The New York Times, November 24, 2009
Letters to the Editor
Re: Representative Kennedy Not Welcome to Receive Communion
To the Editor:
Representative Patrick J. Kennedy is on stronger theological ground than Bishop Thomas J. Tobin. A legislator may support the legalization of a practice that he or she personally deems immoral.
Thus, SS. Augustine and Thomas Aquinas thought prostitution immoral but supported the legalization of prostitution on the grounds that greater evils would ensue if this outlet for aberrant sexual energy were outlawed. Aquinas even said that in doing this the “wise legislator” would be imitating God, who tolerates certain evils lest greater evils ensue.
So a Catholic legislator who thinks all abortions are immoral could still vote to keep it legal because of the evils that would ensue, especially for poor women.
Daniel C. Maguire
Milwaukee, Nov. 23, 2009
The writer is a professor of moral theology at Marquette University.