IOWA CATHOLICS WORKING FOR OBAMA VICTORY

IOWA CATHOLICS FOR OBAMA ANNOUNCE CO-CHAIRS

DES MOINES – Obama for America today announced the campaign’s new Iowa Catholics for Obama Co-Chairs, supporters who recognize the President’s record of leading with values and fighting for so many of the priorities and policies that Catholics hold dear. This group is made up of Catholic leaders and grassroots supporters from Iowa who are committed to helping our country continue to move in the right direction.

Since day one, President Obama has advanced policies and programs that help American families, working in partnership with faith-based and community organizations. From fighting for health insurance reform so no family will have to worry about how to make ends meet in the face of illness or disease, to supporting tax reform in which everyone pays their fair share, to ensuring every child has access to a good education, President Obama believes that we are our brother and sister’s keeper. The President strongly believes that we have a responsibility to help those less fortunate than ourselves because helping hardworking Americans succeed is part of what defines us as a nation. The Obama Administration has consistently partnered with Catholic non-profits like Catholic Charities and Catholic Relief Services to serve those in need—financial partnerships totaling over $1.5 billion over the past two years to aid these organizations in their important work.

“President Obama believes that we are in this together and that we are greater together than we are on our own. Catholics are supporting President Obama because he understands the importance of an active faith in pursuit of the common good – something he has lived his life by and that has served him over the course of his career in public service. The President’s record, character and values make the choice in this election incredibly stark and clear,” said Broderick Johnson, who leads the campaign’s outreach efforts with Catholics.

For more information, please visit http://www.barackobama.com/catholics where you will find a letter from the Catholics for Obama National Co-Chairs highlighting the President’s commitment to moving our country forward.

Iowa Catholics for Obama Co-Chairs:

Former First Lady of Iowa Mari Culver, Des Moines

State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald, Waukee

State Representative Pat Murphy, Dubuque

Ken Kraus, Dubuque

Jennifer Herrington, Clarinda

Jesus in Tampa?

LA TImes: Paul Ryan's budget logic is quandary for some Catholics

His faith is devout, but church leaders worry about plans that could cut the safety net for the poor.


...the former altar boy also cites church teaching in explaining his positions on government spending, deficit reduction and entitlements — the issues that have catapulted his rapid rise....

Such statements have raised the ire of some Roman Catholics who argue the Wisconsin Republican is twisting church teachings on caring for the poor and shielding the vulnerable to justify cutting the social safety net......

it is the Ryan budget — with its steep cuts to food stamps, healthcare for children and the disabled, and social programs, while sparing the Pentagon — that has put him at odds with some in his church.

Catholic nuns made a multistate bus tour this summer to bring attention to the harm they say the Ryan budget would cause the poor communities they serve and the "enormous moral choices facing our country."

In an unusually pointed correspondence, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops urged lawmakers to consider the moral implications of their actions as they prepared to vote on the Ryan budget.

"We join with other Christian leaders in calling for a 'circle of protection' around our brothers and sisters at home and abroad who are poor and vulnerable," the bishops wrote in the spring. They said the "moral measure" of the debate "is not which party wins or which powerful interests prevail, but rather how those who are jobless, hungry, homeless or poor are treated."

Ryan took on the criticism with a forceful defense of his policies.

"I suppose there are some Catholics who for a long time have thought they had a monopoly of sorts … not exactly on heaven, but on the social teaching of our church," Ryan said in a speech at Georgetown University. "Of course there can be differences among faithful Catholics on this."

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-ryan-catholic-20120813,0,3516069.story

Romney Picks Ayn Rand Disciple for Veep

"The reason I got involved in public service, by and large, if I had to credit one thinker, one person, it would be Ayn Rand." -Paul Ryan

" Faith, as such, is extremely detrimental to human life: it is the negation of reason." -- Ayn Rand

President Obama to be honored guest at Al Smith Dinner

                                                                 OR

Catholic Right in Meltdown of Rage at Cardinal Dolan’s Invitation

Judie Brown, a right wing activist has demanded that Catholic Charities, known for freely feeding whoever comes to them, give “no dinner for Obama.” According to Judie, “Cardinal Dolan’s invitation to Obama is an outrage.” Others have called Cardinal Dolan “scandalous” and the Right-wing and sometimes racist “Catholic Culture” website fears this will help continue the strong support the President has among many Catholics.

The reaction is further evidence that too much of the Catholic Right is based on hate and extremism.

The Archdiocese of New York has ignored and belittled the critics.

We May Run This Again in March

OBAMA WINNING CATHOLIC VOTE

OBAMA LEADS WITH CATHOLICS IN NEW POLL

A new Pew Research poll shows President Obama with a widening lead over Mitt Romney, with 51% of Catholic voters supporting the President and only 42% saying they intend to vote for Romney.  The President's nine point lead over the millionaire businessman showS the Catholic vote leaning the President's way even during a time of partisan attacks on him by right-wing elements in the Church. 

While the poll is an encouraging sign for Democratic efforts, with more than three months befor the election, our work must continue, particularly among Catholics for Obama efforts in each diocese.