“I wasn’t there,” Birk told KFAN. “I would say this, I would say that I have great respect for the office of the Presidency but about five or six weeks ago, our President made a comment in a speech and he said, ‘God bless Planned Parenthood.’ . . .

 

“Planned Parenthood performs about 330,000 abortions a year. I am Catholic, I am active in the Pro-Life movement and I just felt like I couldn’t deal with that. I couldn’t endorse that in any way.”

 

Actually, President Obama didn’t say, “God bless Planned Parenthood.” He ended a speech to the group with the perfunctory, “Thank you, Planned Parenthood. God bless you. God bless America.”

 

Some will see that as a distinction without a difference. And while, like Birk, I am Catholic and, like Birk, I don’t believe in abortion, Birk’s stance puts him on a slippery slope of logic that, taken to its extreme, could result in Birk renouncing his American citizenship.

 

Birk boycotts White House visit over abortion issue | ProFootballTalk

Also from the article and my question:

 

So if traveling to the White House with a Super Bowl championship-winning football team “endorses” abortion, doesn’t living in a country that allows abortions to happen do the same thing?

Also from the article and my question:

 

So if traveling to the White House with a Super Bowl championship-winning football team “endorses” abortion, doesn’t living in a country that allows abortions to happen do the same thing?

 

Nah. He's chosen to make a statement and has elected to pass up a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in order to make that statement about his convictions. What's more American than that?

 

Dude went to Harvard... he'll figure something out.

Also from the article and my question:

 

So if traveling to the White House with a Super Bowl championship-winning football team “endorses” abortion, doesn’t living in a country that allows abortions to happen do the same thing?

 

Yes but , hey, he doesn't want to inconvenience himself by having to move out of the country. It's just a lot easier to make a statement against the POTUS.

Yes but , hey, he doesn't want to inconvenience himself by having to move out of the country. It's just a lot easier to make a statement against the POTUS.

 

So civil disobedience has no purpose? If you don't like a law and have the means to go somewhere else it's right and proper that you leave?

So civil disobedience has no purpose? If you don't like a law and have the means to go somewhere else it's right and proper that you leave?

 

I'm a big believer in civil disobedience. It's one of the greatest gifts we have as citizens.

 

This guy just bothers me.

^Why?

^Why?

 

Maybe it's generational. Regardless of who the President is he is STILL the President and anytime he wants to recognize any group/team I'm a member of I'm there with everyone else. It's a matter of respect basically.

Maybe it's generational. Regardless of who the President is he is STILL the President and anytime he wants to recognize any group/team I'm a member of I'm there with everyone else. It's a matter of respect basically.

 

So you basically don't like this guy because he's standing up for what he believes in...

Nah. He's chosen to make a statement and has elected to pass up a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in order to make that statement about his convictions. What's more American than that?

 

This.

So you basically don't like this guy because he's standing up for what he believes in...

 

Incorrect. You didn't read what I posted.

I've got no problem with this. I wouldn't want to meet Obama and shake his hand either. I don't like him; I don't like his politics. It would be hypocritical, in my opinion, to throw my values and beliefs out the window just to say I met the POTUS.

 

Maybe it's generational. Regardless of who the President is he is STILL the President and anytime he wants to recognize any group/team I'm a member of I'm there with everyone else. It's a matter of respect basically.

 

I agree! Even though I was not a fan of W, if I had the chance to meet him I would have. I did meet Chaney though. They held the office, and I respect those offices!

 

Also, what is wrong with him saying God bless to someone? Every day when I pray I forgive those who may have wronged me, as well as ask God to forgive and bless them. Are we not still expected to do this?

Big difference in asking Gods blessings on them vs asking God to forgive them.

The appropriate Christian Response to abortion is not political activism. Politics does not change hearts and minds. If you are a Christian, and you want to protest abortion, try committing an act of love. Adopting a child, or supporting parents that have made a difficult choice to raise a child when there were pressures to do otherwise would be a good place to start.