not have the luxury of choice. Church teaching is clear and absolute and carries spiritual consequences for not following it.



It is difficult for an MP in this situation but they chose to take the responsibility of the offfice and they cannot trim their consciences when awkward decisions are to be made.



In fact they could take a stand and be a great example for the rest of us, because we are now entering a time in this country where the silent persecution of Catholics and other Christians has begun and will increase. The new religion of political correctness and the hidden agendas of those in power leave no room for the older faiths.



If that last thought sounds paranoid, read your newspaper more carefully and listen to the TV news reporting of religious matters. Battle is joined there are no non-combatants any more.