A Catholic priest in Modesto, CA, Rev. Joseph Illo, sent his parishioners at St. Joseph's Catholic Church a letter telling them they should confess if they voted for Barack Obama because Obama supports abortion.

This is the second priest we've heard about recently who has said something like this.

It is heartening to see many leaders in the Catholic Church starting to take a strong stand in holding elected officials who claim to be Catholic accountable for their public policy stances. And now we're seeing Catholic leaders starting to hold average parishioners accountable for how they exercise their vote.

It's too bad it's taken this long, but it's great to see those who confess Christ taking a stand of accountability to Christ's teachings. While some in the Protestant world are doing this, many more should follow the example of courageous leaders like Rev. Illo.

Abortion not only destroys human life created in the image of God, it destroys human life, period.  The unborn child has from the moment of conception human DNA.  That human DNA is unique from all other people on earth, making the child not a part of its mother's body she is free to discard, but a separate and unique human being. 

The only scientific difference between the unborn child and the child outside the womb is a matter of development.  If the lesser-developed child inside the womb has less innate value than the one outside the womb, then it should follow that the toddler has less value--and less human dignity--than the fully-developed adult. Do we accept this contention?

The reporter in the video below has a lot of gall, asking "if it's morally wrong to use the pulpit to preach politics."

When the pastor is addressing clear moral issues, this is akin to asking, "Is it morally wrong to speak against immoral issues from the pulpit?" Think about that for a second. Does that make any sense whatsoever? This question reveals the state of moral stupor in which our culture currently exists.

There is nothing sacred about "politics" (which really encompasses almost every area of life in our big-government society today) that renders that realm immune from moral judgment.

The founders of our nation would strongly degree with anyone so foolish as to profess that contention.

Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness. - George Washington's Presidential Farewell Address

We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. - John Adams

It is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. Religion and virtue are the only foundations...of republicanism and of all free governments. - John Adams

It should therefore be among the first objects of those who wish well to the national prosperity to encourage and support the principles of religion and morality. - Abraham Baldwin, signer of the Constitution

Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters. - Benjamin Franklin

The Holy Scriptures...can alone secure to society, order and peace, and to our courts of justice and constitutions of government, purity, stability, and usefulness. In vain, without the Bible, we increase penal laws and draw entrenchments around our institutions. Bibles are strong entrenchments. Where they abound, men cannot pursue wicked courses. - James McHenry, signer of the Constitution, Secretary of War

Religion and morality...are necessary to good government, good order and good laws, for "when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice" - William Paterson, signer of the Constitution, U.S. Supreme Court Justice

It yet remains a problem to be solved in human affairs whether any free government can be permanent where the public worship of God and the support of religion constitute no part of the policy or duty of the state in any assignable shape. - Joseph Story, U.S. Supreme Court Judge, Father of American Jurisprudence

The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were...the general principles of Christianity. - John Adams

Human law must rest its authority ultimately upon the authority of that law which is divine. - James Wilson, signer of the Constitution, U.S. Supreme Court Judge

Whoever is an avowed enemy of God, I scruple not to call him an enemy to his country...God grant that in America true religion and civil liberty may be inseparable and that the unjust attempts to destroy one may in the issue tend to the support and establishment of both. - John Witherspoon, signer of the Declaration

Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers. - John Jay, first Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court

This news reporter would do well to ponder the wisdom of the founders of this nation before asking that question of the priest.