CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR LEADS EFFORT FOR OBAMA

CATHOLIC EDUCATOR EDUCATES VOTERS TOO

Professor Stephen Schneck, of the Catholic University of America, our national Pontifical university, is the subject of a news article in CUA's student paper. 

The article reads:

Stephen Schneck, professor of political science and director of the University’s Institute for Public Policy and Catholic Studies (IPC) and the acting dean of social work does not limit his public influence to his professional career: he is also a co-chairman for Catholics for Obama.

Schneck actively campaigns with the Catholics for Obama campaign team, which includes Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, Illinois Senator Dick Durbin and 18 others, and will travel all over the country in the upcoming weeks giving speeches on why Catholics should reelect President Barack Obama in November.
...

Victor Nakas, associate vice president for public affairs, said that Schneck’s actions are not a conflict of interest and are in line with the University and the Catholic Church’s stance that individuals are called to participate in the public sphere.

...
Schneck has not been quiet about his political beliefs and how he reconciles his faith with his party affiliation, especially on the subject of abortion and religious freedom.

He gave interviews to both EWTN and PBS describing his belief that it was actually more in line with Catholic teaching on abortion to vote for Obama

read the full story here: http://www.cuatower.com/news/2012/09/27/university-professor-leads-catholics-for-obama/

BARACK OBAMA ON FAITH

Barack Obama’s life and leadership is grounded in his own Christian faith, as well as his experiences working and serving with people of faith who are pursuing the common good. His mother was a deeply spiritual individual who instilled in him the values of service and empathy that drew him to public service.

As a young man, the President chose a different path than many of his peers. He decided to use his experiences and talents to serve as a community organizer, and with the help of grants from the CatholiCampaign for Human Development, he worked with local churches to help families who were struggling in the shadow of closed-down steel mills. From the very start of his career, President Obama witnessed the robust role that faith plays in American life:

And something else happened during the time I spent in these neighborhoods—perhaps because the church folks I worked with were so welcoming and understanding; perhaps because they invited me to their services and sang with me from their hymnals; perhaps because I was really broke and they fed me. Perhaps because I witnessed all of the good works their faith inspired them to perform, I found myself drawn not just to the work with the church; I was drawn to be in the church. It was through this service that I was brought to Christ.

—Barack Obama

Another person also became central in his life—Michelle, his wife and his “rock.” Together, they started a family and are raising two beautiful daughters. The President has said that his role as a father is the most important job that he has.

The President’s faith has sustained him in his journey from Chicago to the White House, and he has sought to live out his faith while improving the lives of the American people:

Treating others as you want to be treated. Requiring much from those who have been given so much. Living by the principle that we are our brother’s keeper. Caring for the poor and those in need. These values are old. They can be found in many denominations and many faiths, among many believers and among many non-believers. And they are values that have always made this country great—when we live up to them; when we don’t just give lip service to them; when we don’t just talk about them one day a year. And they’re the ones that have defined my own faith journey.

And today, with as many challenges as we face, these are the values I believe we’re going to have to return to in the hopes that God will buttress our efforts.

—Barack Obama

PARISH VOTER REGISTRATION EFFORTS

CATHOLIC VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVES

AN IMPORTANT PRIORITY

Many Catholic parishes are holding voter registration drives to help enroll parishioners as registered voters.  This is perfectly legal.  No law prohibits Catholic parishes, organizations, schools or other facilities from holding non-partisan voter registration drives.  Because deadlines are approaching, these drives need to be planned and implemented soon.

Catholics for Obama across the country are volunteering to help parishes in these drives.  Of course, it is most important that Catholics in congregations that are mostly minority, low income, working class or part of the 47% conduct these drives.  It is a Catholic good work to help those who have not been fully included and empowered in society to participate in the political process.

These drives must be strictly non-partisan and not try to instruct people how to vote or pick and choose who they will register.  To do so is a violation of the law and will endanger your parish's tax status and good standing with the Catholic Church.

However, we know that most Catholics are planning to vote for Obama.  That alone makes these drives important and useful in re-electing the President.  When they are in minority or "47%" parishes, it will be even more helping in bringing in more votes for Obama.

Even in affluent, conservative, only whites parishes, research has shown that while these parishes might mostly vote Republicans, the subset of those who are not registered to vote still lean towards Obama.  So no matter what kind of parish you are in, the voter registration drive is helpful to the President's election.

OBAMA SURGES AHEAD AMONG CATHOLICS

CATHOLICS FOR OBAMA EFFORTS SEE SUCCESS

According to a new poll by Pew Research, the Catholic flock is flocking to President Obama in huge numbers.  Among all registered voters, Obama leads Romney 51-42 percent, according to Pew.  For Romney, this is a five point decline from summer even though since then he selected a Catholic as his running mate (as is Vice President Joe Biden).

Right-wing Catholic groups have generally followed the same failed strategy they used in 2008 when they miserably lost the Catholic vote to Barack Obama.  Efforts have almost exclusive focused on getting conservative Catholics angry and riled up against the President and making harsh judgments on the faith and spirituality of Catholics who are undecided or who consider their vote a personal discernment.

These tactics have only alienated undecided Catholics and caused conservative Catholics to put an ugly face on their political activism. Catholic Democrats in turn have been respectful of the moral ability of good Catholics to vote either way, while making polite case for our candidates.

More information here:

http://www.religionnews.com/politics/election/poll-obama-surges-ahead-among-catholic-voters

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

NOTRE DAME INVITES PRESIDENT OBAMA; MITT ROMNEY INVITED TO SPEAK ON CAMPUS

PRESIDENT INVITED TO RETURN TO THE FIGHTING IRISH

The University of Notre Dame announced Monday that University president Fr. John Jenkins CSC, and student body president Brett Rocheleau have extended invitations to President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate W. Mitt Romney to speak on campus during the fall election campaign.

If President Obama is able to schedule a visit, it will be a return for him to the campus of one of the nation's leading Catholic universities from when he was awarded an honorary doctorate by Notre Dame.  At that time, President Obama spoke to the graduating class that welcomed him with warm enthusiasm.

President Obama continues to enjoy strong support among Catholic university students and employees.  The President has also received an honorary degree from Xavier University of Louisiana and has spoken at Georgetown University. 

PROTECT OUR PARISHES

THE TABERNACLE OF THE LORD,

NOT THE PARTY CLUBHOUSE

Earlier this month, a priest in the Archdiocese of New York included an endorsement of Mitt Romney in the Sunday bulletin.

Including an endorsement of a presidential candidate in the Sunday bulletin isn’t just illegal, it violates the sacred space of our sanctuaries. 40,000 Catholics and people of faith signed a petition asking Cardinal Dolan to clarify church policy that partisan politics has no place in the Catholic Mass.

The Mass is a time for us to reflect, pray, and worship God, not hear partisan political messages. As we get closer to election day, we could be seeing this in other parishes.  Either outright endorsements or partisan biased "Voter Guides." 

Our friends at Catholics United will be conducting a campaign to protect our parishes.  Anyone who becomes aware of inappropriate actions, fliers or bulletin announcements in their parish is urged to contact Jason Miller, Catholics United's parish protection coordinator at jmiller@catholic-united.org. 

Quick and speedy exposure of these actions are critically important.