By Tim Rohr
In the previous post, I referenced Lou Leon Guerrero's 2013 testimony on Bill 195-32. In that testimony, the now-governor testified against legislation which would mandate normal medical care for babies who survive a failed abortion. In short, Lou's position was: let them die.
The late Bob Klitzkie made her testimony famous on his afternoon radio show, playing the audio of that testimony every Friday over several years.
The bill eventually went to a vote, passed the Legislature by a vote of 10 to 5, and was enacted into law as Public Law 32-090.
Since Senator Tina Muna Barnes is on the ticket with Josh Tenorio, who is demonstrably pro-abortion, some are asking about Muna-Barnes' position on the issue.
I've engaged the senator on the issue over a period of several years while working with The Esperansa Project in our many attempts to enact legislation regulating Guam's almost completely unregulated abortion industry.
Over a period of eight years, The Esperansa Project helped enact into law, eight laws restricting and regulating abortion in common sense ways using similar legislation in other states as precedent.
I would characterize the senator's position on abortion as "squishy." The voting record on the aforesaid bill mandating normal medical care for babies who survive failed abortions demonstrates my characterization:
Muna Barnes has a check in the Yea box but also two marks in the Nay box. This means she passed on the first two rounds of votes and only voted yea on the third and final vote. This was a smart move for someone who doesn't want to take a definitive position. She waited to see which way the vote would go and then she voted with the winners. In other words: "squishy."
Meanwhile, don't look for a position on abortion on the Josh & Tina platform. It's an issue they'd rather not be made public. And from a politics perspective, it's a smart thing to do - or in this case - not to do. Abortion isn't an issue in this election. And it's not an issue because Guam voters don't want it to be an issue. As the stats - and the last two gubernatorial elections - show, the majority of Guam voters want abortion on demand.
However, the archbishop should at least know who he's waving for:
The archbishop's publicly joining this team makes a mockery of the speech he gave just a few days previously on the occasion of Catholic Prolife Committee's 2026 March for Life.
Does the bishop even care? Does he take the time to look at the issues raised in JW?
ReplyDeleteOr does he search out articles that show himself in a positive light?
It is hard to continually point out all the actions he has done which are contrary to what we expect of a shepherd.
I like what someone suggested in an earlier post, that the bishop should have a state of the Church address each year. And after his speech open it up to the public of questions and suggestions.
We want to hear from him, not just from the pulpit, but on his vision of where he wants our Church to be next year, and 5 years from now.
AND we want him to listen to our concerns and to engage in talks with us.
Sadly, I think planning his next flight off-island is a larger concern than the people planning a flight away from the Church.
My assessment of him is that he is a social climber and the church and the priesthood is his vehicle. You're right about his next trip.
DeleteBirds of a feather flock together.
ReplyDelete