Black Aquinas

I like what the motto of the Christian Heritage Party is: 'the only wasted vote is a vote for a party that doesn't share your convictions.' Like you, I'm torn in this election though my battle is between the CHP, the Conservative Party, and the Green Party. Though I'm a social conservative, I disagree with much of the Conservative Party's economic platform, as well as Harper's endorsement of the death penalty. What I want to see is the Catholic Worker running society! But yes, I agree a Christian Heritage Party victory would be rewarding. What I wonder is, even though the CHP doesn't have a chance, voting for them won't force the Conservative Party to take a more conservative stance on abortion. The vote would be saying, 'We're interested in social conservatism, not economic conservatism.' What do you think?

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Point taken, but I do believe pro-life advocates are correct that a Conservative leadership might advance the anti-abortion cause significantly. First off, the Conservative Party is formed largely by social conservatives from the Alliance, and I suspect that if free votes are introduced then there is a good chance that a Conservative government might pass legislation to limit abortion. Stephen Harper has already promised independent counselling for abortion, something which pro-life groups unanimously support. In any event, a Conservative government would not try to force Catholic hospitals to perform abortions in the way the NDP would like to see them do so. The only other pro-life party, although I admit calling a Harper-led government 'pro-life' might be an exageration, in Canada is the Christian Heritage Party. I think the odds of the CHP gaining any amount of votes is quite small considering how many social conservatives are placing their hopes on a minority government led by Harper. I would be curious, however, as to why you reject the idea of Harper of as a neo-liberal.

Hi. I'm new to this discussion board, and, as you might have guessed, I'm Canadian and Catholic. My dilemma is this: I am torn between two political parties. As a practicing Catholic, I am firmly commited to the pro-life cause. I cannot in good conscience vote for a political party who supports abortion-on-demand. With that said, I am a staunch opponent of the neo-liberal agenda of the Conservative Party. Of course, I am equally opposed to the socialist economics espoused by the New Democratic Party. I am also commited to the ecological wisdom of the Green Party as well as their concern about centralized power, whether capitalist or socialist. I would like to see a more decentralized, community-based economics, with a healthy environment. And yet, I do not wish to obtain all this at the price of a million aborted children. So I'm torn. What is a poor Catholic to do? I cannot accept the anti-religious, pro-abortion stances of the NDP or the Liberal Party. I'm stuck between the Green Party and the Conservative Party. The Christian Heritage Party has been suggested as an alternative, but I have to admit reservations for any party which is explicitly a party for only one segment of the population. Thus the anti-authoritarian in me is pulled towards the Green Party while the pro-lifer in me is pulled towards the Green Party. Help! On a side note, I'm not interested in another pro-life vs. pro-choice debate. The matter is unegotiable at this point. I'm more interested in hearing from Catholics or other people in similar positions, torn between the social gospel and a desire to protect the most vulnerable member in society, namely the unborn child. Your thoughts would be appreciated. God bless.

Hi. I'm new to this discussion board, and, as you might have guessed, I'm Canadian and Catholic. My dilemma is this: I am torn between two political parties. As a practicing Catholic, I am firmly commited to the pro-life cause. I cannot in good conscience vote for a political party who supports abortion-on-demand. With that said, I am a staunch opponent of the neo-liberal agenda of the Conservative Party. Of course, I am equally opposed to the socialist economics espoused by the New Democratic Party. I am also commited to the ecological wisdom of the Green Party as well as their concern about centralized power, whether capitalist or socialist. I would like to see a more decentralized, community-based economics, with a healthy environment. And yet, I do not wish to obtain all this at the price of a million aborted children. So I'm torn. What is a poor Catholic to do? I cannot accept the anti-religious, pro-abortion stances of the NDP or the Liberal Party. I'm stuck between the Green Party and the Conservative Party. The Christian Heritage Party has been suggested as an alternative, but I have to admit reservations for any party which is explicitly a party for only one segment of the population. Thus the anti-authoritarian in me is pulled towards the Green Party while the pro-lifer in me is pulled towards the Green Party. Help! On a side note, I'm not interested in another pro-life vs. pro-choice debate. The matter is unegotiable at this point. I'm more interested in hearing from Catholics or other people in similar positions, torn between the social gospel and a desire to protect the most vulnerable member in society, namely the unborn child. Your thoughts would be appreciated. God bless.