Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Catholics Bring New Energy to the Obama Campaign


The growing support of members of the Catholic faith for Barack Obama and Joe Biden is encouraging. According to recent polls, the rise in Catholic support for the Democratic nominee compared to four years ago has moved two states from "red" to "blue."

But the other half of the story is not just votes but the incredible energy and volunteer committment from Catholics. An earlier post wrote of the fantastic efforts of students at Catholic University of America. A large group of students at this previously Republican leaning school are volunteering in Virginia to help elect Obama.

Catholics United, Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, Catholic Democrats, Roman Catholics for Obama -Biden '09 and other groups are educating voters as to how Catholic social teaching applies to a range of issues, from war to the safety net for the poor.

Father Thomas Reese recently spoke about how Joe Biden is winning Catholic votes. “Biden is a real Catholic from a working-class background who’s comfortable talking to high-school-educated people. This is the most important swing vote” said Reese.

Obama's success with Catholic voters is shown in that McCain and the Republicans continue to direct their efforts to a narrow and narrower group of Catholics. They have already written off most minority Catholics. Republicans have so forgotten about non-white Catholics that when they speak of their performance with the Catholic vote they are really citing poll results of whites only Catholics.

13 comments:

Rustler45 said...

"The growing support of members of the Catholic faith for Barack Obama and Joe Biden is encouraging. According to recent polls, the rise in Catholic support for the Democratic nominee compared to four years ago has moved two states from "red" to "blue."

A TOTAL FABRICATION!

Rustler45 said...

The left is always manipulating the "polls" to make them say what they want to hear and attempt to sway the ignorant.

CatholicsForDemocracy said...

"A TOTAL FABRICATION!"

"The left is always manipulating the 'polls' to make them say what they want to hear and attempt to sway the ignorant."

If your assertion is true, you have nothing to be afraid of, Rustler. After all, polls reflect what people are thinking. If these poll claims are fabricated, then you're sitting pretty well and have no reason to pop off.

By the way, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't you just call the undecided voter, "ignorant"?

Rustler45 said...

DEMOMARXIST SAID: "By the way, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't you just call the undecided voter, "ignorant"?"

No, I called the ignorant "ignorant." You don't read very well do you?

And yes, you are usually wrong.

CatholicsForDemocracy said...

Rustler,

As usual, you came across as the most intellectual and most mature among us. Thank goodness you are here to set straight we ignorant folk.

Anonymous said...

September 25, 2008

To Whom it May Concern:

As a Catholic and a supporter of Barack Obama let me express my disappointment that some local parishes are distributing the “Voters Guide for Serious Catholics” by Catholic Answers Action, as well as other partisan political publications.

It appears this slick publication is nothing but partisan propaganda masquerading as Catholic literature. Unfortunately, this and other pamphlets are full of deceptive lies, clearly intended to paint the false picture that Catholic voters must support John McCain for President and Republicans for elected office. I challenge all of you to find a definitive statement from the Diocese or from the Church that voting for the “wrong” or “Democratic” candidate - on its own - is morally wrong, a sin, or in violation of Church teaching. Voters are free to choose whomever they see fit, based on good faith, real facts, and a well-formed conscience. People of good conscience and good intent will come to different conclusions.

I support Barack Obama and the change we need because our nation is on the wrong track economically, in foreign affairs, and in all of the areas we care about - including war, poverty, education, health care, the environment and — the sanctity of human life. Voting for failed policies, incompetence, corruption, greed, dishonesty, and the increasingly extreme, out of touch, out of the mainstream views of today’s Republican Party - is not mandatory in the Catholic Church - in spite of what some extreme conservatives want to believe. The extremists have a right to their own opinions, but not a right to their own facts. On the five subjects some argue are “Non-Negotiable” one should consider the following factual arguments and analysis. I humbly offer these as a rebuttal to these so-called “voters guides.”

1. Abortion: Barack Obama seeks sensible and pragmatic policies to dramatically reduce the number of abortions in America. He does not support jailing women who tragically choose abortion to end a crisis pregnancy - nor does he believe this approach will achieve anything but negative unintended consequences - including a return to the dark days of back-alley abortions. Women in crisis pregnancies need help, not a warrant for their arrest, or the mean-spirited label “Baby Killer.” This is the mainstream view of most Americans and most Catholics. John McCain supports the same failed policy of giving lip service to pro-life politics, and the false promise that making abortions illegal will adequately protect the unborn. For decades this strategy - talking about making abortion illegal - has succeeded in winning elections - but failed miserably in protecting unborn children. It is time for a change. 2. Euthanasia: Barack Obama, as well as most Americans, believe the responsibility to make end of life decisions largely belongs to patients, doctors and their families. Politics should play no role. Neither Barack Obama nor John McCain support euthanasia, and there is no credible evidence that either of them have supported it in the past. Both Barack Obama and John McCain expressed regret that the US Congress became involved with the Terry Schiavo case. Most Americans believed that extremist politics made a tragic situation even worse. 3. Stem Cell Research: Both Barack Obama and John McCain support medical research - including embryonic stem cell research - to help find cures for disease. Both have supported it in the past. Both of them - as well as most Americans - largely trust our best scientists - and not the government and politicians - to deal with complex ethical and biological issues such as this. 4. Human Cloning. Both Barack Obama and John McCain oppose human cloning and believe this practice crosses an ethical and moral line. Most Americans believe this is not an issue of significant controversy, and that human cloning should be prohibited. 5. Homosexual “Marriage”. Both John McCain and Barack Obama believe marriage is between a man and a woman and do not seek to legalize same-sex marriage. Both oppose a U.S. Constitutional Amendment to “ban” same sex marriage. Both have expressed support for same- sex “civil unions” to give same-sex couples equal protection, including the right to visit a partner in a hospital. Most Americans believe in a “live and let live” policy to same-sex couples. Most Americans believe all people - regardless of sexual orientation - should be treated with equality, respect and human dignity.

Please think for yourself and don’t let any “Voter Guide” do the thinking for you. And please consider joining many of your fellow Catholics in supporting the Obama-Biden ticket this fall.

Sincerely, ANOTHER CATHOLIC FOR OBAMA.

CatholicsForDemocracy said...

As a Catholic and a supporter of "Barack Obama let me express my disappointment that some local parishes are distributing the “Voters Guide for Serious Catholics” by Catholic Answers Action, as well as other partisan political publications.

"It appears this slick publication is nothing but partisan propaganda masquerading as Catholic literature."

This partisan propaganda rag is not only an "alternative" to the magisterium of the Church, it is in direct contradiction. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, representing the magisterium of the Church, have produced the official Catholic voter guide. Those wanting to know how to vote as Catholics should read it, not ones produced by those who think they're smarter and have greater teaching authority than our bishops, who are successors to the Apostles.

The official Catholic voter guide can be found here: http://www.usccb.org/faithfulcitizenship/FCStatement.pdf

CatholicsForDemocracy said...

By the way, www.faithfulcitizenship.org is the official website of the Catholic Communications Campaign; i.e. the official website addressing issues related to this election and to voting. That should be where "serious Catholics" turn, not to some partisan rag.

Rustler45 said...

DEMOMARXIST SAID: "The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, representing the magisterium of the Church, have produced the official Catholic voter guide."

Demo, is this the same group of bishops who decided to allow homosexuals into the seminaries and then when these same homosexuals began molesting our children they covered up for them? Of course it is. And when they tell me something that is representative of The Teaching Magisterium I will follow it.

Fact is, you have already shown to us that when they DO represent The Teaching Magisterium you will reject them (i.e., Archbishop Burke, Archbishop Chaput, Bishop Bruskewitz, etc., etc. who do represent the Teaching Magisterium). BTW the USCCB has no authority within the Catholic Church to do anything. Your knowledge is severely limited.

The USCCB did a great job on that little pamphlet until they put in that little caveat allowing voters to "vote their conscience" concerning "proportionate reasons."

THERE ARE NO PROPORTIONATE REASONS FOR VOTING OBAMA. I KNOW OF NONE AND HAVE ASKED KATHERINE SEVERAL TIMES TO TELL ME WHAT THEY ARE.

KNOW WHAT? SHE CANNOT PRODUCE ANY. THAT'S BECAUSE THERE AREN'T ANY. PERIOD.

CatholicsForDemocracy said...

"THERE ARE NO PROPORTIONATE REASONS FOR VOTING OBAMA. I KNOW OF NONE AND HAVE ASKED KATHERINE SEVERAL TIMES TO TELL ME WHAT THEY ARE.

"KNOW WHAT? SHE CANNOT PRODUCE ANY. THAT'S BECAUSE THERE AREN'T ANY. PERIOD."

There never will be any proportionate reasons in your mind because you don't want there to be.

The fact of the matter is that assessing proportionate reasons is a matter of personal conscience, guided by the moral truths of our faith. Many have decided, and have argued that, there are proportionate reasons to promote the candidacy of Barack Obama's candidacy, despite the fact he does not hold a position on abortion wholly desirable to us who oppose abortion.

Many reasons can be provided that you, personally, would not consider to be "proportionate reasons." That does not annul the "proportionate reasons" argument of Pope Benedict XVI.

You asked Katherine for examples of "proportionate reasons" and have suggested she supplied none; i.e. she supplied none that met to your personal satisfaction. So be it.

The onus, in this case, is on you to prove that there can be no proportionate reasons. After all, you're suggesting that anyone who votes otherwise than how you want them to vote is committing a grave moral evil; i.e. they're going to hell.

That is a very serious claim; and you have to prove that claim that people are risking hell, rather than ask others to prove they're not.

In matters of morality, politics does not rule, but sacred theology. You're manipulating sacred theology to attempt to leverage your political case.

Rustler45 said...

DEMO SAID: "There never will be any proportionate reasons in your mind because you don't want there to be."

Makes no difference what I want. The fact that neither you nor Katherine can prove your case by stating them is indication that there are none. In other words you cannot prove why a Catholic can vote for Obama in good conscience. Several of us have proved that a Catholic cannot vote for Obama and be in good conscience.

DEMO SAID: "The fact of the matter is that assessing proportionate reasons is a matter of personal conscience, guided by the moral truths of our faith."

But on the other hand you're saying that there is no way to do such a thing and put it into words that the rest of us can understand. You're delusional, doing double speak, and just plain BS-ing us. WE don't buy it.

DEMO SAID: "Many have decided, and have argued that, there are proportionate reasons to promote the candidacy of Barack Obama's candidacy..."

SO, WHAT ARE THEY?

DEMO SAID: "...despite the fact he does not hold a position on abortion wholly desirable to us who oppose abortion."

"Less desirable?" hahahahahahahahaha He is 100% pro-abortion and pro-infanticide. He doesn't equivicate on the issue so why are you doing it for him?

DEMO SAID: Many reasons can be provided that you, personally, would not consider to be "proportionate reasons."

You keep saying that, but you seemed to be ashamed of them. I can state clearly my proportionate reasons for voting for McCain.

Admit it. Your proportionate reasons won't hold water.

DEMO SAID: That does not annul the "proportionate reasons" argument of Pope Benedict XVI.

Nobody argued that. We're just saying that you don't have any. hahahahaha

DEMO SAID: You asked Katherine for examples of "proportionate reasons" and have suggested she supplied none; i.e. she supplied none that met to your personal satisfaction. So be it.

That makes you a liar. She supplied none, zip, nada, PERIOD. NONE. Get it? We'll never know whether they met my satisfaction or not now will we?

They don't exist.

DEMO SAID: The onus, in this case, is on you to prove that there can be no proportionate reasons.

I have proved there are none. I asked you and Katherine and you have NONE. You don't know much about debate do you? The onus is never on someone to prove something doesn't exist, only to prove that something does exist. Your political "science" degree isn't doing much for you. But I digress.

DEMO SAID: After all, you're suggesting that anyone who votes otherwise than how you want them to vote is committing a grave moral evil; i.e. they're going to hell.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA That's not going to get you off the hook. How I want is of no consequence. It's the truth that matters.

DEMO SAID: In matters of morality, politics does not rule, but sacred theology. You're manipulating sacred theology to attempt to leverage your political case.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAAAA Don't make me laugh. You have nothing. Now prove your ridiculous claim that I manipulate sacred theology.

Again you can't because you're a LIAR.

How many lies did you tell in this one post?????

CatholicsForDemocracy said...

"You have nothing. Now prove your ridiculous claim that I manipulate sacred theology.

"Again you can't because you're a LIAR."

I don't have to prove anything, you already laid out the evidence. Your writing and mine are both out in the open. The audience can read what you wrote and judge for themselves.

Rustler45 said...

DEMO DODGES THE BALL AGAIN: "I don't have to prove anything, you already laid out the evidence."

You're a know-nothing onusite (i.e., a boob). The onus is on you to prove what you say.

Again you are a liar. Evidence of what? You're the one that contends there are "proportionate reasons." There aren't any. Therefore you are proving my point.

DUMBO SAID: Your writing and mine are both out in the open. The audience can read what you wrote and judge for themselves.

They will have no problem seeing that you lied. Now whine some more dunce boy.

ATTENTION IN THIS BLOG: Demo admits there are no proportionate reasons to vote for that weeny with big ears.