Why I am a pro-life Democrat

A friend of mine asked me the following question:

In context, what did Jesus mean: "From the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked"?

Well, I'm a pro-life democrat and thus a big government liberal.

As a Catholic I believe that I understand scripture. Having studied it's exegeses in Catholic school and having heard it over the years with explanation by experts in it's context and meaning and having been confirmed and thus received the Holy spirit and been sealed with the holy Spirit and joined the apostolic succession.

Yes, I believe I understand the gospels. And this is one example of what Jesus was getting at here. to have been given the gifts of understanding, apologetics, and healing; and any other gifts the Lord has given me; I have the responsibility to use these, and I am expected to do so.

Metaphorically, it can be used to support the 19th Century ideal of "Nobles oblige", which means that those who have been blessed with wealth have a responsibility to help those who have not. Thus with the blessing comes the responsibility. I do not think this movement or ideal had it's roots in the scripture you are quoting, but it is certainly in the spirit of other things Jesus taught including love you neighbor as your self and the Story of the good Samaritan, not to mention the camel through he eye of the needle analogy or what benefits a man to gain the whole world yet lose his soul.. And thus this is why I say people like Bill Gates appear to to have doomed themselves. I do not believe he can give away his wealth fast enough to save his soul.

Now back to the socio-political. After the great depression the new deal and WWII, when this country experienced an egalitarianism from banding together through common calamity and war, btw war is a great equalizer; it tends out of necessity to reward talent and hard work, in the way many people think that capitalism does lol; but anyway out of that spirit of common calamity -- the great depression -- and democracy -- the war -- came a new post war era of egalitarianism. From which the ideal of "Noblesse oblige" evolved to the point where it was understood that since the wealthy had benefited to a greater degree from this country that they should pay taxes in accordance with that benefit, and the graduated income tax was implemented and accepted. This allowed the US to achieve many things including win WWII and go to the moon. Out of it was a spirit of democracy, that called for equal access to higher education, and thus was born the University of California system, the California State college system, and the California community college system (all of which having been raped and pillaged by the wealthy till their foundational origins have been destroyed).

So, the competing economic values Between the 2 parties in the US democrats and republicans are not rooted in socialism versus capitalism, as nincompoop likes rush Limbaugh etc. would have us believe, but are rooted in the wealthiest 1% wanting to benefit from this country without paying their fair share, while the rest of us who benefit to a lesser degree bear their burden ( which could be seen as biblical but does not make for good society lol). So, we see republicans like "W" with a one plank platform of lowering taxes for the wealthiest 1% and the democrats wanting to have the wealthiest 1% pay for the benefits that they have derived, and provide necessary services, for which there is no profit motive, or should not be, like defense, the space program, fighting poverty, mental health, health care in general, education ... etc.

So, yes the wealthy, having benefited more form what this country has to offer, so pay more in taxes, and yes, that money should me used to allow others equal opportunity, ie, education and health care; and thus a chance to be wealthy themselves and share in the responsibility to bring others up.

And thus we see the supply side economics of Reagan, or the old trickle down theory of Hover, and the plain old give to the wealthy of "W" because after all why should they be penalized for being rich and thus have the incentive for generating wealth which benefits us all, we see this idea turned upside down. Not in favor of socialism which the rich encourage as a form of name calling, but in favor of Democratic democracy -- the democracy or egalitarianism of the Democratic party.

This is th tension and difference between the two parties.

Catholic doctrine makes us at odds with both. The selfishness of the Republican party is out of line with catholic social teaching on the poor, capital punishment etc. They do, however, call themselves pro-life. However, they do that to get votes, ie, we did not see "W" using the full power of the justice department to overturn Roe. v. wade, although he did appoint catholics to the supreme court, and he did throw us a few bones in the form of vetoes and executive orders. HE DID NOT USE THE FULL POWER OF THE OFFICE TO FIGHT ABORTION.

the Democratic party is pro-abortion, and needs to be enlightened on this issue. They are in line with catholic social teaching in the other areas, of how government should tax and use the great wealth of this nation, ot wipe out poverty and give everyone an equal opportunity to discover, develop and use the gifts God gave them.

It is heartening to know that in this Congress there are a handful of pro-life democrats. A few years ago there were none.

In the California state legislature, "term limits" have eliminated the pro-life democrats, as David Roberti president pro-tem of the California State Senate, was their first causality.

So, the short answer to your question? Jesus was talking about the spiritual realm not the material, however, catholic social teaching, and other words of Jesus are clearly in line with "Noblesse oblige", actually go much further.

Copyright 2009 FredCelio