An Economist Who Advocates for Abortion Rights Appointed by Pope Francis


A Catholic body of academics established to study abortion and issues surrounding it originally required appointees to pledge "pro-life" politically. That requirement was dropped a few years ago by Pope Francis. Now he has appointed a Catholic economist, Mariana Mazzucato, who has argued with the all-male anti-abortion wing of the denomination. What fun this is going to be.

The link from a conservative branch of Catholicism complains bitterly about her appointment. The Pontifical Academy for Life was established by an earlier pope for the explicit goal of promoting the denomination's political mission against abortion. When Francis came along the requirement of being against abortion was tinkered with. The "pro-life" pledge for members was eliminated. Still, Pope Francis agrees it is a "pro-life" Academy. 

To me, it seems like the entire all male Catholic clergy army got caught in its own clever game of semantics. It has always used the word "life" as a synonym for the two words, "anti-abortion." The word "life", however, does not translate across the globe to "anti-abortion." "Life" means life, all life. More women die from childbirth than die from abortions. How can the forced-birth political wing of the denomination say it is for "life" when it is for death?  Data proves one cannot be "pro-life" and "anti-abortion" at the same time. It's one or the other.

The hole Catholic propaganda has dug itself into can also be seen by looking up the word "life" in Wikipedia (and I suppose most other secular sources). The long definition of life does not mention abortion. It does not say abortion takes a life.

It could well be that those promoting Professor Mazzucato pointed out she is for life, saving the lives of mothers. How could anyone advocating saving women's lives be anything but pro-life?

The Catholic right will argue, of course, "pro-life" means fetuses, not the life of women. Women don't count. 

This appointment fits perfectly with what is Pope Francis' approach to a divided denomination. Instead of the right using its might, Frances knows the future is one where several views will fall under the title of Catholicism. Let all parties argue but keep them Catholic is his approach. 

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