Mr. President, Who is My Neighbor? Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships

Mr. President, I ask you with every sincere bone in my body,'Who is my neighbor?' Is the child in the womb our neighbor?

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Catholic Online) - On Thursday morning, February 5, 2009, U.S. President Barack Obama gave a well delivered and encouraging address to the National Prayer Breakfast. In it he struck vital themes which he addressed throughout his entire Presidential campaign. He spoke, without using the exact words, of two key principles which run throughout the body of the teaching of the Catholic Church which is referred to as it's "Social Doctrine". He spoke of solidarity by again reminding all in attendance and the millions who viewed the address in this world of integrated media, that we are neighbors to one another and that we really are our brother and sister's keeper.

He affirmed the social ordering principle of subsidiarity by recognizing the important role of mediating associations such as churches, neighborhood groups and charities in our National task of self governance. He also acknowledged the quality and value that comes from their participation in the provision of care. It is good public policy for the Federal Government to respect their role by not usurping it and then assist them in their efforts by providing resources.

The President also signed an Executive Order establishing the new "White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships". He formally named Rev. Joshua DuBois as the leader of this important office. As someone who strongly supported the establishment of this faith and neighborhood friendly approach under the Bush administration, I am pleased that President Obama will continue it. He has adjusted the language in the title to emphasize "neighborhood" over "community". However, in essence it is a continuation of an important approach to good governance. There is much in the effort that is to be applauded. For example, there is a concern for the poor and the needy woven throughout its mission. The order promises that these faith based associations and neighborhood groups will play an important part in our National effort at economic recovery and reduction of poverty. The order, at least implicitly, acknowledges the two parent family and promises that the Office will encourage responsible fatherhood. The order is dedicated to promoting peace. It suggests that these intermediate associations will work with the National Security Council to encourage global interfaith dialogue. So why am I pensive and nervous? There are a number of reasons. I will address more of them in future articles. However, I will only address the foundational difficulty. The wording of this Executive Order says that the Office will look to "reduce the need for abortion."

Announcing NEW Catholic Online News - Visit Today!

Every procured abortion is the intentional taking of innocent human life in the first home of the whole human race, the mothers womb. Every person alive today began their human life in that sanctuary of life. No one with any integrity or genuine moral sensibility is any longer claiming that the child in the womb, whom we now surgically operate on and whom we can see clearly in 4D images, is not a human being. No, the argument being made to justify intentional abortion is the idea that "freedom" enables the one with more power to reach in and take the life of that vulnerable and innocent child. Of course, we would not make the same argument about the one year old child living outside of the womb, in the nursery. However, there is no moral distinction. The time thresholds of what constitutes "viability", as interpreted under the horrid structure forced upon us by the Roe and Doe decisions, keep getting pushed back as our technology reveals the truth about our littlest brothers and sisters. Science has simply confirmed what our consciences have known all along, the child in the womb is our neighbor. However, our positive law has utterly rejected the Natural Law prohibition against this form of intentional homicide. There is never a "need for abortion". There is a need for helping the mother who is carrying our new neighbor during the pregnancy and throughout life and needs help in doing so. The father also needs our help. The child needs our help upon birth and then throughout the continuum of life. However, there is never a "need" to take innocent human life.

In a well delivered address our President said these poignant and provocative words: "But no matter what we choose to believe, let us remember that there is no religion whose central tenet is hate. There is no God who condones taking the life of an innocent human being. This much we know." Do we really know this Mr. President? Is that not exactly what we are doing as we continue to sanction this intrinsically evil act of taking the life of our youngest and smallest neighbors, for any reason and at any time, calling it to a "right" and then protecting the bloody, violent act with the Police Power of the State? Further, with your signing of an Executive Order rescinding the limiting effects of exporting abortion in the Mexico City policy, we will now also take tax payer dollars to promote the export of such an evil anti-neighbor policy around the whole world.

Supporting FREE Catholic Education with Grass-fed Beef

In referring to the Office of faith Based and Neighborhood Initiatives the President said this: "It will be one voice among several in the administration that will look at how we support women and children, address teenage pregnancy, and reduce the need for abortion." How can we continue to perpetrate the lie that killing our neighbors in the womb ever supports women and children? Should we really be telling the rest of the world that engaging in a pre-emptive war on children in the womb through surgical strikes aimed at their dismemberment, or chemical weapons which burn them to death, is an acceptable way of addressing teenage pregnancy? I applaud the decision of this new Administration to continue to partner with churches, faith based associations and neighborhood groups in our commitment to the common good. I will do what I can to support the endeavor. However, I once again speak with respect and sincerity to Barack Obama who is now President Barack Obama and ask him this question: "Who is our neighbor?"

Throughout the last Presidential campaign then candidate Obama spoke of our obligations to one another. He did so in numerous inspiring and lifting messages. That occurred once again in his inspiring message delivered at the Thursday Feb. 5, 2009 National Prayer breakfast. Here is an excerpt: "There is no doubt that the very nature of faith means that some of our beliefs will never be the same. We read from different texts. We follow different edicts. We subscribe to different accounts of how we came to be here and where we're going next - and some subscribe to no faith at all."But no matter what we choose to believe, let us remember that there is no religion whose central tenet is hate. There is no God who condones taking the life of an innocent human being. This much we know.

"We know too that whatever our differences, there is one law that binds all great religions together. Jesus told us to "love thy neighbor as thyself." The Torah commands, "That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow." In Islam, there is a hadith that reads "None of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself." And the same is true for Buddhists and Hindus; for followers of Confucius and for humanists. It is, of course, the Golden Rule - the call to love one another; to understand one another; to treat with dignity and respect those with whom we share a brief moment on this Earth."

Start the New Year with Prayer | Light your Free Virtual Prayer Candle

The incredible "disconnect" that the use of this language of solidarity reveals is so obvious. Or is it? Apparently not to the President. How can we continue to appeal to this universal moral code as a guide for governing our actions when as a Nation we violate it in the most foundational way? I end with a selection from a biblical story which is well known to our President. His Christian witness given again today was very clear. Mr. President this story is in our Bible. It is often referred to as the story of the "Good Samaritan".

"There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?" He said in reply, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." He replied to him, "You have answered correctly; do this and you will live."
But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" (Luke 10:25-29)

Jesus replied, "A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, 'Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.' Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers' victim?" He answered, "The one who treated him with mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." (Luke 10: 30 - 37)

Mr. President, as you continue to call us as a Nation to be "our brothers and sisters keeper", to be "neighbors" I ask you with every sincere bone in my body Who is my neighbor? If that baby in the first home of the whole human race is indeed my neighbor, a member of the human family, how can you condone the continued abuse against him or her which always results in their death? I applaud the announcement of the Office of faith Based and Neighborhood Initiatives. Now, let's include ALL of our neighbors.

Free Prayer PDFs | Available in English, Spanish and French

---

'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'