A FORUM FOR COMMUNITY ISSUES : Second Opinion / COMMENTARY FROM OTHER MEDIA : THE TIDINGS : Christians Aren’t Required to Vote Like Randall Terry

Beneath Bill Clinton’s “deceptive veneer of Christianity” lurks a “new covenant . . . a pact from hell” which has nothing to do with biblical Christianity, asserts Operation Rescue’s Randall Terry in an open letter to the clergy. True Christians can resist this “prophet of darkness,” says Terry, if they repent, submit to God and cast a ballot for George Bush, “the only ethical, upright choice among the three major candidates.”

From a Catholic viewpoint, there are several problems with Terry’s position. The first would seem to be the requirement of utter surrender of one’s conscience to the “shepherds who truly protect and lead God’s people.” Another would be the complete acceptance of the Bible (Terry’s interpretation of it) as the exclusive communication of God’s Word to his people.

Granted, Bill Clinton’s vociferous support for the radical pro-choice agenda is profoundly disturbing to many Catholics. And the Democratic Party’s shoddy treatment of Pennsylvania’s pro-life governor, Bob Casey, doesn’t leave much hope that Clinton or the Democrats will permit an internal discussion of the party’s pro-choice stance anytime soon.

But perhaps Gov. Casey’s decision to stick with his party, despite being gagged and ridiculed by them, provides Catholics--Democrats, Republicans and Independents alike--with a “model of conscience” to follow in this election year.

It’s far preferable to the scare tactics put forth by Randall Terry.