Republican and Democat conventions: Political controversy meets faith

Republican Convention

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Abby Johnson, former director of Planned Parenthood and convert to Catholicism, addressed the Republican National Convention Aug. 25 in a video message that emphasized President Donald Trump's actions for the pro-life cause. The outspoken pro-life advocate said: "For most people who consider themselves pro-life, abortion is abstract. They can't even conceive of the barbarity ... but for me, abortion is very real." Johnson came under criticism ahead of the speech for tweets she made earlier this year, including one where she said the police would be "smart" to racially profile her son, who is biracial, and another where she advocated "household voting," as in one vote per household. She responded to criticism on Twitter, saying supporters of legal abortion are scared of her speech and "are scrambling to try to find anything to detract people from my message. Well, guess what?? You can dredge up whatever old tweets you want. I'm still speaking," she tweeted. In a statement to Catholic News Service Aug. 26, she said she has "no desire to remove a woman's right to vote. I simply think it is an interesting idea. It was an old tweet from a silly thread where I was asking people to post their most controversial thoughts and opinions. It is not a policy statement and was not meant to be taken seriously."


CHARLOTTE, N.C. (CNS) -- New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan thanked God for living in a country that respects religious freedom and prayed for people battling COVID-19 and those caring for them, the unborn, the elderly, immigrants and refugees during the opening evening of the Republican National Convention. The cardinal offered the prayer, which was prerecorded, prior to a full evening of speakers Aug. 24. The cardinal also prayed "that all lives may be protected and respected, in our troubled cities and the police who guard them." The minutelong invocation recalled the men and women of the U.S. military serving "in tense world situations" working to "keep the peace." Cardinal Dolan also prayed for people facing serious challenges including those whose lives are "threatened by religious persecution throughout the world, or by plague, hunger, drugs, human trafficking or war."

Democrat Convention

CLEVELAND (CNS) -- Prayers offered by a pair of prominent Catholics during the closing night of the Democratic National Convention focused on addressing the needs of people on the margins of society and a planet facing environmental catastrophe. The prayers from Sister Simone Campbell, executive director of Network, a Catholic social justice lobby, and Jesuit Father James Martin, editor at large of America magazine, bookended the convention agenda Aug. 20. Sister Campbell, a member of the Sisters of Social Service, and Father Martin, pre-recorded their respective prayers earlier. Sister Campbell offered the invocation and Father Martin delivered a benediction. In her opening prayer, Sister Campbell called upon the "Divine Spirit" to "stir our hearts and minds that we might fight for a vision that is worthy of you and your call to honor the dignity of all of your creation." Father Martin's benediction focused on "the dignity of all human life, including the unborn, including LGPT people, including inmates on death row." Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, a Catholic, accepted the party's nomination for president during the evening's events. Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York will offer a prayer Aug. 24 during the opening night of the Republican National Convention.


WASHINGTON (CNS) -- By the time of their online Zoom caucus Aug. 17, organizers of Democrats for Life knew their effort to modify the party platform language on abortion was a nonstarter. They went ahead, anyway, with most speakers focusing on the party marginalizing pro-life advocates. The draft of the 2020 Democratic platform, expected to be formally approved by the Democratic National Committee at the party's virtual convention in Milwaukee, states: "Like the majority of Americans, Democrats believe that every woman should be able to access high-quality reproductive health care services, including safe and legal abortion." The Democrats presumptive presidential nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, and his running mate, U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, have not called for modification of that language. They also support parts of the platform that call for restoring federal funding for Planned Parenthood; opposing state laws that limit access to abortion on demand; and repeal of the Hyde Amendment, which bars the use of Medicaid funds to pay for abortions. U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski of Illinois, a pro-life advocate who was running for reelection for a ninth term but lost his recent primary, told the online gathering, "We need to make them understand that they need pro-life Democrats. We are in the mainstream on these issues, and we cannot back down," he said. "We need to be a big tent party." He added, "One in three Democrats are pro-life. They need to change that platform to welcome us."

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- About 100 current and former Democratic lawmakers from several states urged the Democratic Party's Platform Committee Aug. 14 "to moderate its official position on abortion," saying many party leaders support abortion policies "radically out of line with public opinion." "Many Democratic leaders support abortion at any time, for any reason; this position is opposed by 79% of Americans," said the letter, posted on the website of Democrats for Life. It was sent three days ahead of the start of the virtual Democratic National Convention Aug. 17-20. Originally, scheduled to be held in downtown Milwaukee at the Wisconsin Center, all sessions were to take place virtually due to the pandemic. "We respect the pro-life leanings of our constituents," said the letter's signers. Current and former elected Democrats from many states, they said they represent "millions of Americans." "We are members of Congress, state legislators and local officials," they added. They said they are "united by three major concerns": "We are concerned that many Democratic leaders support policies on abortion that are radically out of line with public opinion"; "We are concerned that, due to this wide disparity, the Democratic Party is alienating voters"; "Finally, we are concerned about the betrayal of Democratic Party values."