--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For the church to say that abortion is…" description: "\"For the church to say that abortion is not acceptable for a Catholic is fine. To say directly or indirectly that on something that is a church teaching..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63d/patrick-leahy-9772_abortion_for-the-church-to-say-that-abortion-is-n_339675.jpg" --- # For the church to say that abortion is not acceptable for… ![“For the church to say that abortion is not acceptable for a Catholic is fine. To say directly or indirectly that on something that is a church teaching that you must also vote according to that - that's not acceptable in a country based on the First Amendment.” quote by Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63d/patrick-leahy-9772_abortion_for-the-church-to-say-that-abortion-is-n_339675.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63d/patrick-leahy-9772_abortion_for-the-church-to-say-that-abortion-is-n_339675.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63d/patrick-leahy-9772_abortion_for-the-church-to-say-that-abortion-is-n_339675.jpg) > “For the church to say that abortion is not acceptable for a Catholic is fine. To say directly or indirectly that on something that is a church teaching that you must also vote according to that - that's not acceptable in a country based on the First Amendment.” [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The church can teach doctrine, but the state must not enforce religious voting, respecting constitutional separation. **In simple terms:** Church can teach; state must stay neutral. Key Takeaway Respect church‑state boundaries. Themes religion law politics Mood thoughtful balanced Type political ethical When to use this quote - policy debates - legislative discussions - public forums - media commentary Key Concepts constitutional law civil rights Questions to Reflect On - Should religious groups lobby for policies? - How to protect both faith and freedom? A Different Perspective Balancing moral influence with legal limits is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abortion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) [Amendments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendments/) [Catholic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholic/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [First amendment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-amendment/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) ## Related quotes > [For a deeply religious purpose, there are people who do not personally believe that abortion is acceptable. I understand that. But this is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-murray/for-a-deeply-religious-purpose-there-are-people-who-do-not-personally/) [Patty Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-murray/) > [Most people say they're against abortion, but when it comes down to it, and they're actually in the position themselves, their option changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/most-people-say-they-re-against-abortion-but-when-it-comes-down-to-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“People often say that abortion is a woman's choice, and they're right;they choose life the moment they have sex.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-wagner/people-often-say-that-abortion-is-a-woman-s-choice-and-they-re-right/) Preston Wagner > [I can honestly say that my abortion was one of the least difficult decisions of my life. I'm not being flippant when I say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/i-can-honestly-say-that-my-abortion-was-one-of-the-least-difficult/) [Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/) > [“There is much debate in this country over abortion. I have always found it puzzling. There are the right-to-lifers who say that abortion is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-pike/there-is-much-debate-in-this-country-over-abortion-i-have-always/) [Christopher Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-pike/) > [If you want to get an audience quiet, just say "abortion" and everybody shuts up and the tension in the room is spectacular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-black/if-you-want-to-get-an-audience-quiet-just-say-abortion-and-everybody/) [Lewis Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-black/) > [They can say that abortion is alright. They can vote to sustain gay marriage. And that will take western civilization, indeed other nations because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-harris/they-can-say-that-abortion-is-alright-they-can-vote-to-sustain-gay/) [Katherine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-harris/) > [“nothing knee-jerk about their politics. Two out of three of them say that abortion is “always” or “usually” morally wrong. They are far more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zogby/nothing-knee-jerk-about-their-politics-two-out-of-three-of-them-say/) John Zogby > [The men who wrote the First Amendment religion clause did not view paid legislative chaplains and opening prayers as a violation of that amendment...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/the-men-who-wrote-the-first-amendment-religion-clause-did-not-view/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [“The tendency to want what has been banned and therefore to presume that it is more worthwhile is not limited to such commodities as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-cialdini/the-tendency-to-want-what-has-been-banned-and-therefore-to-presume/) [Robert B. Cialdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-cialdini/) > [“It struck me that there is a reason James Madison put freedom of speech and freedom of the press in the very first amendment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-karl/it-struck-me-that-there-is-a-reason-james-madison-put-freedom-of/) [Jonathan Karl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-karl/) > [The First Amendment makes confidence in the common sense of our people and in the maturity of their judgement the great postulate of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/the-first-amendment-makes-confidence-in-the-common-sense-of-our/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [This separation was absolute in our original Republic. But the sky-godders do not give up easily. In the 1950s they actually got the phrase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/this-separation-was-absolute-in-our-original-republic-but-the-sky/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [“ Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/united-states-congress/congress-shall-make-no-law-respecting-an-establishment-of-religion-or/) United States Congress > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## More by Patrick Leahy > [Trump would either be the Scarecrow or the Joker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/trump-would-either-be-the-scarecrow-or-the-joker/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [Contrary to what some believe, taking all reasonable and feasible precautions to protect civilians - and mitigating the resulting anger when we harm them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/contrary-to-what-some-believe-taking-all-reasonable-and-feasible/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [The rights of copyright holders need to be protected, but some draconian remedies that have been suggested would create more problems than they would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/the-rights-of-copyright-holders-need-to-be-protected-but-some/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [Batman doesn't have any superpowers. He has to use his brain and his courage. That's what always appealed to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/batman-doesn-t-have-any-superpowers-he-has-to-use-his-brain-and-his/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [We've won wars before and we've certainly retained our rights as Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/we-ve-won-wars-before-and-we-ve-certainly-retained-our-rights-as/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [Benjamin Franklin once said, 'A people who would trade liberty for security deserve neither.' I think we can have both. We can keep our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/benjamin-franklin-once-said-a-people-who-would-trade-liberty-for/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [If we harm civilians when it could reasonably have been avoided, and if we fail to fairly and promptly help the innocent victims, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/if-we-harm-civilians-when-it-could-reasonably-have-been-avoided-and/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the number of violent extremist groups has grown across multiple continents. From Syria to Somalia to Pakistan, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/since-the-sept-11-terrorist-attacks-the-number-of-violent-extremist/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [In my view it is time to pass a good bill, a fair bill, a comprehensive bill ... Too many have been waiting too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/in-my-view-it-is-time-to-pass-a-good-bill-a-fair-bill-a-comprehensive/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [The appointment of the next Supreme Court justice must be made in the people's interest and in the nation's interest, not in the interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/the-appointment-of-the-next-supreme-court-justice-must-be-made-in-the/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [There have been 111 Justices in the Supreme Court of the United States. Only three have been women. If she is confirmed, Solicitor General…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/there-have-been-111-justices-in-the-supreme-court-of-the-united/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [That the Islamic State is guilty of horrific atrocities is common knowledge. But most Americans seem unaware of the human toll of our own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/that-the-islamic-state-is-guilty-of-horrific-atrocities-is-common/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [Justice Sandra Day O'Connor serves as a model Supreme Court justice, widely recognized as a jurist with practical values, a sense of the consequences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/justice-sandra-day-o-connor-serves-as-a-model-supreme-court-justice/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [Stealing is stealing. I don't care if it's on the Internet or you're breaking into a warehouse somewhere - it's theft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/stealing-is-stealing-i-don-t-care-if-it-s-on-the-internet-or-you-re/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [Remember the attorney general is not a member of the president's staff. He's the attorney general of the United States. He's there to represent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/remember-the-attorney-general-is-not-a-member-of-the-president-s/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) [Explore all 70 Patrick Leahy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) ## More Abortion quotes > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/) Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974 > [Hey everyone, in case y'all didn't hear, I'm pregnat, and after discussing it w/ my family, I've decided to get an abortion, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-badesheim/hey-everyone-in-case-y-all-didn-t-hear-i-m-pregnat-and-after/) Madison Badesheim > [There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. Just like it was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/there-was-no-mistake-in-us-making-abortion-legal-and-available-on/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [My favorite Founding Fathers, Christians like John Adams, were absolutely appalled by slavery, and did not own slaves. I think we're going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/my-favorite-founding-fathers-christians-like-john-adams-were/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [“David Bereit, Founder of Forty Days for Life, points out that any abortion clinic in America should have a sign in its window that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-price/david-bereit-founder-of-forty-days-for-life-points-out-that-any/) [John Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-price/) > [The Chinese describe themselves as political refugees. Many base that claim on China's strict population laws, which allow them to have only one child.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/the-chinese-describe-themselves-as-political-refugees-many-base-that/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [I'm a pro-life candidate because I believe that science is proving us right every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/i-m-a-pro-life-candidate-because-i-believe-that-science-is-proving-us/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [I've noticed that everyone who is for abortion…has been born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-noticed-that-everyone-who-is-for-abortion-has-been-born/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [We talk a lot about how abortion is a medical procedure, but actually if you look at what the other side is doing, they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-northup/we-talk-a-lot-about-how-abortion-is-a-medical-procedure-but-actually/) [Nancy Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-northup/) > [“The Vatican won't prosecute pedophile priests but I decide I'm not ready for motherhood and it's condemnation for me? These are the same people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-renee-taylor/the-vatican-won-t-prosecute-pedophile-priests-but-i-decide-i-m-not/) Sonya Renee Taylor > [Pro-lifers have long been castigated for bringing private values into the public square. But actually it is the pro-abortion position that is based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/pro-lifers-have-long-been-castigated-for-bringing-private-values-into/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [I am 100 percent pro-life and have been my whole life. That means I am opposed to abortion at any stage of pregnancy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hawley/i-am-100-percent-pro-life-and-have-been-my-whole-life-that-means-i-am/) [Josh Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hawley/) > [Any woman should have the right to a safe and legal abortion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-ford/any-woman-should-have-the-right-to-a-safe-and-legal-abortion/) [Betty Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-ford/) > [“For Republicans, life begins at conception but ends at birth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-adam-snyder/for-republicans-life-begins-at-conception-but-ends-at-birth/) [J.Adam Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-adam-snyder/) > [I think fundamentally, the real power behind the anti-choice movement in regard to abortion and the opposition to the rights of LGBT Americans is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-w-lynn/i-think-fundamentally-the-real-power-behind-the-anti-choice-movement/) [Barry W. Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-w-lynn/) [Browse all 1,629 Abortion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For the church to say that abortion is not acceptable for a Catholic is fine. 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