The Vatican is not serious about abortion

Another piece of evidence that the Vatican is not totally serious about abortion is the change in policy towards Catholics who will not enforce Catholic dogma. Reviewing the recently published papers of Australia’s most prominent Catholic activist, B.A. Santamaria (now deceased), Michael Sexton noted in The Australian (April 14-15 2007) that Santamaria’s early view was that:

“Any Catholic members of parliament who personally agreed with the teachings of the church but did not think these should be imposed on the non-Catholic majority in the community should be removed from their parliamentary office and also deprived of any role in the affairs of the church.”

That tough policy no longer exists. Occasionally, some Catholic parliamentarians are criticised by the church hierarchy when legislation that offends Catholic policy comes into parliaments. But their bark is worse than their bite. They have no intention of placing any sanction against parliamentarians voting for legislation of which they disapprove.

For example, state politicians wavering about the decriminalisation of abortion in New South Wales and Queensland need have no fear. If they support decriminalisation the sky will not fall in. They will not be excommunicated and it is unlikely they would be denied Communion because the Vatican and the Australian church is not really serious about its opposition to abortion. They are all talk and no action. Where are the priests at pro-life demonstrations?

Another example: Malcolm Turnbull, a convert to Catholicism not long before his preselection for the seat of Wentworth, has been outspoken in his view supporting a woman’s right to choose (see my previous article here). There is no report of him being refused Communion.

Were Australia’s best known anti-abortion Catholic politician, Tony Abbott, to become Leader of the federal Opposition, it is unlikely priests will be telling constituents to vote for him from the pulpit.

Under our charity law, the church here is in the same position as the US church. All churches are in effect “supernatural charities” eligible for tax-exempt status because to “advance religion” is legally deemed to be a form of charity.

It could only take one recording of such a speech to land the church in trouble with the Tax Office.

Would politicians who vote for decriminalisation of abortion lose votes? Yes, if the vast majority of women in their electorate find out they voted against it, they will.

A minority of Catholics might disagree, but in the context of all the other more pressing issues, it would be unlikely to sway all their votes.