Why do people who claim they are pro-life...

[cynatnite]

support capital punishment, Israel's bombing campaign, and the Iraq War?

I was reading an article earlier today about the S.D. abortion ban. Most are opposed to it in that state. At the end of the article a 75 year old man said abortion is murder and no where in the constitution does it say someone has a right to kill someone else.

I don't get it. I've thought about this many times over the years and it makes absolutely no sense to me. How can they claim to be pro-life, but still support so much death?

[uppityperson]

1. more accurate to call them "pro-pre-lifer"

[MercutioATC]

2. "Pro-life" is a misnomer. They're "pro-fetus"...

...which has nothing to do with life and everything to do with giving legal status to religious beliefs.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

3. Because If They Weren't Hypocrites They'd Be Democrats.

[cynatnite]

8. You win the prize!

Congrats on making an effective point with so few words :patriot:

P.S. I didn't make this...found it a while ago.

[napi21]

4. I had this discussion with a minister once.

He told me it is murder when you take an INNOCENT LIFE, and all unborn fetuses are incapable of doing any wrong. Capital punishment is punishment for doing evil, and is condoned in the bible...an eye for an eye.

Now, the minister I spoke to didn't believe in war and believed that also was killing many innocents, so I can only speak to why they don't oppose Cap. punishment.

[Smarmie Doofus]

5. The rationale varies with each situation.

Capital punishment: element of "guilt" involved. The fetus is, by definition, "innocent".

War ( of all varieties): self-defense overrides right-to-life.

I'm not agreeing; merely stating the rationale (s) as I have understood them. Also, it varies a lot from person to person. People come to the same conclusion for a lot of different reasons.

[crim son]

9. A few of the truly manaical Catholics I know

believe that not all wars are right, but a war in the middle east is A-OK because most of the citizens are heretics and are suffering punishment for their obvious sin - and we all know what that is - they have denied Jeebus in their hearts. These people drive me nuts, because you simply can't use logic to disprove their "argument".

[dsc]

6. Not all of them do

but it is easier to make crap up about pro lifers than do any homework. To site just one fairly famous example David Bonior, who used to be the Minority Whip of the House was against the war, against capital punishment, and had a consistent pro life voting record. All of those are facts in the public record but again, it is much easier to just make crap up.

[AlamoDemoc]

7. I think the reality lies in so many interest groups!

Our government is now interest-group-ruled democracy where voters marginalized and has no say anymore.

[tinfoil tiaras]

10. They're anti-choice

and they hate freedom. and they hate america and want the terrorists to win.

[patrice]

11. I believe their reasoning goes something like this:

Fetuses are completely innocent, therefore we can be certain our efforts aren't wasted on someone who, to some extent, deserves what is happening to him/her.

Fetuses have no one to defend them; people, even little babies, have someone, family or bureaucracy or church, to defend them.

[samsingh]

12. people claiming they are prolife are generally prodeath

look at their support for the bombing of innocent civilians all over the world.

their support for bush the imbecile makes this possible

[AngryOldDem]

13. Because some lives are just worth more than others

I have gone 'round and 'round with pro-lifers on this question, specifically Catholics. At the end of the day, they say that "Well, the state MUST have some good reason to kill this person," or that "Well, the state MUST have some good reason to kill others in our name." But when you bring up poverty, or children living in poverty, or any other aspect of life from cradle to grave, you hear the crickets chirp.

What they fail to realize are these points, as it concerns the Church:

1)The Church's stance on the death penalty makes it clear that it is not an acceptable way for a civilized society to handle its criminals. The wording is that it should be rare, but when taken in context, the Church is clearly stating that the death penalty is never an acceptable option.

2)There are strict criteria for war -- known as the Just War theory -- and the war in Iraq meets NONE of those criteria. Never did, does not, never will.

3) We are called to protect ALL life, from birth to death. This was most eloquently outlined by the late Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, in his "Seamless Garment" argument. Sadly, but predictably, Cardinal Bernardin is villified by many far-right Catholics. (And if there is a God, I hope they will have to answer for their many libels and slanders against this good man.)

The other day I was reading a pro-life Website's Q&A and someone actually asked why so much attention is being paid to the war between Hezbollah and Israel, when there is so much death occuring through abortion. The moderator actually agreed that abortion overshadows every other issue out there.

There is no getting through to these folks. It's pointless to try, and even more pointless trying to figure them out.

[cynatnite]

14. My uncle used the Just War theory...

He was trying to convince me of why going to war was necessary using that criteria. He took each rule and applied it to why we have to go to war. I didn't know much about it at the time and it thoroughly confused me.

When I read it, I thought a stronger case could be made against going to war using the same criteria.

I do agree...it is pointless to reason with many of them. They hold fast and hard to their bibles.

[Freddie Stubbs]

15. Almost as ironic as those who oppose the death penalty but support

abortion rights.