Thread by @DawnofMercy

In light of Biden's speech last night, some pro-life reflections upon @saletan's insight that the GOP's strategy, which Trump has taken to a new level, is based on "inserting lies into conventional moral appeals":

I and my fellow US pro-lifers made a deal with the devil. 1/x

https://twitter.com/saletan/status/1490680496531165185

The GOP said, "We'll save the unborn if you let us promote the death penalty."

The US pro-life movement said, "Sure."

The GOP said, "We'll save the unborn if you let us defund programs that help poor families raise and educate healthy children."

Pro-lifers said, "Sweet!"

2/x

The GOP said, "We'll save the unborn if you let us demonize the poor as parasites, welfare queens, and illegal aliens."

The US pro-life movement said, "That's fine."

The GOP said, "We'll save the unborn if you let us defend torture."

Pro-lifers said, "No problem there."

3/x

The GOP said, "We'll save the unborn if you let us oppose free universal healthcare."

US pro-lifers said, "OK!"

The GOP said, "We'll save the unborn if you let us demonize the 99.9 % of climate scientists warning of human-caused climate change."

Pro-lifers said, "Great!"

4/x

The GOP said, "We'll save the unborn if you let us mock and threaten those seeking to protect themselves and their loved ones from a deadly worldwide pandemic."

The US pro-life movement replied, "[*cough*] We salute you! And Grandma would too if she hadn't died of COVID."

5/x

The GOP said, "We'll save the unborn if you let us write abortion-banning laws without consulting doctors on safeguards to protect mothers' lives."

US pro-lifers replied, "Abortion bans? Did someone say abortion bans? Why consult doctors? Ban first and ask questions later!"

6/x

Finally, the GOP said, "We'll save the unborn if you accept our election lies--lies that, when translated into concrete action (as in 1/6), will deliver a death blow to American democracy."

The US pro-life movement said, "If that's what it takes, that's what it takes!"

7/x

And now that the US pro-life movement has sold itself to the GOP, and the GOP has sold itself to MAGA, President Biden says MAGA forces who would "take away a woman's right to choose" are a threat to democracy.

The pro-life movement cannot deny that is what it has become.

8/x

I am, and will always be, pro-life.

I repent of the devil's bargain I made with the GOP when I was part of the US's tainted pro-life movement.

The only moral way to protect the unborn in the political sphere is by winning hearts for life within a functioning democracy.

9/x

Democracy, and the individual freedoms and responsibilities it enables, is the first-order value that makes a culture of life possible. Without it, we're left to the whims of strongmen who, even if they protect the unborn, will persecute Catholics and all who oppose them.

10/x

See, for example, Ortega's "pro-life" Nicaragua, which insists that women carry even ectopic pregnancies to term, while jailing and torturing Catholic clergy and laity for their faith.

I hope that one day the Democratic Party will again make room for @demsforlife.

11/x

And I hope very much that the GOP will reject Trump and Trumpism, root and branch, rejecting "stolen-election" lies and standing for truth.

I hope too for a viable pro-life third-party and for proportional representation (ranked-choice) voting to strengthen our democracy.

12/x

But in the meantime, as a pro-life Catholic, I see no alternative but to stand with @POTUS for the nation's soul, against Trump and Trumpism, against what the GOP has become.

I make no apologies for that. And no pro-life Catholic who believes in democracy should have to.

13/x

Here are resources on Catholicism and democracy:

Pius XII's 1944 Christmas message: vatican.va/content/pius-x…

@john_t_mcgreevy's magisterial @commonwealmag article: commonwealmagazine.org/natural-enemie…

14/end