Pubdate: Sat, 21 Jun 2014
Source: Boston Herald (MA)
Copyright: 2014 The Boston Herald, Inc
Contact:  http://news.bostonherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/53
Note: Prints only very short LTEs.
Author: Raymond L. Flynn
Note: Raymond L. Flynn is the former mayor of Boston and former U.S. 
ambassador to the Vatican.
Page: 4

IT'S TIME FOR US TO JUST SAY NO TO LEGALIZATION

Pope Francis was spot on when he told the International Drug 
Enforcement Conference in Rome, "The growing worldwide trend by 
lawmakers toward legalizing recreational drugs is a very, very bad idea."

Of course it is, but politicians, as usual, continue to pander to a 
small but militant group of misguided political activists who are 
pushing to legalize marijuana here in Massachusetts and across the 
country. And these activists unfortunately have way too much 
influence in our increasingly secular culture in America today.

We're becoming a culture that ignores the question of whether 
something is right or wrong in favor of whether it feels good. 
Cultural elites pushing the legalization of marijuana have become a 
new powerful political force in America.

They have the organizational skills, the money, the Hollywood crowd, 
and many in the national media behind them in their efforts to 
influence our elected officials.

Just a decade ago, the thought of legalizing recreational drugs was 
unthinkable. But politicians have lost their spine and refuse to 
stand up to these elites for what is right and moral. They play 
follow the leader and show no independence, no moral backbone. It's 
all about what's politically correct.

Well, Pope Francis and the Catholic Church don't have to play that 
hypocritical shell game. This pope doesn't care what the polls say or 
what Hollywood or the media think.

But unfortunately, money, the media and powerful special-interest 
groups are what determines elections today.

Ask any politician, would you want your teenager buying drugs legally 
over the counter? Of course they would say no. So why would they vote 
to allow my grandchildren to?

When Pope Francis said, "Drug addiction is an evil, and with evil 
there can be no yielding or compromise," he was sending a message not 
just to lawmakers, but to all of us. He was saying people need to 
stop voting based on their selfish appetites, and start voting for 
what is best for America. He is also saying we should stop supporting 
politicians who refuse to stand up for the moral well-being and 
safety of our children.

The pope will certainly hear from his enemies, but what about you? 
Even if he's the only prominent person in the world saying it, will 
you stand with him?
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom