And while I think that they were certainly far better than the senator's, I wish that he would have addressed the whole 'article of faith' claim.
The Church's pro-life stand is not exclusively Catholic. Heck, it's not exclusively Christian or bound to any religion at all. Indeed, there is an organization called "Atheist and Agnostic Pro-Life League."

Right on, Jimmy. It's ironic that the non-Catholic in this election is more Catholic than the self-professed Catholic.

And while I think that they were certainly far better than the senator's, I wish that he would have addressed the whole 'article of faith' claim.
The Church's pro-life stand is not exclusively Catholic. Heck, it's not exclusively Christian or bound to any religion at all. Indeed, there is an organization called "Atheist and Agnostic Pro-Life League."
The Church's pro-life stand is related to its respect for fundamental human rights. In that sense, being involved in the pro-life movement is like opposing Apartheid in the early 80s (and before), being involved in the civil rights movement, or, further back, in the abolitionist movement.
The Church's pro-life beliefs are certainly not an article of faith, at least in the way that the senator was and has continually been using that phrase.
Sean: I totally agree with you and also wish Pres. Bush would have made this point. Its not a religious belief to understand what abortion is, it is more along the lines of a scientific belief.

Perhaps the point is, "an article of faith" for him is a euphemism for "something that I am supposed to believe as a Catholic but don't, and therefore would never impose that on the American public because then they would have to follow something by law that even I don't follow by faith."

Indeed, and unless you are talking about liberal "Protestant" Deists, Protestants know the James passage and believe it.

The president's response to the two questions on abortion during the three debates were basically the same.
And while I think that they were certainly far better than the senator's, I wish that he would have addressed the whole 'article of faith' claim.
The Church's pro-life stand is not exclusively Catholic. Heck, it's not exclusively Christian or bound to any religion at all. Indeed, there is an organization called "Atheist and Agnostic Pro-Life League."
The Church's pro-life stand is related to its respect for fundamental human rights. In that sense, being involved in the pro-life movement is like opposing Apartheid in the early 80s (and before), being involved in the civil rights movement, or, further back, in the abolitionist movement.
The Church's pro-life beliefs are certainly not an article of faith, at least in the way that the senator was and has continually been using that phrase.

I remember reading about the first time Kerry used that scripture in speaking to a Protestant congregation, months ago: I wondered to myself how many were having that passage brought to their attention for the very first time. :-)

I found it odd that Kerry admitted the role his faith played in causing him to inact legislation regarding issues of poverty or the environment, yet on abortion (which his faith, the Catholic Faith, says is a far graver evil than poverty or the environment) he is not willing to inact even the slightest bit of legislation that would even mildly curb the total "freedom of choice." It just doesn't make sense.

Obligatory Debate Commentary

...What made me (and a priest, and the ten other guys in the room) laugh was his citation of James 2:24. Again. This guy really, really likes James 2:24. Are his powers of interpretation so dim that he doesn't realize he condemns his own "faith" with...

Good point. Actually, my 14-year-old daughter immediately caught the irony of it. On the question of whether the James passage is the only one Kerry knows, it seems reasonable to suppose that he knows Matt 16:18, too, but he probably figured that it would make even less sense than James 2:14, 20. You might say he was caught between the rock and a hard place.

BRAVO!!!!
Please Jimmy, make this point as publicly as possible!
He says that it is a point of faith that he can't force on the American public; this can rest only on the fallacy that abortion isn't murder: IT IS. So, is he saying that since "thou shall not steal" is a commandment and thus a matter of faith so it shouldn't be illegal? Murder is not illegal because it is immoral, but because it is an undue drain on the economy or something?

Jimmy,
You have to know that this seems to be the only bible verse that Kerry knows. He quoted the same thing twice this past week, once at the Baptist service he spoke at and once somewhere else. Since it is the only bible verse he ever quotes, I think it's safe to assume it's the only one he knows.

Yeah I think GWB got that term from JP2. They're pretty good friends, y'know.

I couldn't bring myself to watch any of the debates. I hate political debates. Nothing meaningful or substantial comes out of them, and any of the politicians can lie about anything with virtual impunity in that kind of forum. They serve no real useful purpose. If a voter needs a television debate to decide whom to vote for then that voter is really too uninformed to vote responsibly. I wish some politician would find the courage to just say no to participating in any debate.
Maybe it is television that is the problem. I wouldn't mind them trying a radio debate to see how that works.
Listening to John Kerry quoting from the Bible is like scratching a chalk board with your nails.
Hey Jimmy, do you know if it was John Paul II who first coined the phrase "culture of life"?