Hudson and Fournier: Catholic Countdown to Election 2012, Day 40. Beware the 'Catholic' Supporters of Obama

By Deal W. Hudson & Rev. Mr. Keith A. Fournier
9/27/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

We will talk to you tomorrow, and every day between now and November 6th!

Those who have read us both know that we have not always agreed. However, we have chosen to combine our voices at a critical time in U.S. History to do absolutely everything we can do to influence this election! So we will do just that in this series leading to the most important election in our lifetime.

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WASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) - We begin our forty day countdown series on the Feast of St. Francis DeSales, a Doctor of the Universal Church who is associated with the undeniable call for Christians to show a "love of preference to the poor". Catholic Social teaching is not "left" or "right", "liberal", "conservative" or "neo-conservative", Democrat or Republican.

It confronts what Pope Benedict properly called the "Dictatorship of Relativism" even before he assumed the Papal office. It insists there are unchangeable truths which are revealed by the Natural Law, can be known through the exercise of reason and should inform the social order in every just society.

At the foundation of all these truths is the truth concerning dignity of every human person at every age and stage. To be Pro-Life is NOT to be "single issue" in your political positions; it is about having a world view. It is the dignity of the human person which requires a respect for every human life whether that life be in the first home of the womb, a wheelchair, a jail cell, a hospital room, a hospice, a senior center or a soup kitchen.

Another one of these truths is that marriage is between one man and one woman, intended for life, and ordered toward the bearing and raising of children in the family. Marriage is not some social construct which can be redefined by courts or legislatures. It is the foundation for family and family is the first society, first church, first school, first economy, first government and first mediating institution. The first community which humanizes and civilizes all of us is the family.

Another is that all human persons created in the Image of God are created for relationship and called to human community. We can never fully experience human flourishing outside of social relationships. These relationships are perfective of our human person because we are by nature - and grace - made for these relationships. Catholic Social Thought does not begin with the individual but with the family. The social doctrine affirms our obligation in solidarity to one another. We are our brother/sister's keeper.

The social doctrine of the Catholic Church rejects a notion of "freedom" which begins and ends with the isolated, atomistic, person as the measure of its application. Authentic human freedom must be exercised within a moral constitution. We will only grow in freedom when we choose what is good and what is true. Otherwise "freedom" becomes a counterfeit and enslaves us, as individuals and as nations.

The social doctrine of the Catholic Church also offers principles to help us order our economies. It does not propose any particular economic theory. It insists that every economic order be at the service of the human person, human freedom, human flourishing and the family. We are to give a love of preference to the poor, recognizing our solidarity with them. However, this call to solidarity is to be applied through the application of the principle of subsidiarity, rejecting all forms of dehumanizing collectivism, either of the left or the right.

The truths and principles contained within Catholic social doctrine are not merely "religious" positions, in the sense that only religious people need assent to them. They are revealed by the Natural Law and can be known through the exercise of reason. The truths are true for all people and for all time. The Church calls us to offer them as leaven to be worked into the loaf of human culture.

So we will do just that in this series leading to the most important election in our lifetime. Those who have read us both know that we have not always agreed. However, we have chosen to combine our voices at a critical time in U.S. History to do absolutely everything we can do to influence this election!

Yes, I (Keith) said it! I can say it "legally" because Catholic Online is not a non-profit corporation and the current censorship of religious speech does not apply here. However, I also say it because too many Catholics and other Christians have not figured out the consequences we face on November 6, 2012 if we do not properly inform our decision on who we will elect to lead us and vote accordingly. I am getting older and I am tired of the arguments that we must look for the "perfect" candidate. There will never be one.

The Catholic supporters of President Obama have started making phone calls to solicit support for their candidate. OK, that's fine -- calls to prospective voters are part of every campaign season. But you won't believe what is being said about Obama, at least from the call received by a Catholic woman who happens to be the chair of her parish ...

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1 - 10 of 24 Comments

Rob
7 months ago
John, I know the unemployment rate has remained rather stubborn, but how can you say that looking at virtually every economic inidicator? There is a long way to go and our debt/deficit situation probably won't get handled until our legislators can do math, but I really don't think that is a fair critique.

In the area I live a really good indicator has been the construction of new homes. We have two national builders and several small start ups that are selling homes like crazy these days. It's been steadily building and I think in my neighborhood they have at 15 homes going. Things have definitely improved from the time all the builders pulled out and nothing happened for three years.
John
7 months ago
President Obama, says to all " WE ARE NOT GOING BACK" Of course you cannot go back, You have not gone forward in these last four yrs.
Larry
7 months ago
Catholic Social Teaching cannot reject freedom - its the foundation of being human. Adam and Eve were free to follow or reject what God offered or what does faith and love mean if there is no freedom to do or not do. ----

You cannot condemn Ryan and Romney for some ideas based on Ayan Rand - you can take ideas from even an atheist and use them for the good you do - we do this all the time - St. Agustine took Plato's ideas and incorporated them into the theology we now use and Plato was no Christican. ----

The point is to care for those who need care and uplift all to be able to live well on their own for the Glory of God. I don't think Catholic teaching, social or other, wants people to be or stay dependent and poor if it is possible to better their lives. The Free Market ideas have lifted more people out of poverty and given them a chance to live well on their own than any other economic or political system in history. Just because it has a down side does not mean it is not good to use. As with any system 'men and women' make, they are imperfect and can become sinful but that is why we work to correct them and sanctify them. The Church accepts sinners all the time. ----

It's not just that Obama backs abortion, even late turm and after birth abortion but that the Democrat Party stands for - abortion on demand, contraception, gay marriage, Anti-Israel tendencies, etc. They talk a good game about the 'poor' but you have to look at the results of their policies and actions and see who does a better job for all - the poor, the middle class, the upper class - talk is cheap - Most areas of the country run mainly by democrats are in economic crisis. Republicans may not talk specifically about many groups (the poor, minorities, middle class) by name but many of the resuts of their actions help most people even though there are sometimes downsides to policies ----
(You have to remember that when the economy crashed under Bush, the congress was controlled by those in the Democrat Party who decide on laws and regulations - they rejected many things Bush and the Republicans proposed to change many things in the housing market - remember Sally Mae and Freddie Mac! - - - When Clinton was President, the Congress was controlled by Republicans who forced him to change Welfare and certain economic policies which rode the coatails of Regan so we became prosperous - - Republicans, with all their faults, have a better view of how to have a better life including caring for the poor!)
Tony Enginco
7 months ago
The pro obama anti-Catholics are very well organized not only to counter truth but to propagate lies. I will pray for their conversion.
JoAnn
7 months ago
"The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one MAKES THEM. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws." Ayn Rand.

My friends, wake up!! Ayn Rand has just described Obama and this present administration.
NOT Romney and Ryan. When a lemonade stand is a crime for a child, when a church bake sale is a crime, when a person can't have a garden in his own yard, when a person can't have a bird feeder in his yard, when a person can't eat or drink anything he/she wants, when a child in school can't have a piece of candy in her lunch, when someone can't read their Bible at work or school on a lunch break, when all references to God has to be erased from our vocabulary, when the chaplains in the military can no longer refer to Jesus (shall I go on?) we hav a PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTRY. In all the incidences above, the people have been fined or incarcerated or both. All you Ayn Randaphobes, what do you think of that? Romney and Ryan are so totally opposite to this administration, it isn't funny. Go peddle your Ayn Rand propaganda somewhere else because true Catholics or any true conservative, for that matter, aren't buying it. God bless.
Brian English
7 months ago
"Despite the formative influence of Ayn Rand on his involvement in public life, on April 26, Congressman Ryan publicly claimed to have renounced the teachings of Ayn Rand, yet has failed to explain how any of his policies have changed."

Can you even identify one policy promoted by Ryan that would have been supported by Ayn Rand? I'll settle for one.

"American Catholics are just not that dumb or confused about their faith."

Says the Obama supporter.

"The 47 percent tape - about as anathema to Catholic social teaching as is possible to express in its contempt for the poor - cannot have helped."

You mean where Romney said he had no chance of winning the vote of people like you who look to the government as the salvation of mankind? How was that statement not accurate?

"Don't espouse your charitable deeds and then convince yourself that Romney is a saintly guy."

We don't need saints or gods as our political leaders. We just need honest men who won't promote evil and attack the Church.

"He doesn't care about you, your children, your parents, your anti-marriage, your-anti abortion crap! He only cares about his pockets!!!"

What does your Dear Leader care about?
Paul-Emile Leray
7 months ago
Mt 23
Lk 11
Mk 15:10
Mk 15:15

If a combination of potential realities manifest themselves on the North American political landscape in the future, then this is what could happen: your Statue of Liberty, currently filled with cement on the left side and compressed air on the right, will be leaning so far left that it risks falling into the sea and drowning.

Paul-Emile Leray
Ed Nestor
7 months ago
PRESS RELEASE: Paul Ryan’s Priorities Reflect Teachings of Ayn Rand, Not Jesus Christ

Posted August 11, 2012

Ryan, Romney's VP pick, has publicly renounced Ayn Rand yet has failed to change any of his policies that were shaped by her influence

WASHINGTON – Mitt Romney’s newly announced vice presidential candidate, Catholic Congressman Paul Ryan, has a long-standing standing relationship with the teachings of atheist philosopher Ayn Rand. Because of their stern pronouncements against serving the weak, poor and marginalized, the teachings of Ayn Rand are antithetical to Catholic social teaching.

On April 16, the Catholic bishops condemned Paul Ryan’s budget proposal as failing a “basic moral test” in that it slashes food assistance to the poor and radically redefines safety net programs such as Medicare.

Despite the formative influence of Ayn Rand on his involvement in public life, on April 26, Congressman Ryan publicly claimed to have renounced the teachings of Ayn Rand, yet has failed to explain how any of his policies have changed.

“With the selection of Paul Ryan as his running mate, it is fair to call this the Romney-Ryan-Rand presidential ticket,” said James Salt, executive director of Catholics United. “Despite his Catholic background, this selection will certainly cost Romney votes from cross-pressured Catholic swing voters. Catholics, more than the general population, believe government has an important role in defending the dignity of those less fortunate.”

For more information about Paul Ryan’s worldview and how it was shaped by the teachings of Ayn Rand, please see:

The New Yorker: Ryan Lizza, Fussbudget: How Paul Ryan Captured the GOP

For more Catholic reactions to Paul Ryan, please see:

NETWORK, the Catholic Social Justice Lobby

Franciscan Action Network
Ed Nestor
7 months ago

27 Sep 2012 01:21 PM

Catholics Flee Romney-Ryan-Dolan

National Catholic Reporter finds something remarkable in a new poll from Pew:

On June 17, Obama held a slight edge over Mitt Romney among Catholics (49 percent to 47 percent), according to the Pew Research Center. Since then, Obama has surged ahead, and now leads 54 percent to 39 percent, according to a Pew poll conducted Sept. 16. Among all registered voters, Obama leads Romney 51 percent to 42 percent, according to Pew. Obama and Romney are essentially tied among white Catholics, which some pollsters call the ultimate swing group.

But Obama's current even status among white Catholics now is an improvement over 2008, when McCain beat Obama among white Catholics by 52 - 47. Obama's total Catholic vote against McCain was where he is now: 54 percent. But Romney has only 39 percent compared with McCain's 45.

A small word of thanks to Cardinal Dolan, Robert George and K-Lo for helping shift the Catholic vote massively toward Obama with their summer campaign for religious liberty. And special thanks to Paul Ryan. No actual Catholic could ever find anything but puerile cruelty in the works of Ayn Rand, or rally to the idea that home-care for the elderly should be sacrificed to reduce tax rates for the super-rich. Paul Ryan believes that the basic principles of Rand can be compatible with Catholicism. American Catholics are just not that dumb or confused about their faith.

One other small point. The poll, though just released, was conducted on September 16. The polls have shifted slightly in his favor since. The 47 percent tape - about as anathema to Catholic social teaching as is possible to express in its contempt for the poor - cannot have helped. I wonder also about white Catholics and Romney's Mormonism. There may be some conservative Catholics leery of what some regard as a cult.
David Carlon
7 months ago
I see no intrinsic difference between the 2 political parties. The republicans are a godless herd of dissembling torturers, murderers, thieves, and liars that worship evil in all of its demonic forms... they praise our Lord with their lips and dishonor the Sacred Catholic Tradition, Holy Scripture and the Magisterium. They are trapped in their own insane snare of debauchery and evil... may the eternal mill of justice slowly grind them and the democrats ever so finely... as this is the most disgustingly evil generation ever born... our Lord is grieved beyond human comprehension at the lack of faith. Shame! Shame! Shame!

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/28/us/politics/election-will-decide-future-of-interrogation-methods-for-terrorism-suspects.html

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