CATHOLICS FOR OBAMA BIDEN

A LETTER FROM THE NATIONAL CATHOLICS FOR OBAMA COMMITTEE

In 2008, Catholics from all walks of life and backgrounds came together to help elect Barack Obama as President of the United States. Today, we join together as Catholics who are committed to our faith and our country to endorse President Obama for re-election.

We endorse the President because of his tireless focus on economic security for middle-class families. President Obama is committed to the basic promise of our country: If you work hard and play by the rules, you can build a good life for yourself and your family. The President cut taxes for the average middle-class family by $3,600 in his first term. He has saved over a million American jobs in the auto industry, shielding countless families from heartache and bankruptcy. Despite inheriting the worst economic crisis in a generation, the President extended unemployment insurance to those hit hardest, providing a lifeline for millions of our nation's families. And, after a decades-long struggle, President Obama signed into law health reform that enhances the security and welfare of every American family.

As Catholics, we believe that every human being is made in the image of God. From this we discern that, individually and as a nation, we share a moral obligation to care for one another. As the President has so passionately affirmed throughout his career: “I am my brother’s keeper. I am my sister’s keeper.” The President has upheld and advanced this principle in many ways, including his support for pregnant women and the Adoption Tax Credit, and his pursuit of immigration reform. We are proud of the President for his opposition to the budget proposed by Rep. Paul Ryan, embraced by Republicans in Congress, and heartily endorsed by Mitt Romney. The Republican plan would shred our nation’s compassionate safety net, gutting Medicare, food assistance programs, Head Start, and many other programs—all while cutting taxes for the wealthy.

Finally, we endorse the President because he has led with our values abroad, proving that America can lead in the world with both power and principle. The President opposed the war in Iraq from the beginning, and as president, he kept his promise to bring the war to a responsible end and is now working to bring our troops home from Afghanistan by the end of 2014. He signed the New START treaty—a priority for Catholic bishops around the world—moving us closer to a world with no nuclear weapons.

President Obama understands Catholics and our values, because he understands the importance of an active faith in pursuit of the common good. This has guided him from his work with Catholic churches on the South Side of Chicago through his career as a public servant.

The President is right: This is a make-or-break moment for the middle-class, and it is a make-or-break moment for America. President Obama’s record, his character, and his values make the choice in this election clear. We are proud to stand with the President, and we look forward to joining millions of Catholics in this country in casting our vote for Barack Obama.



Sincerely,

Catholics for Obama National Co-Chairs

http://www.barackobama.com/catholics/meet-us