Cardinal Justin Rigali and Bishop William Lori have taken Democrat vice presidential candidate Joe Biden to school for his ill-informed comment that while he believes human life begins at the moment conception, it would be inappropriate to "impose" that view on others in a pluralistic society.
From Fox News:
Asked on the program about when life begins, Biden said: “Look, I know when it begins for me. It’s a personal and private issue. For me, as a Roman Catholic, I am prepared to accept the teachings in my church.”
He added that while he believes life begins “at the moment of conception,” it would inappropriate to impose that view on others in a pluralistic society.
The bishops said Biden was right to say human life begins at conception. But the church “does not teach this as matter of faith; it acknowledges it as a matter of objective fact,” they said.
“Protection of innocent human life is not an imposition of personal religious conviction but a demand of justice,” they added.
What other "religious views" does Biden believe are improper to impose on others in a pluralistic society?
Should we remove laws prohibiting murder? Theft? Perjury? Deceitful business practices?
The fact is, most of our laws are based on religious beliefs and values. What's more, the vast majority of them are recognized universally across almost every religious faith.
To argue that a prohibition which has a religious foundation should not be imposed on a "pluralistic" society is insanity. Not only would such an argument run counter to our Constitution and to the principles of democracy, it would leave us in a state of anarchy.
Founder Noah Webster said, "The moral principles and precepts contained in the Scriptures ought to form the basis of all of our civil constitutions and laws."
Esteemed jurist Sir William Blackstone said in his Commentaries on the Laws of England "Upon these two foundations, the law of nature and the law of revelation, depend all human laws; that is to say, no human laws should be suffered to contradict these."
And James Wilson (signer of the Declaration, member of the Continental Congress, greatly involved in the construction of the Constitution, one of the original Supreme Court justices appointed by President George Washington) said, "Human law must rest its authority ultimately upon the authority of that law which is divine .... Far from being rivals or enemies, religion and law are twin sisters, friends, and mutual assistants. Indeed, these two sciences run into each other."
Most likely, Biden meant something to the effect that he lacked the courage to defend his convictions in a pluralistic society, or that he didn't want to be perceived as "the bad guy" by advocating the end of an immoral practice.
If those are the case, that's his prerogative. But as a United States senator, he should think things through more thoroughly before he advocates sacrificing law and order--along with public safety--on the altar of "plurality."
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