Theos-Talk Archives (March 2003 Message tt00004)

Steve Stubbs wrote:
> If that is so, then I applaud their good sense. Actually, abortion 
> is legal here as well, and in the third trimester, which I believe is 
> prohibited in Europe. But the Catholic church takes the position 
> that it is the appropriate function of the state to enforce Catholic 
> religious taboos on people who happen not to practice Catholicism. 
> The argument goes something like this:y
>
> 1. The Catholic church says murder is a sin
> 2. The state says murder is a crime
> 3. Therefore, the basis of the legal policies of the state is 
> Catholic theology
>
> 4. The Catholic church says abortion is a sin
> 5. The state exists to enforce Catholic taboos
> 6. Therefore abortions must be criminalized.
Straw man argument. Invalid.

Bart Lidofsky