July 29, 2003
Why would a Catholic vote Democrat?
Okay, I understand that in the beginning (of the party anyway), the Democratic party was the party of blue collar Catholics. They put JFK in the White House and we were very pleased with their actions. However, times have changed and the Democratic party has changed much more than necessary.
Just the other day I read this Wall Street Journal article that asks: Are Democrats determined to keep believers off the bench?
In particular, this refers to Catholics who are generally more pro-life than others. This article should be read by every Catholic that actually goes out and votes.
But to take a step further, let’s look at what the Democratic party believes in:
- Abortion – against our values
- Homosexual marriage – against our values
- Public schooling – Dems aren’t particularly pro-home school because of the labor unions.
So why should we support this party? They are so pro-abortion that they will not allow a pro-life candidate to run for White House. They are becoming more and more left of our Catholic sensibilities and less and less the party of the Catholic mind. Take a look at this piece by Archbishop Chaput.
So where do we turn? I don’t know. Perhaps it’s time we worked toward a new party that exhibits specifically Christian attitudes and beliefs. The Republicans miss out on working to cure poverty and are becoming less the defenders of natural law than they used to be. I think it’s time a message was sent to Washington that we’re looking for Christians to run for office – and not nuts like Pat Robertson, but intelligent thinkers like Pat Buchanan (okay, okay he had his faults, but they were in economic theory, not in moral foundations).
What do you think? A new party that actually abides by the Truth and supports Catholic values? Is it possible?
Jay
UPDATE: I had to add this in honor of Tim's post below:
Please don't consider voting for Dean.
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Yes, it is especially in light of Bush's administration. Christians around the nation banded together to get him into office so why can't these same Christians begin a new party all together?
Posted by: Maria at August 23, 2003 10:21 AMThis states (from the Republican side) a thought that I, a life-long Democrat, have thought and believed for over 20 years. I cannot support the Democrats based on abortion. I cannot support the Republicans, based on the death penalty and their refusal to investigate and prosecute the thefts of Enron, et al. These thefts are pushing more people into poverty, and the Republican inaction is as obvious an abdication of our responsibility to and for each other as I've had the misfortune to see or study. It's historic, and that's not good for anyone.
I too would support a party that is prolife (as a seamless garment), concerned with social justice within our nation and internationally (wages, jobs, human rights and dignity, etc.), and unwilling to apologize or compromise these values. Neither party meets this golden ideal.
We Catholics have had to strike a balance we can live with, and I've come down on the Democratic side. It sounds like Jay has come down on the Republican side. Split as we are, we can't effectively influence either party. We need to unite in one and reform it against the momentum of the existing structures, or start anew. Who wants to start one?
Posted by: JamesUhlenkamp at November 23, 2003 12:34 PMJFK father was a crook. crooks put JFK in the White House and crooks killed him. these same crooks still organize drug trafficking and conduct black market weapons sales we call them the mob or mafia, foriegn countries and the US Government. on moral issues, you most likely won't ever find a pro-candidiate for anything but himself. as long as his pockects are lined and his family's business is not in the streets, he or she will never care. talking about morals, them Bush daughters need to find some godly men and sit themsleves down. and good ol' Bill? well we all know his story...........
Posted by: Paul Baccus at January 3, 2004 01:08 PMMy hope is that sensible Christians will band together to remove Bush from office.
Catholics have had a rough decade with the Democrats, but maybe the party has learned that they need us. I hope we will reaffirm our support for Democrats in response to Bush's extremism. Once we have a stronger voice in the party again, we will be able to have more influence. Our realistic options are to work to change one or two planks of the Democratic platform, or all but one or two of the Republican platform. To me, the choice is clear.
In particular, I am a strong supporter of Howard Dean. Visit CatholicsforDean.com and let me know what you think!
Posted by: Tim Huegerich at January 31, 2004 09:49 PMTim,
I can't make this clear enough: Catholics should not ever support a pro-abortion candidate, including Dean. At some point I'll post Dean's voting record on pro-life issues, but suffice it to say that his record is as ugly as that yelping scream he let out a week or so ago.
A candidate for office can be summed up by looking at one thing: how he votes on life issues. Dean has publicly stated that he will not support any judges that are not pro-abortion. Dean worked for Planned Parenthood (the largest abortion provider in the US) in a serious role (some question whether he has actually performed abortions). Dean actually argued with other candidates claiming to be the most pro-abortion Democratic candidate! Tim, you cannot vote for this man. I'm sorry.
The virtues are learned together. We can learn a lot about a man once we know he thinks it's fine for a doctor to rip apart an infant in the mother's womb. You seem to suggest that Dean is the lesser of two evils. Wrong. Pro-abortion candidates are always the greater of two evils. And Dean may be the worst of the bunch.
Tim, I implore you to examine your conscience and the Catechism, 2273 in particular. I'll pray for you.
God bless,
Jay
Good post, Jay. I've posted a couple on this "Catholics for Dean" at my own weblog. And you are right: "Pro-abortion candidates are always the greater of two evils". God bless.
Posted by: John at February 2, 2004 03:39 AMYOU cannot vote for Bush. He supports abortion "rights" for victims of rape or incest, and he plans to appoint pro-choice Alberto Gonzales to the Supreme Court (by all accounts).
Now, since the ideal Christian party does not yet exist, we have to choose one or the other -- Dem or Rep. I mean-- (or we may as well not vote at all), let's begin the discussion of who better represents Catholic social teachings, on the whole, with both words and actions. I suggest the U.S. Bishops recent document: Faithful Citizenship: A Catholic Call to Political Responsibility as the primary background for this discussion.
In any case, we should both agree to challenge our respective preferred parties: Dems on abortion and Republicans on everything else.
Posted by: Tim Huegerich at February 9, 2004 01:53 AMTim,
If you claim we can't vote for Bush because in certain circumstances he supports abortion rights, then you would agree that we could never support a candidate the supports abortion rights in every situation. Right?
Trust me, it's more evil to support them all the time. And it's even more evil to say you will only appoint activist judges that support abortion rights (this means no more Catholic judges)! Think about it, Tim.
God bless,
Jay
It will be most interesting to seee how many of our Catholic members of congress will supoort a constituitional ammendment on marriage. watch out for all the poictics and naysayers.Paul
Posted by: Paul at February 25, 2004 04:51 PMMy conscience feels right about being a "new" Republican. Bush is trying to see the "light" and Kerry is openly defying the "light"Bush, I believe has a trust in God to lead him in his decisions. The greatest miracle would be for Kerry to admit his mistake and drop out. wouldn't that stun the world? We could pray about it and just maybe St. Michael will make his presence known. Evil goes after the good guys too.Good can come out evil.
Posted by: Linda Cooper at April 28, 2004 04:26 AMMy conscience feels right about being a "new" Republican. Bush is trying to see the "light" and Kerry is openly defying the "light"Bush, I believe has a trust in God to lead him in his decisions. The greatest miracle would be for Kerry to admit his mistake and drop out. wouldn't that stun the world? We could pray about it and just maybe St. Michael will make his presence known. Evil goes after the good guys too.Good can come out evil.
Posted by: Linda Cooper at April 28, 2004 04:27 AMI cannot in all conscience vote for Bush. Thus far he has reneged on most of his Year 2000 campaign promises. He is a staunch supporter of the death penalty. He SAYS he is pro-life, but his actions speak otherwise. I am going on his record. His record is abysmal.
Posted by: April at July 22, 2004 05:14 PMApril,
Remember Bush finally got the ban on partial-birth abortion passed. He also stopped funding of UN abortion programs, which we began under Clinton. Please let me know where in Bush's record he has not been pro-life - I think you've been misled by someone.
Remember, you can disagree with the stance of the US Bishops on the Death Penalty; in other words, it is not equal to abortion.
God bless,
Jay
