Conclusion (#47)
So what do I want you to understand, to accept, to do?
I’m a pro-lifer, and I’m a Democrat. This is not a contradiction; I am where I belong.
Democrats and Republicans can and should provide a mechanism for balancing competing rights and responsibilities, for competing visions of the future, for competing approaches to all civic questions. We’re not enemies, I would hope; and for sure, we’re not supposed to be.
The pro-life movement is badly crippled when it tries to move forward without the perspective of pro-life Democrats. The movement needs, among other things:
· a respect for wisdom, especially the teaching from Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount;
· a commitment to nonviolence, which is incompatible with the habit of demonizing our opponents;
· a clear understanding of social sin, which isn’t a partisan concept at all, but is used far more often by Democrats than by Republicans;
· a feminist approach, especially since protecting a child depends on enlisting his mother’s help;
· working alliances or coalitions or workable and amiable relationships with other movements fighting for peace and justice;
· and a vision that embraces all America, all Americans – and indeed all people of good will throughout the world.
On the night before he died, Jesus of Nazareth prayed for his followers: Father, may they all be one, as you and I are one.
Amen? Amen!