Is it ok to support an organization if there’s anything that they do which conflicts with Church teachings?
Example: I am very privacy-focused and one of the organizations that I really like takes action to preserve online freedom and resist government overreach and surveillance.
This same organization also supports abortion access via the less-gruesome moniker ‘reproductive rights’.
Jesus told us to “Love the sinner, but hate the sin”. In this case, can I support some things that this group does while rejecting others? Or should I distance myself completely?
I understand your question. I just want to clarify a few terms before answering. “Support” could mean “endorse” or “assist” or “fund.” I think that any of those meanings could be relevant here. “Organization” too: the one you are talking about might be a nonprofit organization, but in other cases a commercial company or political party or many other things—again, all relevant here, I think.
Does the organization you’re referring to advocate abortion access, or fund it, or maybe both? In any case, I personally would try to steer clear of it. However, there are a lot of companies that give money to pro-abortion causes or give their employees money to travel to get an abortion. I try to avoid them, but I don’t know about every company I patronize, and it might be hard know about and avoid every company or organization that goes against Catholic principles. I really think that this situation is pleasing to if not outright encouraged by abortion advocates. I think they would like everybody to be involved and paying for it, at least indirectly.
In your case, if I really wanted to be involved in the cause, I would look for an organization that does work completely consistent with Catholic principles. But there might not be one. Then, I think, the question becomes whether the good you see the organization doing outweighs the bad. Also, as a donor or volunteer, you might be able to influence the organization away from its pro-abortion position.
Good questions. I don’t support this group either financially or otherwise; I just like some of the actions they take (for example lobbying for privacy protection).
I am a member of the Libertarian Party, which still has in her platform something that glorifies prostitutıon as a profession. The Christian Liberty Caucus is hoping to remove this plank at the next National Convection, but we need the numbers in order to do this. So, if anyone is a member of the LNC and would like to become a Delegate, feel free to join the Christian Liberty Caucus and the Pro-Life Libertarian Caucus.
I love organizations that care about privacy and government overreach! However, I could not support an organization that uses terms like “reproductive rights” to describe taking of innocent human life. For one, it is an oxymoron. You have the right to reproduce (currently under the law, until some of these same individuals push to regulate it for environmental reasons or perceived over-population and resource concerns, which are other forms of government over-reach).
One of the recent strategies of the Libertarian Party is coalition-building (something that Democrats have been doing for decades), which is working together with organizations that do not agree with you on everything, but work together on things that we do agree on.
It would be wise for Republicans to work with Libertarians on things we agree on, but often, Republicans see us as the enemy and then do everything they can to make sure our vote does not count. Democrats, however, understand that the more you get individuals to support an issue, in spite of differences on other important matters, moves the needle.
I would say, do not give financially to an organization that actively supports abortion. Instead, join an alternative that doesn’t support abortion, but still cares about privacy and government over-reach. And then work together with these other groups on the things you agree on.
I think it gets down to the nitty gritty of how you’re supporting them. If the ACLU is sending out e-blasts about contacting your elected officials over a privacy issue and you respond, no problem. Many moons ago, the ACLU worked with conservative groups to oppose the Patriot Act. Wonderful! Work with them where you can without compromising your pro-life principles.
But the organization is actively working to promote abortion rights, you draw the line at financial and volunteer support.