New York Times reporter David Kirkpatrick reported on Tuesday that more Catholic Democrats and Hillary voters he studied in Scranton, Pennsylvania -- much touted as the scene of the Irish-Catholic upbringing of Joe Biden -- were leaning McCain after Catholic Democrats like Biden and Nancy Pelosi have been scolded by Catholic bishops for their proclamations about abortion on television. But Kirkpatrick tried to elide the issue of how abortion is a defining issue in Catholic teaching, while the other issues liberals tout are less important and doctrinal. Kirkpatrick began the story of young Matthew Figured, now moved to supporting McCain:
He had watched progressive Catholics work with the Democratic Party over the last four years to remind the faithful of the party's support for Catholic teaching on the Iraq war, immigration, health care and even reducing abortion rates.
But then his local bishop plunged into the fray, barring Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, from receiving communion in the area because of his support for abortion rights.
It's quite a stretch to imagine that Barack Obama - who advocated the "right to choose" death for children already born alive - could be matched with Catholic teaching on "reducing abortion rates." It's also a stretch to believe that Catholic teaching is synonymous with Obama's plan for socialized medicine or synonymous with amnesty for illegal immigrants. The church obviously teaches work for the poor, the sick, and the alien - but it doesn't automatically translate to a Democratic bumper sticker.
The Democrats, so accustomed to campaigning in black churches and enjoying the mingling of church and politics when it helps them, clearly loathe bishops speaking up on abortion and Catholic politicians:
Catholic Democrats outside the campaign have also worked hard to avoid repeating the experience of 2004, when a small group of outspoken bishops dominated news coverage of the church with criticism of Democratic Senator John Kerry focused on the single issue of abortion.
Oddly enough, Kirkpatrick suggested that Catholic Democrats should just shut up about church teachings:
Progressive Catholics complain that by wading into the history of church opposition to abortion - Mr. Biden brought up St. Thomas Aquinas, Ms. Pelosi discussed St. Augustine - Democratic officials are starting a distracting debate with the church hierarchy.
"Getting into Augustine and Aquinas - it is just not helpful," said Chris Korzen, executive director of Catholics United, a progressive Catholic group running television commercials that emphasize the church's social justice teachings. "It would be wise for them to focus on how policies they are going to implement as leaders are going to move forward the church teachings they say they believe in."
In other words, it would be wise of them to emphasize the piece of cafeteria Catholicism they still support - and avoid the issues on which they've completely rejected church teaching and support what the church defines as moral evils.
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.
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As a Catholic this is the
September 18, 2008 - 08:44 ET by taterAs a Catholic this is the number 1 reason why I'm not a democrat.
www.theholyrosary.org
"There is no problem, I tell you, no matter how difficult it is, that we can not resolve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary." -Sister Lucia
Same here.
September 18, 2008 - 09:09 ET by mjgSame here.
A Day of Rest for Evangelicals?
September 18, 2008 - 09:06 ET by GothampcLiberals took a day off from telling us Evangelicals we were wrong and decided to spend the day telling Catholics they are wrong? How generous of them to give us a day of rest. /sarc off
Don't worry, they haven't
September 18, 2008 - 09:30 ET by celatorDon't worry, they haven't forgotten about you...LOL. They'll beeee baaaaack.
The major media report only half the news. Why are they surprised they have only half the potential audience?
Tim, your idea of their
September 18, 2008 - 09:13 ET by motherbeltTim, your idea of their "Cafeteria Catholicism" is dead on. They would rather focus on the "social justice" issues of a "living wage" and "affordable housing" (affordable to whom? I ask) than talk about personal morality.
That would actually be a good thing, since Government can do something about those things. However, they want to be able to reference Church teaching to buttress their claim of a duty to take care of the poor, but they want Church teaching on issues of personal morality to be ignored.
They shouldn't be allowed to have it both ways.
And this isn't the main point of the post, but I have to say that I am sick to death of hearing that Joe Biden is from Scranton PA!
His family left there when he was 10 years old, for crying out loud! He
did NOT "grow up" in Scranton! They really think that people are going
to vote for Obama because Biden was "born" in Scranton. How stupid do
they think people are???
It's not just catholics
September 18, 2008 - 09:18 ET by c5thenThere are many many "Christians" of all persuasions and denominations that behave in 'cafeteria theology', wanting to practice what they feel comfortable with and wanting to ignore (or at least not be reminded of) those teachings and requirements that they are uncomfortable with.
Charity is a definite command for followers of the Messiah, however making the government "do it" by forcefully taking money from people (who do not beleive in charity) and spending it on what the government wants to is NOT charity.
Abortion is the murder of a baby. Support for a government that not only allows it for no reason what so ever, but funds it for poor people by using money forcefully taken from opponents of the practice is wrong and immoral. Voting for a politician who supports abortion is the same as aiding and abetting those murders.
If all christians simply voted only for pro-life candidates we would have not nearly as many problems as we do today. Because along with the liberal idea of abortion goes the liberal ideas of big government, high taxes, allowing illegal imigrants to flood over the borders, not drilling for our own oil, etc. etc.
Christians not voting for abortion supporting candidates, as the christian faith would demand, would virtually eliminate most democrats from being elected to local, state and federal positions.
c5, the Catholic
September 18, 2008 - 09:26 ET by motherbeltc5, the Catholic politicians have gotten a lot of attention lately because of the Communion issue. I think that's why this posting focused on that.
You are right; it involves all Christians. And in my comment, you could replace "Church" with the word "Christian" and I believe it would still make the same point.
the church is very
September 18, 2008 - 10:22 ET by TruthMongerthe church is very ill
even Billy Graham won't condemn abortion
lifelong democrat:(
Journalism is the opium of the liberals
Armchair theology
September 18, 2008 - 16:39 ET by GWHey MB-
I've always enjoyed reading your comments, but I respectfully disagree.
I think the reason Biden and Pelosi have gotten so much attention from the Bishops is because they treaded on the Bishops' turf. Biden and Pelosi tried to defend their position on abortion by referencing (incorrectly) Church teaching. The Bishops, who are the keepers of Church teaching, had to clarify Church teaching.
I still love your posts, though.
More Catholic than the Pope
September 18, 2008 - 09:28 ET by Dan LaHoodThis ticket is tailor made for Catholic voters, War Hero, Governor who lives her Faith grounded in the Catholic governing principle of subsidarity, Barack and "Where the Hell is my Rosary Joe" are the polar opposite. The Pope's visit and his call to defend the handicapped is working on Catholic Voters if only on a sub-concious level. That B&J are only down 10% with Catholics surprises me.
Anyone who has ever heard Santayana's famous quote about History repeating itself is condemned to repeat it.
I read an article the other
September 18, 2008 - 09:39 ET by celatorI read an article the other day--wish I could remember where--that described the growing movement of PRACTICING Catholics distancing themselves from the Obama/Biden ticket. According to the author the pro-abortion stance of that ticket was a key reason, as one might assume. But the author noted that Obama's absolutely shocking position to let a baby die after a botched abortion infuriated them (as it does most most people). They want nothing to do with that craziness. Same with Evangelicals, I'm sure, as well as Orthodox Jews and other people not neccesarily of a faith tradition who recognize murder when they see it.
The major media report only half the news. Why are they surprised they have only half the potential audience?
oxymoron = New York Times and Church
September 18, 2008 - 11:28 ET by regimeofterrorSaddam Hussein and terrorism. The rest of the story...
http://www.regimeoft...
Santayana's quote
September 18, 2008 - 12:00 ET by Wolfrem"Anyone who has ever heard Santayana's famous quote about History repeating itself is condemned to repeat it."
(Grins) That has been my tag line here for over two years.
"Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it." - George Santayana
Dunce caps
September 18, 2008 - 11:32 ET by KC MulvilleThis is what these weasels always do. They try to broaden the principle until it's unrecognizable. "Thou shalt not commit adultery" becomes "But Jesus was for love! Surely Jesus wouldn't have wanted someone to stay chained in a marriage if they weren't happy? And a new relationship just brings more love into the world. Isn't that what Jesus really wanted?"
You have to be pretty asinine to think that subscribing to the Democratic Party is equivalent to living out your faith. That's a dunce cap - as soon as you see someone wearing that idea, it proves them to be a dunce. These dunces pay much more attention to Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama than to their bishops, and yet they have the arrogance to claim that they're superior Catholics because they have a "broader" expanse to their pursuit of Jesus' values.
It's much bigger than just religion. Think of what it reveals about these clowns. These prima donnas are going to argue with theologians and bishops over what "Catholic" means, as if they know better. Not only do they reveal their stupidity, they also reveal their willingness to ignore true authorities when it suits them. That's why experts, from every field and discipline, can testify on Capitol Hill, and these self-satisfied know-it-alls will ignore everything the experts tell them and do precisely what they want.
Socrates taught that true wisdom begins when you admit that you don't know. Instead of trying to fake it, wise men stop and admit they don't know. That's what allows learning to begin. Contrast that with these senators ... the pinnacles of self-importance ... lecture the rest of the world on everything from taxes to inflated tires to military strategy to healthcare. They honestly believe they know more about everything. By definition, that reveals a lack of wisdom.
duh
September 18, 2008 - 12:40 ET by lotrWhy is it so difficult for these flunky journalists to undertand that not all things are weighted equally in the moral/ethical scheme of things? Also, I should like to know what the "church position" is on immigration? That would be a good one: "But if there is found anyone who opposes vague, unlimited, anarchistic 'immigration' from south of the border, let him be anathema..."
The right to life is a fundamental moral principle, endowed by Our Creator, superceding all other rights. Mother Theresa understood this hierarchy quite profoundly:
"But I feel that the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child - a direct killing of the innocent child - murder by the mother herself. And if we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another?"
Sorry, but one cannot be "pro-choice" (someone who advocates legal abortion-on-demand) and at the same time be a "Christian" (someone who seeks to be a disciple of Christ, the Author of Life and the Victor over death). The two (God/life and abortion/death) are diametrically opposed to one another.
common thread
September 18, 2008 - 16:07 ET by cocodrieThe one common thread that runs through all of the posts here is the Christianity in our hearts. For too long the MSM and other anti-Christians have pitted us against one another; Catholic against protestant against non-denomination etc. We have been divided and conquered for too long. The church that Jesus is returning for is not a single denomination but all of his followers that have Him in their hearts. I want for what Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto said about America after he successfully attacked Pearl Harbor to be true about us. He said, "I fear all we have done is awakened a sleeping giant and filled him with terrible resolve."