Opinions please

[Squinch]

213. Catholic Democrats, based on the teachings of their religion,

are also against gay marriage and gay rights. But a post that said, "we need to work for the repeal of gay right and gay marriage laws" would be summarily hidden here. And rightfully so, because the idea would not be consistent with being a Democrat.

And no, anti-abortion posts are not a system wide epidemic on DU. Neither are racism or homophobia system wide epidemics on DU. Nevertheless, when racist and homophobic posts are posted, they are hidden. It isn't a matter of whether such a thing is common here. It is a matter of whether it is acceptable here. Anti-choice is not acceptable. A person who has chosen against abortion for herself is fine. A person who has chosen against abortion for the rest of us is not fine.

I think what is missing here is an appreciation of how fundamental the rights to reproductive choice are to self-determination, economic stability, family stability, and mental health. When someone advocates taking reproductive choice away from women, he or she is taking away the right to all those other things too. It's not just some piffle. That this needs to be pointed out is very disturbing.

PS. I too was raised Catholic. I have never been in a social group in which more people had abortions than my social group in the Catholic college I attended. So Catholics are perfectly capable of holding opinions that don't jive with the church's teachings. Or at least not pushing their religion's opinions on those who don't share their beliefs.