Amy Schafer – 12/5/04

This page was last updated on December 5, 2004.

Handle moral issues at home; Amy Schafer; Beaver County Times; December 5, 2004.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“More than half of the Catholic voters in this nation proved that moral values and religion override a poor economy, lost jobs, unjustified invasions and health-care issues.”

[RWC] Ms. Schafer fell for the liberal myth that “moral values” was the #1 concern of voters. This comes from comparing a general category (moral values) with individual items. In this kind of comparison, the general category will win most of the time. The truth is, at 22% moral values came in third behind national security (Iraq + terrorism = 34%) and economic concerns (taxes + economy/jobs + healthcare = 33%). Ms. Schafer forgot to note that more than half of Protestant voters (59%) also voted for President Bush.

“The time is at hand. Now is the time of great opportunity for the reunification of the church since common ground has been found.

“The fight shouldn’t stop at illegalizing abortion. Correct? Catholics know that birth control is forbidden, as is having children out of wedlock. So is lust, overindulgence in drink and food, promiscuous dress and even tattoos and body piercings.”

[RWC] It’s been a long time since my catechism classes, but I believe the Catholic Church does not forbid birth control as long as you stick to the rhythm method. I don’t know about “tattoos and body piercing.”

“Now that our country is back on the path with renewed moral values and religion, it will be great to see more weddings listed in the paper than divorces. Even greater will it be when families once again start having upwards of 10 offspring as they did in the days of old. Greed will have to subside. Reality shows based upon gossip and defamation of character will have to cease.”

[RWC] Ms. Schafer wants us to believe support for moral values must be perfect for it to be valid.

“However, we now have a country that is strongly and equally divided. Abortion, war, political orientation and moral issues have torn the country apart. How will the country survive since its foundation which was built upon equality, tolerance, justice, and unification has been split in two?”

[RWC] The only people attempting to split the country are liberals because that is their fundamental tactic, divide and conquer. They can’t win on the issues so they attempt to pit group vs. group.

“To cast votes solely based upon one or two social issues seems ludicrous when many other issues deserve attention. There is rampant spending in Washington, a bloody war of many reasons, a struggling economy, and poor job market.”

[RWC] It makes folks like Ms. Schafer feel better to believe voters preferred President Bush “only” for moral values when the exit polls show that not to be the case. Even if it were, what’s so bad about making a choice based on your values? Isn’t that what we do every day?

“Moral issues should be handled in the home. Everyone should take responsibility for their moral choices without the government stepping in.”

[RWC] This is the cry we heard when Bill Clinton disgraced the office of President by engaging in sexual activity with an intern. Our values define us, but folks like Ms. Schafer want us to believe values are some kind of an appendage. For example, though we may oppose cheating and lying in our home, we should not judge elected officials based on these values.

“If we’ve reached the point where the government has to step in, we must have a nation of mindless and irresponsible drones who can’t tell right from wrong.”

[RWC] Huh? What is Ms. Schafer writing about?