Democratic faithful tour Ohio citing party values

Obama Faith Tour Reaches Ohio

Effort seeks to spread its message of service to people of every faith

Summit County Councilman Frank Comunale wore a Catholics for Obama button and listened intently as [Pro-life former Congressman Tim ]Roemer described Obama as a man who lives out his faith by what he does.

''I'm a person of faith and in the true sense of Catholic social teaching, Barack Obama and Joe Biden resonate with the things that are most sacred to me — protecting and educating children, instilling them with hope and faith and being zealous about protecting them their whole lives,'' Comunale said. ''When he's elected president, we will have the first community organizer in the White House.''

In addition to Roemer, the tour includes conversations with Catholic Pepperdine University professor Doug Kmiec and evangelical leader Don Miller, who spent time at Kenyon College in Gambier; Denison University in Granville; Ohio State University and Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware on Thursday.

http://www.ohio.com/news/30733684.html

McCain Campaign Getting Ugly

Cultivating Prejudice, Racism, Fear and Ugliness.

The McCain campaign is on the ropes, and sadly it's no surprise they're responding with attacks and outright lies. Some pretty unspeakable things have been said in the past few days -- deeply offensive smears that we'll hear over and over again until Election Day. John McCain and Governor Palin are setting a new low in presidential politics with their dishonorable campaign.

Some of the comments by McCain supporters are not things for the faint-hearted. At a campaign rally in Ohio with Sarah Palin, one supporter make the clearly racist remark that "Obama has the bloodlines of a terrorist."

At a Clearwater, Florida rally with Sarah Palin, one supporter shouted a racial epithet at an African American sound man for a network and told him, "Sit down, boy."

At another rally, a McCain supporter called out "kill him" akin to the crowd in Jerusalem asking for Barabbas' release (so much for pro-life).

In Wisconsin, supporters at a rally with McCain used obscene gestures. A man having a temper fit was applauded by the crowd.

One commentator noted that "If [McCain strategist] Steve Schmidt and the other architects of this increasingly disgraceful candidacy didn't anticipate such an outpouring of violent, racist bile, they are imbeciles. If they did, they are worse."

The Washington Monthly's Steve Benen writes: "McCain/Palin have reached a point where they have to decide whether whipping right-wing activists into a frenzy, based solely on lies, is the responsible way to seek national office. The Republican candidates are not literally calling for violence against their political rivals, but they're nevertheless standing by, saying nothing, while their supporters are shouting words like 'kill,' 'terrorist,' and 'treason' at their rallies. And given that this rage-filled hatred is in direct response to the McCain/Palin campaign lying to their supporters, now would be the ideal time for these candidates to take a look in the mirror and consider the consequences of a relentlessly negative, breathtakingly dishonest, anger-driven campaign."

John Cole observed: "The base is reacting. Whipped into a froth by their venomous cheerleading vice-jingoist in chief, a self-styled pitbull in heels, they are now shouting 'treason' and 'traitor' and even getting one fellow inspired enough to yell 'kill him."

• The Atlantic's Ta-Nehisi Coates says: "[McCain and Palin] should be shook by the people they're attracting. We are getting a good look at the elements of the base now. These are not people just posting anonymously in internet forums -- these are people who literally believe Obama is a terrorist and showing up at rallies. [McCain and Palin] need to watch what they say. Somewhere, slumbering in this country, there are men who aren't clued in that this whole 'terrorist' thing is mere strategy. They have guns, and all their lives they've wanted to be famous. Don't give them a reason. This is still America. We are never that far from the past."

Blogger Jack Turner writes: "I was at Obama's rally at Independence Square in Philadelphia back in April. When he mentioned Hillary Clinton's name, the crowd booed, and he told them to stop. Barack Obama intervened when his supporters booed his opponent. He called for civility. Yet, when faced with supporters who label senators terrorists and call for their assassination, John McCain and Sarah Palin said nothing. This is how evil spreads, from domestic violence to genocide. People in a position to stop it choose to do nothing."

and "Everything we need to know about John McCain and Sarah Palin is summed up by their reaction to these incidents. [...] Not only do they bring out the worst in people, but they feed the worst in people. They are basing their campaign on painting Obama as a terrorist and monster. They are cultivating prejudice, racism, fear and ugliness. America has been down this path before, and it is the exact opposite of what this country needs right now."

As Catholics for Obama - Biden, this is a time for us more than ever to turn to the comfort of our faith and prayer. We need to respond to this hatred with love. We need to seek strength from prayer -- the Daily Office, the Rosary and, above all, Holy Mass -- and from meditation on Scripture and the spiritual works of the Church Fathers.

It is likely to get worse in the coming days. But the answer is to return hate with love.

Our Work Bears Fruit

OBAMA SURGES WITH CATHOLICS

The efforts of so many faithful Catholics (please see many of the fine organizations linked along the right hand side of this blog) and other people of good will, Barack Obama and Joe Biden have surged to an 11 point lead in the latest poll conducted by 'Faith in Public Life'. 51% of Catholics say they will vote for Obama, with only 40% for McCain. This is 16 points ahead of John Kerry's performance with Catholics four years ago. Among young Catholics (ages 18-34) 55% say they will vote for Obama.

Also interesting in the poll was that while past surveys have consistently found that the Republican Party has been perceived to be more “friendly” to religion, it found that Obama is perceived to be slightly more “friendly” to religion than McCain (49% to 45%).

The increasing Catholic support for Obama has put states such as Minnesota, Michigan, New Mexico, Iowa and Pennsylvania in the category of very likely to vote for Obama. Remaining battleground states with large Catholic populations include New Hampshire, Florida, Ohio, Indiana and Nevada.

Black Catholics Excited About Obama's Campaign

Black Catholics see Obama candidacy as a path to racial equality

Catholic News Service recently wrote of how many African American Roman Catholics are excited about the historic presidential campaign of barack Obama.

Father Bryan N. Massingale, S.J., an associate professor of theology at Jesuit-run Marquette University in Milwaukee, warned that bias is still a reality today

Shirley Harris-Slaughter, 62, a black parishioner of Presentation/Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Detroit noted that African American are thankful Obama can overcome the very real racism that exists today.

Though black Catholics from across the U.S. told Catholic News Service they believe many black voters connect with Obama in part because of the color of his skin, they stressed that most are inspired by the 47-year-old senator for the same reason millions of Americans from many ethnic groups are enamored with him.

"Exposure to more positive black role models may provide white Americans with affirmative opinions of that segment of U.S. society, said Deacon Steven C. Rubio, a black Catholic who ministers at St. Matthew and St. Ambrose parishes in Baltimore."I think when you look at the images where most of us garner our information, which is mostly what is televised on the evening news, the amount of imagery that white America sees about black Americans is about crime," Deacon Rubio said. "When you are constantly fed a diet about a group of people, you are going to form a negative image of that group."By stressing the Catholic Church's teaching that racial inequality is a sin, the church can help promote harmony among all ethnic groups, he said.In their 2007 statement, "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship," the U.S. Catholic bishops called for an end to racial inequality."It is important for our society to continue to combat discrimination based on race, religion, sex, ethnicity, disabling condition or age, as these are grave injustices and affronts to human dignity," the statement reads. "Where the effects of past discrimination persist, society has the obligation to take positive steps to overcome the legacy of injustice, including vigorous action to remove barriers to education and equal employment for women and minorities."

Beverly A. Carroll, assistant director of cultural diversity for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, and a black parishioner at St. Peter Claver in Baltimore says that "Racism has to be considered as a life issue too."

Polls are showing that over 90% of African American Catholics intend on voting for Barack Obama. Black Catholics are providing critical support in such battleground states as Pennsylvania, Virginia, Florida, Ohio and Missouri. Supporters of Senator Obama have worked to help with voter registration drives at historically Black Catholic parishes. Non-partisan efforts are also underway at many of these parishes to make sure that all of their parishioners vote on election day (or before in early voting).

Yet Again, A Pro-Life Catholic Scholar Endorses Obama

Dr. Callahan is an author, lecturer, college professor and licensed psychologist. Her most recent book is Created for Joy: A Christian View of Suffering. This article appeared in American magazine, a national weekly published by the Jesuits.

Why Catholic Pro Lifers will vote for Obama

Dr. Sidney Callahan

Why am I as a 'mass going' staunchly pro life Catholic, voting for Obama? Of course I disagree with his views on Roe vs Wade, but I think that his policies and programs more comprehensively follow Catholic social teaching than McCain's--and they even result in fewer abortions.
There's a lot of evidence that providing aid and support for women, children and the poor, lowers the number of abortions. Pro lifers can choose to see present results rather than repeating exhortations for the future.

After all, to roll back and change laws in a democracy, the legislators, the courts and the majority of voters have to be convinced, and this process of moral reorientation on abortion can be a slow process. Think of the arguments you have with your friends and family.

In the interim, when immediate overthrow of a flawed law is impossible it is morally permissible, as John Paul II expresses it, to recognize "the art of the possible" and try to "limit the harm done by such a law."

Moreover, Catholic pro life advocates for Obama desperately want to limit the grave moral evils and dangers to life arising from pursuing preemptive wars, defending the use of torture, continuing the death penalty, and flouting of Constitutional and international law. As billions are spent on the destructive Iraq war, the needs of the poor, the ill and the schools are neglected, and the whole economic system falters....

for the rest of the article, go here: http://www.americamagazine.org/

Obama Prepares for Al Smith Dinner

McCain and Obama to Appear at Al Smith Dinner

Other than the presidential debates, the remaining joint appearance of the top presidential contenders will be the Archdiocese of New York's annual Al Smith Dinner on October 16th. Unlike the debates, the candidates will be wearing tuxedos.

Senator Obama gladly accepted the invitation from the Archdiocese to appear at the dinner and help raise money for New York Catholic Charities. The dinner is a charitable and social event and doesn't present much of a chance for the candidates to campaign as Obama is certain to win New York State. Like with McCain's recent withdrawal from Michigan, there is no active McCain effort to win Connecticut or New Jersey, the neighboring states in the New York City media market.

Barack Obama, who once worked as a community organizer for a Catholic sponsored project, is the first presidential candidate who once had his office in a rectory.

Al Smith was the Democratic nominee for President in 1928 and Governor of New York State. The Republicans referred to him as a "rum-soaked Romanist."

Another Catholic Legal Scholar Endorses Obama

Pro-Life Pittsburgh Catholic Scholar Cafardi Backs Obama

Professor Nicholas Cafardi, a civil and canon lawyer who is a professor and former dean at Duquesne University School of Law, a Catholic university in Pittsburgh, PA, has become the most recent pro-life Catholic legal scholar to endorse Barack Obama for president. He is also a trustee of Franciscan University of Stuebenville (FUS).

Professor Cafardi is no lightweight in Catholic legal thinking and served as legal counsel to the diocese of Pittsburgh for 13 years. He addresses the abortion issue directly and up front. Then he continues to remind us that in 2003, then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) said flatly that "reasons sufficient for unleashing a war against Iraq did not exist." McCain voted for it; Obama opposed it.

He concludes: "I have informed my conscience. I have weighed the facts. I have used my prudential judgment. And I conclude that it is a proper moral choice for this Catholic to support Barack Obama's candidacy."

Amen, brother. Read the whole story here:

http://ncronline3.org/drupal/?q=node/2058