Russell Shaw warns that “Assorted Catholic voices have been raised lately calling on Catholics to give President-elect Obama a chance and look for common ground between him and the Church. Part of the message is: ‘Don’t worry about the Freedom of Choice Act.’”

He lists in the “Don’t Worry” crowd: The editors of Commonweal, the National Catholic Reporter, Professor Douglas Kmiec, and former U.S. ambassador to the Holy See Thomas Melady.

Professor Kmiec, he notes, is claiming that the Freedom of Choice Act is not a real threat. He adds, “The don’t-worry-about-FOCA line is summed up in a Commonweal editorial calling it ‘abortion-rights propaganda … a fundraising device and a rallying cry for pro-choice groups.’

“No doubt FOCA is all of that,” writes Shaw. “And it’s also a serious threat.”

He helpfully reminds the “Don’t-worry” Catholics: “How do you prevent a dangerous bill from becoming law? The answer is, or should be, a no-brainer. Dangerous bills are blocked by vigorously opposing them. Shrugging one’s shoulders and saying they’re no threat is a good way to get them passed.”

Now is the time not for concessions but for confident opposition. As those who read the Register and this website know, there will be much to oppose. Next, I’ll share our editorial from the Dec. 14 issue on why our opposition can be confident instead of fearful.

— Tom Hoopes