Saturday, February 3, 2007

This weeks Catholic Politician Profile - John Boehner

John Boehner (R) House of Representatives - Ohio

Based on Catholic Teaching
+ Plus indicates Good Catholic
- Minus indicates not so Good Catholic

The Dignity of the Human Person
Rated 0% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record. (Dec 2003) +
Voted YES on making federal death penalty appeals harder. (Feb 1995) -
Voted NO on replacing death penalty with life imprisonment. (Apr 1994) -
More prisons, more enforcement, effective death penalty. (Sep 1994) -
Voted YES on banning physician-assisted suicide. (Oct 1999) +
Voted YES on banning partial-birth abortions. (Apr 2000) +

The Dignity of Work
Rated 100% by the US COC, indicating a pro-business voting record. (Dec 2003) -
Rated 7% by the AFL-CIO, indicating an anti-union voting record. (Dec 2003) -

The Person in the Community

Voted YES on restricting bankruptcy rules. (Jan 2004) -
Rated 7% by the ACLU, indicating an anti-civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002) -
Rated 17% by the NEA, indicating anti-public education votes. (Dec 2003) -
Rated 0% by the ARA, indicating an anti-senior voting record. (Dec 2003) -

Rights and Responsibilities
Voted YES on making the PATRIOT Act permanent. (Dec 2005) -
Rated A by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun rights voting record. (Dec 2003) -

Option for Those in Poverty
Rated 0% by APHA, indicating a anti-public health voting record. (Dec 2003) -
Voted NO on providing $70 million for Section 8 Housing vouchers. (Jun 2006) -
Limit welfare to 2 years & cut welfare spending. (Sep 1994) -

Solidarity
Voted NO on deterring foreign arms transfers to China. (Jul 2005) -
Voted NO on $156M to IMF for 3rd-world debt reduction. (Jul 2000) -
Voted YES on implementing CAFTA, Central America Free Trade. (Jul 2005) -
Rated 0% by FAIR, indicating a voting record loosening immigration. (Dec 2003) +
Voted YES on authorizing military force in Iraq. (Oct 2002) -

Care for Creation
Voted NO on raising CAFE standards; incentives for alternative fuels. (Aug 2001) -
Voted NO on prohibiting oil drilling & development in ANWR. (Aug 2001) -
Voted NO on starting implementation of Kyoto Protocol. (Jun 2000) -
Voted NO on increasing AMTRAK funding by adding $214M to $900M. (Jun 2006) -
Voted NO on barring website promoting Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump. (May 2006) -
Voted YES on deauthorizing "critical habitat" for endangered species. (Sep 2005) -
Voted YES on speeding up approval of forest thinning projects. (Nov 2003) -
Rated 5% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003) -

0% Rating by NETWORK on issues related to Catholic Social Teaching.

Respect for the dignity of each individual person: No
The common good: No
Health and future of the planet: No
The dignity of work: No
Care for those who are poor and vulnerable: No
The dignity of all creation: Mixed
Human rights: No

Rep. Boehner has a distinguished record regarding the rights of the unborn. Clearly though Rep. Boehner could use a refresher course in Catholic Teaching. With a pro war and pro death penalty voting record, Rep. Boehner clearly struggles with issues of life. A pro big business record and anti worker record does not help his cause either. Clearly he is not a good steward of the environment either.

Recomendations - Attend next available RCIA class and order copy of the "Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church.

Final Rating: Not so good Catholic Politician