The following comes from an August 18 Sacramento Bee opinion piece by Bishop Jaime Soto:
Lots of media attention continues to be given to the videos of Planned Parenthood staff members speaking about the disposition of aborted fetal tissue. Some people have questioned the undercover tactics used to capture the candid conversations.
This criticism, however, fails to acknowledge the deception employed by the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League in using an advocate posing as a woman looking for help at crisis pregnancy centers.
This ploy to discredit the compassionate work of those offering women and their children a hopeful alternative was unquestionably accepted by local media. After all, it fit the politically correct narrative. The advocates were considered principled, clever crusaders. The staff at the centers was considered just wacky and wrong.
This undercover operation became the lame pretext for NARAL and Planned Parenthood’s attempt to push legislation – Assembly Bill 775, the so-called Reproductive FACT Act – that would fine clinics that don’t provide abortion information or referrals. But the bill would not require Planned Parenthood or other abortion providers to provide women with information on healthy and supportive alternatives to abortion.
Abortion proponents and providers are not at war with pro-life advocates. They are at war with themselves and the truth of their threatening procedures. The fact is, no matter how much money Planned Parenthood and others spend on expensive public relations firms, the politically correct veneer used to obscure the facts of abortion is wearing thin on our collective conscience – and that’s a good thing.
And since any discussion about AB 775 is supposed to talk about abortion facts, two other issues of public concern need to be explored: What is the demographic impact of abortion in California? Are more abortions being used to choose boys over girls?
In California, we have no way of knowing the truth and debating sound public policy because the state will not permit the “facts” of abortion to be scientifically gathered. Over the years, efforts to enact legislation to address this inadequacy have been stymied by the strident ideology of abortion providers. Women and children are the unfortunate victims of this fact-finding failure.
Facts are nothing to be afraid of, but AB 775 is just a “bully” bill intended to stifle debate and muzzle the good-faith efforts of pro-life Californians. If anything, the recent videos have shown that the “fact” shoe is on the wrong foot.
That’s just fine Bishop Soto. But years ago, the Catholic Church was never involved in secular politics! No, the Church educated her Catholics, in Faith and Morals! And taught them to be good, practicing Catholics! Anyone thinking of committing a Mortal Sin, especially publicly– was in serious trouble!! Got lots of good ol’ GUILT?? Scared of Hell?? Maybe not– but yes, your local Bishop WILL excommunicate you– and there, for all the world to see– go the EXCOMMUNICATED GUILTY SINNERS, passing EVIL LAWS, and then, the Bishop ranting and warning about these SINS– and the deserved punishments of God! That is SO BADLY NEEDED, Your Excellency!! The world has SNNED!!
God bless Bishop Soto. One day as I was out in front of the local abortion cliic during a 40 days for life campaign, a car drove up. Out came a priest with his rosary. He looked awfully familiar. No fanfare. It was the good Bishop Jaime Soto walking the sidewalk in his clerics, praying the rosary! I love this op ed, don’t you?
OneoftheSheep, it is so wonderful, that Bishop Soto is so fully committed to pro-life! I did not mean to sound too negative– but all pre-Vatican II Catholic girls thinking of abortion, had tons of fear and guilt– and the local nuns and priests, and their parents– right on their backs! They were also scared to death, if going too far with a boy, heading into Mortal Sin! Only VERY BAD GIRLS did that!! The SHAME of back-alley abortions, was never forgotten! Plus– excommunication! Catholics all had years of Catechism classes– and lots of control of sin, everywhere, in the Church and in society!! All political leaders belonged to a church, and had all the churches to answer to, all the time! The Bishop needs a strong, very…
I will continue. I think our bishops all need to make a very strong, very religious Church, to go out there and re-Christianize America! Our Catholic schools and universities, all should be proudly producing excellent, committed Catholics, for Christ! Maybe not with tons of fear and guilt, and hellfire — but we do need respect for God, a holy fear of the Lord, fear and sorrow at disobedience to Him, and the understanding that yes– Mortal Sin, done habitually over a lifetime, with no repentance– can merit Hell for any of us! If all the clergy would only do their jobs– the world would be so much better, and many sins would be gone! It is TERRIFIC, your dedication to fight abortion, as well as Bishop Soto’s dedication!