Irish Catholic Buckeye

PRESIDENT ELECT BARACK OBAMA

2008-11-05T00:14:00.002-05:00

AMEN

Election Day

2008-11-04T12:26:00.003-05:00

We pray that today will be a new chapter in American history where we move from the divisive and bitter partisan politics that have torn this country down and we move forward to a bright and new future.

We pray that the election will go well with no flaws and that the vitriolic forces that seek to divide this country will live with the outcome and join us as we move the country forward.

McCain Campaign Volunteers Trespass at Three Columbus, Ohio area Churches

2008-11-02T18:15:00.010-05:00

We finished out the day visiting Immaculate Conception in Columbus, The St. Thomas More Newman Center at Ohio St. and St. Brigid of Kildare in Dublin, OH.

At Immaculate Conception we found evidence of the McCain Trespassers. One flier was even attached to the Church pickup truck. See picture below. We also found one flier on the ground, apparently read and then "discarded" by a well meaning Catholic. See picture below. We removed all the remaining fliers we could find.

At the Newman Center we found a couple cars from a earlier mass with fliers which we removed, but no sign of McCain trespassers for the late morning mass.

Also was the same at St. Brigid of Kildare in Dublin. Some cars had fliers apparently from the mid morning mass that we removed, but as the noon mass began to park there was no sign of any more McCain Tresspasers.

We eagerly await other reports of the McCain campaigns trespassing this Sunday.

Obnoxious McCain Campaign Volunteers Trespass on parking lot of St. Michaels Catholic Church in Worthington, Ohio

2008-11-02T17:26:00.014-05:00

This was by far the most obnoxious group we ran into all day. There were about ten volunteers fanned out across the parking lot of St. Michaels in Worthington, Ohio. Not only were McCain Campaign Volunteers trespassing on the Church lot, but also volunteers from Ohio Right to Life and The Ohio Christian Alliance. It was pure mayhem and apparent coordination between the McCain Campaign and outside groups.

We asked them all if they had permission from the pastor to be there. They all of course declined to answer that and instead told us they had a right to be there and exercise their free speech. We reminded them that they were on private property. They advised us if we removed their fliers then it was "felony".

They became quite confrontational and would not leave when asked to politely. At one point, one of the gentleman began posturing as if he would get physical with us.

They reminded us that we were baby killers even though they new little else about us other than we were reminding them of their trespass and photographing it.

After they covered all the cars in the lot, they left. We then removed all of their fliers, sometimes two and three deep on the cars.

McCain Campaign Volunteers Invade and Trespass at St. Timothy's Catholic Church in Columbus, Ohio

2008-11-02T16:32:00.006-05:00

These ladies, volunteering for the McCain Campaign, were busy putting GOP paid for fliers on the cars in the private parking lot of St. Timothy's Catholic Church, when we pulled up.

They were a team of 6 and quickly fanned out to perform their unwanted partisan activity on Church property. When asked if they had the permission of the pastor to be there, they said they did not. They advised that they had the permission of "Catholics for McCain" to be there. We asked them if they wanted to go inside and ask the pastor and we even volunteered to go with them. We advised them that it was not the policy of the Diocese or the Catholic Conference of Ohio to distribute unofficial literature on Church property. We advised them that they were trespassing as well.

They quickly packed up and left only to park up the street, maybe to wait us out. We waited with them for awhile and then they drove away.

McCain Campaign Volunteers Trespassing at St. Andrews Catholic Church - Upper Arlington, Ohio

2008-11-02T15:59:00.007-05:00

These McCain Campaign Volunteers trespassed on the property of St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Upper Arlington, Ohio this morning to place partisan and divisive campaign literature on cars of unsuspecting parishioners in the parking lot. In one of the pictures, one can clearly see the McCain Campaign Tee Shirts and hats.

When asked if the pastor of the Church had given them permission to be there, they said no. They were reminded that they were trespassing and that the Church had asked that only Church approved materials be distributed on Church property.

Not only were they handing out the McCain /GOP fliers but they also had fliers from the Ohio Christian Coalition. Apparently the McCain Campaign is coordinating its efforts with outside groups. tsk tsk

Their activities soon caught the eye of a special duty police officer there, normally for traffic duty. He advised them that the pastor had asked him to watch for trespassers distributing political materials this Sunday and to ask them to leave. He did so after making them remove the offending materials they had already placed. They removed their fliers and left the parking lot.

The GOP - McCain Flyer used on Catholic Church Lots

2008-11-02T15:54:00.003-05:00

This is a photo of the flier placed on cars at Catholic Churches by trespassing McCain volunteers this Sunday in Ohio. Note the flier is paid for by the Ohio GOP. It is the same flier used by the Bush Campaign in 2004, only updated with new pictures and some language change.

Despite calls by the Bishops, parishes and Dioceses to not trespass on Church Property, the GOP saw fit to distribute these fliers meant to misinform and divide Catholics.

Catholics are not being fooled this year.

McCain Campaign Politicking at St. Brendans Catholic Church in Hilliard Ohio

2008-11-02T15:41:00.003-05:00

Volunteers from the McCain campaign trespassed on the property of St. Brendan's Catholic Church in Hilliard, OH this morning and placed flyer's paid for by the Ohio GOP on parishioners windshields. The trespassers were gone when we arrived, but the evidence was left. We ran into a rather busy Church employee who was busy removing the offensive, divisive and partisan materials from the cars so parishioners could go home in peace after the sanctity of the mass.

Shame on the McCain campaign for bringing politics onto Church property this election season.

McCain Campaign politics in Catholic Church Parking lots despite requests by Churches and Dioceses not to.

2008-11-02T14:25:00.007-05:00

Today in Columbus Ohio, we visited six parishes this morning. The McCain campaign had volunteers at all six parishes putting flyer's on cars, despite requests by the parishes and the dioceses not to. Below are some of the pictures - more to come soon with a full report on each parish.

Will Obama Win the White Catholic Vote?

2008-11-01T11:10:00.003-05:00

From the Pew Research Center...

Pew Forum's tracking1 of surveys by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press shows that Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain had a 13-point lead among white Catholic registered voters in late September. But the group's support for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama grew in October, giving Obama an 8-point lead in late October. What might explain this shift?

September 15th will go down in history as the day the tide turned against John McCain with Catholics. That was the day he stated that the "fundamentals of our economy are strong".... and we all now know the rest of the story. Catholics are no longer being fooled by the vitriolic forces of the right who want Catholics to believe that their vote must be cast over a single issue.

Catholics are connecting the dots and know that a strong economy is a life issue and that a weak economy will only lead to more misery for working Americans. The economy drives the abortion rate and Catholics know that with a McCain administration and a continuation of the Bush economy, the abortion rate will continue to climb as more and more Americans face desperate times and desperate choices.

With an Obama administration, Catholics realize that Americans will have a new direction with the economy and women will be empowered to make better choices regarding the birth of their child, with improved access to health care, housing and education.

For a Catholic - the choice at the ballot box could not be clearer this election day...

More from the Pew Research....

Republicans in Ohio Suppressing Early Voters

2008-11-01T09:18:00.005-05:00

As reported in an article by Barb Carmen in the Columbus Dispatch this morning, Michael E. Colley and Douglas J. Preisse (pictured left), Republican members of the Franklin County Ohio election board are attempting to suppress the rights of citizens to early vote. Most of these citizens appear to be from the minority community.

Because of the popularity of early voting and the overwhelming turnout, William A. Anthony Jr. and Kimberly E. Marinello, the board's Democratic members, want to simply extend the early voting centers hours this Sunday. Seems simple enough.

However with no real valid rational or reasonable explanation, Colley and Preisse are declining to go along with the plan. Instead they skipped a vote on the matter (that's real brave) and then they issued a statement stating that poll workers might be exhausted. Apparently as board members they did not realize that the polling place is only open for 4 hours on Sunday and that the workers are seasonal and looking for extra work. It is doubtful they will be that exhausted after four hours of work and a few hours more work would be welcome for a seasonal worker.

The lines have been long in Franklin county for early voting, stretching for two and half to three hours recently. It has been a very diverse crowd and from observations very heavy in the minority communities.

Thus it is no wonder that Colley and Preisse, would want to supress the voter turnout in Franklin county. It is obvious what they fear and this time their tactics and motives are being well documented and followed.

When the dust has settled on this election, the Republican party would be well served to rid itself of such ilk from its ranks. The Republican party just like the rest of American is dire need of new leadership.

Read the Dispatch article here....

Happy Halloween!!!!

2008-10-31T15:15:00.002-05:00

Just When You Thought You Were an American... Conservatives Say Not So Fast.

2008-10-24T11:06:00.003-05:00

By Burns Strider

Governor Palin and her brand of Republicanism are about to overcook my grits.

She and those who drink from the same mug have decided that you are not a real American, maybe you are even anti-American, if you either don't have the same views as they do or you are from the wrong part of the nation, or both... I'm a little confused as to the specific criteria.

I think I may be fine since I was born and raised in Mississippi even though I have lived in Washington, DC for quite a few years.

I worry, though, about my two boys. They were both born and are being raised inside the beltway so I don't think they are fully American in the eyes of Governor Palin, Congressman Robin Hayes (R-NC), Congresswoman Michelle Bachman (R-MN) and all their friends. And this is what is scorching my grits.

But first, this is what Governor Palin said late last week:

"We believe that the best of America is in these small towns that we get to visit, and in these wonderful little pockets of what I call the real America, being here with all of you hard working very patriotic, um, very, um, pro-America areas of this great nation. This is where we find the kindness and the goodness and the courage of everyday Americans."

What does she call Brazil, MS? Is it real America or does that community's name disqualify the Brazilians of the Mississippi Delta?

Then Governor Palin's spokesperson added this on October 18:

[Pfotenhauer] acknowledged [McCain's] difficulties in Northern Virginia but said the region is not "real Virginia." She added, "The rest of the state, real Virginia, if you will, I think will be very responsive to Senator McCain's message," Nancy Pfotenhauer said.

So, if you are for Senator McCain or from an area largely supporting Senator McCain they you are "real."

Over the weekend North Carolina Republican Robin Hayes said this:

"Liberals hate real Americans that work and achieve and believe in God."

Okay... so if you are a liberal you hate real Americans who work and believe in God. What if you are also from northern Virginia, don't work and don't believe in God? Do you have to move to another country?

And Congresswoman Michelle Bachman, the Republican of Minnesota, on Chris Matthews this past Friday emphatically pontificated the following:

"Barack Obama didn't have a mild association with Bill Ayers, he had a very strong association with Bill Ayers." She then went on to say, "I'm very concerned that he may have anti-American views."

So being 8 years-old at some point in the 1970's may be a bad thing because a guy you would meet decades later was doing bad things during the disco era. I often wonder if Senator Obama and I ever listened to My Sharona at the same time. But what if Senator Obama, Bill Ayers and I listened to My Sharona at exactly the same time? Does that then disqualify my Mississippi roots and make me anti-American?

Governor Palin, Congressman Hayes and Congresswoman Bachman need to check their language. And they need to re-examine the meaning, beauty and greatness of our nation.

We are a patchwork quilt, a Baptist blanket, of families and communities that have come from all over the globe to become real Americans.

Our ancestors may have arrived prior to the First Continental Congress or our families may have immigrated through Ellis Island in the last century. Some of us may have risked our very lives on sinking rafts and some of us may have risked great fortunes. But, we are all real Americans.

My little boys are very much American. My first grader has been singing "This Land is Your Land" to me. He has been learning it each morning in the DC Public Schools. They play a lot of soccer, I prefer baseball but you should have heard them cheering for Michael Phelps during the Summer Olympics.

I fear that somehow Governor Palin, Congressman Hayes, Congresswoman Bachman and their ideological friends have allowed scales to cover their eyes. They have been led astray by the sound of their own politics and they sadly find exceptionalism only from their own voices, their own mirror image of America.

Think about how limiting this is... think about all the potential and real American dreams that would never be realized through such a narrow vision of our great nation. They have allowed the values we hold dear, as one nation, to be tossed to the ditch in place for the rigid orthodoxy they prefer to proclaim.

Over 20 years ago, the late, great Congresswoman Barbara Jordan was speaking to the Baptist Joint Committee and was asked how to properly articulate values in government. Her response went something like this (and I paraphrase but wouldn't you love to hear her voice right now say these words):

"You would be well to pursue your causes with vigor, while remembering that you are a servant of God, not a spokesperson for God and remembering that God may choose to bless an opposing point of view for reasons that have not been revealed to you."

I hope Governor Palin, Congressman Hayes, Congresswoman Bachman and all their friends will stop their divisive, ugly cultural warfare... it so belittles them as they sound like a throwback to earlier elections and instead embrace our real American values and find all Americans to be real and all pockets to be real American places.

Burns Strider
Founding Partner
The Eleison Group
www.eleisongroup.com

Catholics for Obama

2008-10-18T18:41:00.004-05:00

Joining the other Catholics for Obama site, launched a couple months ago and a few blogs by the same name, now comes "Catholics for Obama", a project sponsored by the Boston based Catholic Democrats.

The site has a nice quote from Caroline Kennedy and it also includes a fifty eight page down loadable document citing the Catholic case for Obama. It includes a nice intro by Vicki Reggie Kennedy, wife of the Lion of the Senate, Senator Edward Kennedy. The document was written by Patrick Whelan PhD., founder of Catholic Democrats.

The site is certainly the best of the Catholics for Obama site. Even though a late entrant into the game, it will quickly gain attention and will be a valuable resource for swing Catholics in battleground states.

View the site here...

Catholics United Responds to Allegations Made by Maverick Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput

2008-10-18T18:28:00.007-05:00

It is clear that Archbishop Chaput is a surrogate for the McCain Campaign and his continued clumsy forays into politics further illustrate McCain's Catholic problem. McCain is Bush and Catholics like Chaput supported a virtual culture of death by supporting the Bush Administration over an issue that will never be resolved by the politics of old that Chaput and other's with the extreme position of criminalization support.

Media Release From Catholics United ....

Washington, D.C. – Catholics United executive director Chris Korzen issued the following statement today in response to Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput’s accusation that Catholics United has “done a disservice to the Church, confused the natural priorities of Catholic social teaching, undermined the progress pro-lifers have made, and provided an excuse for some Catholics to abandon the abortion issue instead of fighting within their parties and at the ballot box to protect the unborn.” The archbishop’s comments were delivered at an Educating on the Nature and Dignity of Women dinner in Denver on October 17, 2008.

“Catholics United welcomes an open, honest, and productive dialogue about how best to represent the values of the our faith in public life. We recognize that Catholics can differ in good conscience about which policies will achieve the most effective results, even on issues as important as abortion. We are concerned that Archbishop Chaput’s comments – even those made in his personal capacity – will have a chilling effect on this dialogue. It is also profoundly unfortunate that Archbishop Chaput has chosen to make personal attacks on lay Catholics acting in good faith to promote Catholic values in the public square.”

“During the past eight years we have watched a president rise to power on a ‘pro-life’ platform only to pursue other priorities: perpetrating an unjust war, opposing expanded health care coverage for pregnant women and children, promoting the intrinsic evil of torture, deregulating the financial markets, and mortgaging the future of America’s hard-working families on tax cuts for the rich and powerful. Scant, if any, progress was made toward ending or reducing abortions – quite the contrary, we fear that the looming economic crisis will impel more women to have abortions as people lose their jobs and their homes. This experience serves as poignant reminder of the need for Catholics and other pro-life Americans to look beyond campaign rhetoric and elect candidates who will deliver real results on the issues that matter most.”

“With due respect to Archbishop Chaput, we believe that by pursuing efforts to de-polarize the abortion debate and bring Americans of varying ideological backgrounds to the table to find common ground solutions, organizations like Catholics United are doing at least as much to promote Church teaching on human life as those who have insisted on the same ineffective strategies of the past 35 years.”

Catholics United is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting the message of justice and the common good found at the heart of the Catholic Social Tradition. This is accomplished through online advocacy and educational activities. For more information, visit www.catholics-united.org.

Sanctity of Life, Human Dignity, Fairness & Prosperity, National Security, Common Good, Stewardship

2008-10-16T21:48:00.004-05:00

A great, let me repeat..... Great Voting guide from Catholics United. Just out. Get em out to your friends today.

Don't be fooled by Joe Orthodox in your parish who tells who to vote for McCain over a single issue.

Click here to get yours...

Group hits parishes in key states with anti-abortion brochure

2008-10-16T21:32:00.000-05:00

By Michael Humphrey
Published:
October 14, 2008

Voting guides: The brochure on the left is the official U.S. bishops' voting guide; the brochure on the right is the Terry brochure.Kansas City, Mo.

An antiabortion brochure that claims voting for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, “flagrantly violates Catholic teaching,” is being distributed to parishioners at Catholic churches across nine battleground states and beyond.

The method of distributing the flier, titled “Faithful Catholic Citizenship Based Upon the Gospel of Life,” includes placing brochures on cars parked outside of parishes, handing them out before or after Mass and distributing them online. No Catholic dioceses have sanctioned the brochure or its distribution methods and one archdiocese told NCR they strongly disagree with the methods of disseminating the material. Several persons distributing the gospel of lief brochures who refused to leave church properties have been arrested for trespassing.

Nevertheless, Randall Terry, founder of Operation Rescue, told NCR he is targeting nine states he thinks are key to this year’s election – Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, New Hampshire, Nevada and Colorado. But he’s sending brochures to whoever requests them, even if the state is not in play.

“We have over 500 teams across the country who are distributing two different brochures,” Terry said, “and we’re looking for more volunteers. I recognize in many people’s minds we are skating on thin ice, but so was St. Thomas More and St. Catherine of Siena, and many prophets who spoke the truth when it wasn’t sanctioned.”

Terry's brochure is designed to reflect the November, 2007 document put out by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops entitled, "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship," which can be distributed freely in parishes. Terry referred to the visual similarities as "comic relief," rather than an attempt to confuse matters, and noted that his brochure stresses "Catholic Faithful Citizenship."

A second brochure, entitled “Is It Immoral to Vote for Obama for President?” is targeting non-Catholics and being distributed at Wal-Marts and malls as well as Protestant churches.

Terry would not give exact numbers of how many brochures are being printed, stating there are “a lot” and agreed it was in the tens of thousands. The brochures, along with other materials, including a “Palinator” t-shirt that shows Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin brandishing a weapon are being distributed on line.

The brochure, which is written in question and answer form and most often quotes Pope John Paul II, at one point references "certain clergy and laymen" such as Catholic author Doug Kmiec, who is quoted, "it violates no aspect of Catholic teaching for a Catholic voter to endorse, support, or vote for Barack Obama." The question asked is, "Are they correct?"

The answer: "No. They are not correct. Endorsing, support, or voting for Obama in the 2008 Presidential election flagrantly violates Catholic teaching."

The argument that voting for a Democrat violates Catholic teaching, because of the abortion, has been cited as a key element of the 2004 victory for President George W. Bush, especially in Ohio.

Unlike that election, says Eric McFadden, former director of Catholic Outreach for Hillary Clinton’s campaign, Democrats are not caught off guard.

“This time around the left has a very strong and viable presence,” McFadden says. “They are taking opportunities to share the breadth of Catholic social teaching, not just one issue. Mr. Terry claims to be working with faithful Catholics, but they are openly defying the bishops.”

Terry is not arguing that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops supports his stand. He disputes the November 2007 document released by the USCCB on faithful citizenship, which states that, “there may be times when a Catholic who rejects a candidate’s unacceptable position may decide to vote for that candidate for other morally grave reasons.”

“The faithful citizenship document is not the teaching of the Catholic Church,” Terry said. “Evangelium Vitae (an encyclical by Pope John Paul II in 1995) is the teaching of the Catholic Church. The Faithful Citizenship document is a disaster. It’s being quoted by every pro-abortion group out there.”

So Terry’s group, which is sometimes confused with the Operation Rescue in Wichita, Kan. (Terry left there in 1991 and there is pending litigation over the group’s trademark), is deliberately doing acts of civil disobedience on church properties.

Tuesday morning, Joseph Landry was in court on charges of trespassing at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore on Sept. 14. He was arrested after being asked several times to leave the shrine’s property by security guards and later by police. Maryland is not considered a contested state, with polling showing Obama ahead by more than 20 points.

Landry said in an interview with NCR that this was his third arrest for trespassing, once in St. Petersburg, Fla. and recently in Arlington, Va., which are both contested states in this election.

“No one from the Baltimore Basilica showed up,” said Landry, 27, “so they dismissed the case for non-prosecution. I don’t know what’s going to happen in the Arlington case.”

Asked if he’s willing to serve jail time, Landry said, “Yes, that’s fine.”
Sean Caine, director of communications for the Baltimore archdiocese, said the archidiocese was not named in the complaint against Landry, so couldn’t comment on the status of the case. He did say that the archdiocese strongly disagrees with the approach Terry’s group is taking.

“I think to the reasonable and objective person,” Caine said, “their efforts could be seen as intentionally aimed at getting arrested and getting the attention that comes with getting arrested. We provide materials that are approved by the archbishop and the U.S. bishops. There are any number of ways of getting a message out, but they have to be appropriate.”

The problem with that thinking, said Terry, is that it implicitly allows for “the murder of hundreds of thousands of babies.” “When babies are about to be murdered,” Terry said, “and you can stop it by lifting up your voice on church property, the bishop does not have the authority to tell you to remain silent.”

McFadden strongly disagrees that Terry’s primary objective – overturning Roe v. Wade – would even begin to stop abortions.

“The abortion rate is affected by many different issues, including health care, education, the biggest is the economy. If you are unable to provide for that child, I would say the abortion rate is going to spike. A McCain administration will not have policies that actually reduce abortions. They’ll supply the same tired politics of the last 30 years.”

(Michael Humphrey is a free lance writer living in Kansas City, Mo.)

Copyright © The National Catholic Reporter Publishing Company

Lay Catholics Push Back on Abortion and Politics

2008-10-16T21:26:00.000-05:00

Thursday October 16, 2008

When Carl Anderson publicly rebuked Sen. Joe Biden last month for opposing the Catholic Church's stance on abortion, Anderson said he was speaking "on behalf of the 1.28 million" Knights of Columbus in the U.S.

Everyone, that is, except for Knights like Rick Gebhard of Manistee, Mich.

Gebhard, a 36-year-old public school teacher, says he founded Knights for Obama early this month to counter Anderson's "tacit endorsement" of Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain.

Gebhard now says he's been told he will likely be booted from the Catholic fraternal organization. The group's rules forbid members from endorsing political candidates, said Knights of Columbus spokesman Patrick Korten.

Gebhard, a member of the Boston-based group Catholic Democrats, counts himself part of a resurgent Catholic Left that's finding its voice during the 2008 presidential campaign. After struggling to be heard four years ago, when conservatives dominated the "values" debate and a majority of Catholics voted for President Bush, progressives say they have returned to the political arena this year with more supporters, deeper pockets and sharper ideas.

"We've been playing catch-up," said Chris Korzen, executive director of Catholics United, a progressive online community that has grown from two volunteers with $1,000 and dorm-room headquarters in 2004 to now include 30,000 members and a $200,000 budget.

"And I think we've done it, to a great extent."

Hoping to reach Catholics who are upset with the Bush administration, groups like Catholics United are posting billboards in swing states, papering Catholic households with mailers and flooding the airwaves with progressive messages on everything from abortion to home foreclosures.

Lay Catholics like Gebhard are resisting church pressure to make abortion the primary issue that should drive Catholics' votes, and also pushing back when high-profile Catholics like Anderson single out Democrats like Biden for public criticism.

"I thought it was an overtly partisan maneuver," Gebhard said of Anderson's rebuke.

Anderson, the Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, regularly speaks for the group on public policy issues, and, despite his background in GOP politics, steers clear of partisanship, Korten said.

Since Gebhard started his group on Oct. 3, between 50 and 100 fellow Knights -- including former Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Thomas P. O'Neill III-- have joined Knights for Obama.

The newly revived Catholic Left is part of a larger effort by religious progressives to expand the definition of "values issues" to include war, the economy and the environment.

"I think the `values' debate was fairly one-dimensional," said Alexia Kelley, executive director of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, which drew some 800 social-justice-minded Catholics to a meeting in Philadelphia last July and has been active during the presidential campaign.

Progressives say neutralizing abortion as a Republican wedge issue is key to their campaign. While many accept the church's teaching that abortion is evil, they reject the idea that voting for a pro-abortion rights candidate is akin to heresy.

"Coming out of 2004, the abortion issue was paralyzing the prophetic religious community," said James Salt, Catholic United's director of organizing. "Our contribution to the abortion debate was inadequate."

Progressives say they now have a persuasive contribution: that addressing the root causes of abortion, such as poverty, can be more effective in the short term than working to criminalize the procedure.

Salt said his group is mailing that message directly to 50,000 Catholic families in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Perhaps as important are the prominent Catholic scholars taking the message to the public at large, such as Douglas Kmiec, former legal counsel in the administrations of President Ronald Reagan and the first President George Bush and Nicholas Cafardi, former dean of the Law School of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, and a past chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' National Review Board on clergy sexual abuse.

"When a very articulate conservative like Doug Kmiec all of a sudden lays out this case, you can't say it's ideologically motivated," said Patrick Whelan, director of Catholic Democrats. "People stop and pay attention."

Still, a number of Catholic bishops reject progressives' arguments.

"The so-called `new' approach of groups like Catholics United and Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good doesn't seem to take into account that children continue to be killed every day through abortion," said Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver, who has published and spoken widely on religion and politics.

Overturning Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion, "remains an important and attainable goal," Chaput said. "But the priority has always been legal protection for the unborn child and legal restriction on abortion, however that can be accomplished."

Despite opposing progressives' ideas, some conservatives say their ideological opponents have come a long way.

"Progressive Catholics have finally gotten their act together," said Brian St. Paul, editor of Crisis Magazine and InsideCatholic.com. "They are more organized and effective. Certainly they are a force."

By Daniel Burke
Religion News Service

Copyright 2008 Religion News Service. All rights reserved. No part of this transmission may be distributed or reproduced without written permission.

New Matthew 25 Video - Martin Sheen

2008-10-16T19:42:00.004-05:00

The Matthew 25 Network

Pro - Life Means Action on Behalf of ALL Human Life

2008-10-03T16:06:00.008-05:00

Great new resource flyer from Catholics United - it can be downloaded here. Just in time for Pro - Life Sunday!

From Catholics United:
October 5, is Pro-Life Sunday, and with the November elections just around the corner, some groups on the far right are bombarding Catholics and other people of faith with the message that all that matters in this election is a candidate's stated position on the legality of abortion. To help inform Catholics about the fullness of our Church's teachings on life, Catholics United has published a new flyer entitled "Pro-Life Means Action on Behalf of All Human Life."

From the flyer

Many candidates say they're pro-life. But do they really have a record to run on?

Here are some important facts for pro-life Americans to consider when deciding how to vote.

The BEST way to combat abortion is to give women and families the tools they need to choose life.
Studies consistently show that when women and families have health care, jobs, education, and other essential supports they are less likely to have an abortion. In fact, more than three out of four women who obtain an abortion say that economic factors were a primary reason for doing so. Instead of helping struggling American families, our leaders have left them to fend for themselves.

Being pro-life is 1 percent talk, 99 percent ACTION.
Being pro-life is not just about what our elected leaders say they believe. It's about the things they do. During the Clinton Administration, the U.S. abortion rate declined nearly 30 percent without enacting any legal prohibitions on abortion. Under President Bush, this decline stagnated. Even the appointment of two new Supreme Court justices was unsuccessful in making any meaningful progress toward building a culture of human life. For all its talk about being pro-life the Bush Administration hasn't protected a single unborn child.

Pro-life means ALL human life - WITHOUT exceptions.
How can our leaders say they are pro-life, while starting unjustified wars, supporting torture, opposing expanded health care for children, cutting school lunch programs, and standing by as hard-working Americans lose their jobs and retirement protections? They can't. To be pro-life is to answer a deep call to support and defend human life at all stages - from conception until death. It means caring for the unborn, for the children, for the less fortunate, and for all hard-working Americans.

Overturning Roe v. Wade will NOT end abortion in America.
All too often, what passes for an authentic pro-life agenda is a candidate's stated opposition to the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision. While legal protections for the unborn are an important part of a pro-life strategy, overturning Roe v. Wade would simply let states decide whether abortion should be legal or illegal. In a post-Roe America, only a handful of states would impose penalties on those who obtain or perform abortions, and women living in these states could still go elsewhere to get an abortion. Overturning Roe cannot be seen as a substitute for policies that can work RIGHT NOW to end abortion, namely supporting women and families.

The Professer vs The Student - The Catholic Problem of John McCain - "Sarah Palin"

2008-10-03T15:14:00.009-05:00

By now I am sure everybody has read about the debate last night between Senator Biden and Governor Palin, and a lot of folks watched it. From my sofa I saw Senator Biden win the debate hands down. At times it looked like Professor Biden debating a first year student. Senator Biden offered real solutions that an Obama / Biden administration will bring to real issues facing Americans in these uneasy times. We heard a valid and solid plan for a two front war, health care, education, the environment and most importantly the economy.

What we got from Palin was at times a deer in the headlight look while she nervously avoided looking Senator Biden in the eye, dodged questions and spun answers like a puppet being played by Karl Rove. She looked more like a game show contestant at times than a serious candidate for the second highest office in the land. If this is the best McCain can bring to the table to replace him in the event of the unthinkable, then please leave me out.

I love Hockey Moms and Joe Six pack just as much as anybody. I believe the common folks are often left out of the conversation. However I do not want Joe Six Pack or Hockey Mom calling the shots. I want experienced competent people that are informed on the issues from various fronts and can actually cite the media sources they read everyday.

Beyond the debate however Sarah Palin is just wrong for Catholics as evidenced by her lack of grasp and knowledge on the debates and further proof is provided below.

Sarah Palin: Wrong For Catholics

Palin Cut Nearly $200,000 From Catholic Run Social Programs. During her two years as Alaska's Governor, Sarah Palin cut $190,000 in funding from Catholic Community Services.

From the Alaska Budget:

Catholic Community Services - Angoon Senior Center Stove, Refrigerator, and Freezer
Palin Cut $20,000 - S.B. 53 FY 2008 and an additional 20k for the same project from S.B. 221 FY 2009- So Catholic Community Services is out 40k thanks to Sarah Palin.

Catholic Community Resources - Fairbanks Counseling & Adoption
Palin cut $150,000- S.B. 221 FY 2009 - Apparently Palin's "Family Values" do not apply to the Catholic Community Resources in Fairbanks.

If Sarah Palin rejects the good work of the Catholic Church in Alaska, how are Catholic voters expected to support her for Vice President?

Catholic voters should not have a hard time saying "thanks but no thanks" to McCain and Palin this November.

Can a Catholic support Obama? - Prof. Kmiec responds to deceptive critique

2008-10-03T08:58:00.006-05:00

Recently Deal Hudson published a statement by Doug Johnson - Legislative director of National Right to Life, where Johnson and Hudson refer to abortion reduction as a “scam”. Hudson called the statement “authoritative”. I recently went over the fine points with Doug Kmiec, an authority on this issue in his own right. His response to the Johnson piece is as follows” - read statement from Hudsons site here

Eric McFadden: Doug Johnson - Legislative director of National Right to Life and some others have suggested that “Abortion Reduction” is a scam used by Democrats to gloss over the issue of abortion with Catholics. They believe that you create the impression that Obama will merely preserve the legal status quo on abortion, while creating a token government handout for women experiencing crisis pregnancies. These folks are convinced that an Obama administration will simply increase the numbers of abortions performed.

Doug Kmiec: First, as I indicate in my book Can a Catholic Support Him? Asking the Big Question About Barack Obama (Overlook Press, NY), my endorsement of Senator Obama has from the beginning indicated places where this conservative Republican (me) disagrees with the Senator, and we disagree on the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) which I oppose, and indeed, believe in its current form exceeds the power of Congress. Second, to the extent FOCA is believed to mandate the public funding of abortion, and that is not explicit, I would oppose that as well.

That said, while the Senator and I are in disagreement, it does not dim my enthusiasm for his presidency since I believe for the first time we will have a president who genuinely intends to address the poverty and anxiety that in the vast majority of cases determines a woman’s decision.

Second, I greatly respect Doug Johnson and his work in behalf of life. In this regard, he has been in this vineyard long enough to know that there is a meaningful difference between pro-abortion and pro-choice. Indeed, in Senator Obama’s case, it is more aptly a difference between criminalization and compassion, or to be even more fair to the approach advocated by Mr. Johnson, regulation and restriction or the encouragement of a responsible exercise of freedom.

In any event, Senator Obama has never been pro-abortion, and is not now.

Eric McFadden: Some have claimed that Obama advocates repeal of the Hyde Amendment? -- and he would enact national health care that would also mandate coverage of abortion on demand.

Doug Kmiec: Again, “mandate coverage for abortion on demand”? This has never been Senator Obama’s position, which instead: Accepts the Roe framework, leaving the ultimate decision to the expectant mother, and consistent with language the Senator was instrumental in having added to the Democratic Platform also “strongly supports a woman’s decision to have a child by ensuring access to and availability of programs for pre and post natal health care,parenting skills,income support, and caring adoption programs.”

Eric McFadden: Abortion opponents have argued that Obama will not renew the Hyde Amendment.

Doug Kmiec: As Doug Johnson indicates, the Hyde Amendment is renewed year by year. Even were FOCA to pass, and even if my doubts about its unconstitutionality were determined by an appropriate court to be unfounded, Congress has it well within its power to renew the Hyde Amendment after FOCA, which by well-settled, last-in-time interpretative principles would keep the abortion funding limitation in place. What’s needed is what has always been needed, a convincing and legislatively winning argument that on balance public funding for abortion wrongly implicates the taxpayer in what many citizens, including me, see as a moral wrong.

I have not discussed this with him at great length, but I imagine that Senator Obama views health care funding as something that as much as possible should be governed by the needs and determinations of a patient and the patient’s doctor, and it is this nondiscrimination principle, which convinces him that just as public funds should be available for pre and post natal care so too a woman’s choice to bear a child cannot be coerced under criminal or regulatory penalty. Again, not my view and given that FOCA in one form or another has been stalled in Congress since 1989, arguably not the view of the public at large. Indeed, on that score, FOCA’s fate will be more determined by the electoral outcome in Congress than the presidency.

Eric McFadden: Some abortion opponents have claimed that the “Freedom of Choice Act” (S.1173) would invalidate existing federal and state limitations on Abortions.

Doug Kmiec: I am not convinced this wholesale invalidation of state law is what is intended by the drafters of FOCA; what they have provided for in the draft legislative language; or what the judiciary would construe that language to mean. There is still a presumption against preemption that is respectful of the different choices of the states – at least in areas where a constitutionally-affirmed fundamental right is not present (and abortion, as Doug Johnson knows, is not that) -- so I do not accept that regulation, for example, that is evenhandedly drafted by the states to preserve patient health and well-being across multiple medical procedures including abortion automatically is invalid as a “discrimination.” Even the statement of that proposition seems absurd on its face.
Eric McFadden: Johnson and others point to a quote from Senator Obama: "The first thing I'd do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. That's the first thing that I'd do." – they express the same fear that state laws would be nullified by the "Freedom of Choice Act."

Doug Kmiec: Again, I believe this to be overstatement, both in light of the preemption principle noted above and the underlying constitutional doubt about FOCA derived from well-settled law that Congress lacks authority to redefine constitutional rights and liberties. A Supreme Court that some years ago denied Congress’ ability to enact into law as against the states a super-protection of religious liberty is likely to have the same reservations, maybe more given the sensitive and controversial nature of the abortion subject.

Eric McFadden: Johnson has pointed out that Obama has also voted directly against parental notification requirements twice. He also refers us a study of Cardinal Rigali’s regarding the "Freedom of Choice Act," and the accompanying legal memo.

Doug Kmiec: I fully accept the teaching of my church. That teaching, including the thoughtful letter from Cardinal Rigali, indicates that “in recent months, the national debate on abortion has taken a turn that may be productive. Members of both parties have sought to reach a consensus on ways to reduce abortions in our society.” While his Eminence finds this consensus emerging especially on the regulatory front, I do not read his letter as denying the possibility of consensus by means of improved support for women in poverty and who are often alone and isolated. Quite the contrary, the Cardinal himself notes, quite consistently I might add with the perspective of Senator Obama (though, appropriately of course, the Cardinal does not mention any political figure by name), that “because many women have testified that they are pressured toward abortion by social and economic hardships, bipartisan legislation providing practical support to help women carry their pregnancies to term, . . . deserves Congress’s attention.” Senator McCain’s history here is curious. On the one hand, the Senator voted in favor of amending those eligible for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to include the unborn-while voting against legislation to expand SCHIP's coverage to low-income children and pregnant women at least six times.

With all due respect, that type of legislative duplicity is just political gamesmanship which squanders the kind of tangible consensus both the Cardinal and myself and pro-life advocates in both parties would applaud. Matt Bowman in The American Spectator in an essay calculated to bolster Senator McCain’s on again/ off again pro-life position (in the late 90s, the Senator spoke approvingly of Roe, for example) is reduced to writing: “there is no tangible reason to fear that McCain would veto abortion-alternative funding,” though he then urges that the Senator make it “more clear.”

Clarity is good, and like Mr. Bowman, I would hope Senator McCain would follow the lead of Senator Obama on this and support “pre and post natal care.” To do that, however, the Obama administration will first have to clean up the financial mess left behind by the misguided Bush-McCain economic ideology that favored maverick deregulation and tax subsidization of the wealthy -- though apparently not the economically savvy. In other words, to responsibly fund abortion alternatives, Senator McCain will need public resources. Such resources will likely only be possible by the repeal of high-end tax favoritism and the enactment of middle class tax cuts along the lines envisioned by Senator Obama.

Eric McFadden: Johnson and others have been critical of your claim that Republican office holders have not achieved a “Human life Amendment”. In their critique, they claim that Constitution does not give a president any formal role in the constitutional amendment process.

Doug Kmiec: Yes, constitutional amendments depend on the initiative of members of Congress, like that which Senator McCain could have undertaken – but did not -- during his almost 30 years occupying public office.

Eric McFadden: Johnson has stated that “Obama even advocates repeal of the national ban on partial-birth abortions, which the U.S. Supreme Court upheld in 2007 on a 5-4 vote.”

Doug Kmiec: It is well known that Senator Obama has clearly stated on numerous occasions his support for restrictions on late term abortions. Indeed, Senator Obama has identified the need to draft a clearly defined health exception, the responsible narrowing of which Doug Johnson and I – and perhaps the entire right to life community, including the dear late Henry Hyde himself -- have been advocating for decades.

Eric McFadden: – In a statement Johnson wrote: “Finally: Kmiec has written elsewhere of the personal work that he and his wife have done in assisting women who are experiencing crisis pregnancies, which is certainly commendable. Crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) across this nation help many, many women each year, and save the lives of many children. Before Kmiec speaks again about Obama's purported commitment to "abortion reduction," perhaps he should reflect on the question put to the Obama campaign by RHrealitycheck.org, a prominent pro-abortion advocacy website -- "Does Sen. Obama support continuing federal funding for crisis pregnancy centers?" The Obama campaign's official response was short, but it spoke volumes: "No."”

Doug Kmiec: Continue funding? The counseling centers known to me and my very effective spouse have not had the benefit of such funding. Must be hard to get. Anyway, Senator Obama’s signal of clear and strong support for women who choose to carry a pregnancy to term offers the kind of complementary assistance that will hardly impede crisis pregnancy centers. And that’s the thing, you have to have the funding for pre and post natal care, income support and parenting skills before you can help anyone in the context of a crisis pregnancy center or otherwise. And as I see it, only Senator Obama has made this, well, “clear.” All McCain-Palin have is platform rhetoric about finding “new ways to empower,” which is really rather tired, old verbiage more likely to mean embarrassingly little.

Hurricane Katrina exposed 'two Americas,' bishop says - Highlights the McCain problem with the Catholic vote

2008-09-28T16:20:00.006-05:00

From CNS:

It took the worst natural and man-made disaster in American history -- Hurricane Katrina and the levee breaches that inundated New Orleans with water in 2005 -- to expose previously hidden levels of poverty in the richest country in the world, a Catholic bishop said Sept. 25.

Citing the Rev. James Forbes, the retired rector of Riverside Church in New York City, Bishop Sullivan said "Lady Katrina" was "a prophetess who revealed to us the two Americas, the haves and the have-nots, the white America and the America of color.

Read the entire story here....

John McCain voted with George W. Bush 90% of the time during the past eight years. While the survivors of Katrina Suffered - McCain ate cake with Bush.

McCain wants to continue the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy at a time when many Americans on main street are barely able to buy groceries or gasoline. While many Katrina survivors still live in FEMA trailers to this day, McCain is unable to even remember that he owns seven luxury homes in three time zones.

Catholics know the reality of the injustices and poverty in our country brought on by the policies of Bush and McCain and will no longer be fooled by the rhetoric that brings little or no results and only more pain and suffering for working Americans.

Americans are not interested in witty tales of the past and mooseburgers. Americans are looking for change and are hopeful as they look to the future and an Obama Presidency that restores the honor and dignity of our great country and lifts up the most vulnerable and gives them a chance instead of giving it all to the wealthy.

Supreme Knight Carl Anderson politicizes Knights of Columbus

2008-09-28T15:57:00.005-05:00

Carl Anderson, former official of the Reagan Administration, GOP surrogate and supporter, has led the Knights Columbus astray with his recent statement regarding Vice Presidential Candidate Joe Biden.

According to the Knights of Columbus Website, the Knights were formed to render financial aid to members and their families. Mutual aid and assistance are offered to sick, disabled and needy members and their families. Social and intellectual fellowship is promoted among members and their families through educational, charitable, religious, social welfare, war relief and public relief works.

I reached the 4th Degree of the order, which is as far as one can go in the Knights. During my journey through the degree's I must have missed the "Carl Anderson" Political Science 101 class.

In his letter, Anderson claims to speak for the 1.28 million Knights around the world.--- He does not speak for me. I also personally know many Knights who would agree. Not because they are Republicans or Democrats. Not for Political Reasons. None of us became Knights because we were Republicans or Democrats. Instead we became Knights to serve. To serve the communities we live in. To serve our parishes and the Bishops in our dioceses. We joined to help the mentally challenged and the least among us in our communities. We joined because we are Catholic Gentleman and we wanted to make a difference in our communities.

We never thought that Anderson would sully the Knights by dragging this century old organization into modern day politics. Not only has he misspent and wasted money that the membership has paid in dues and fund raising to release his politically motivated letter, but he has drawn the Knights into the ugly world of partisan politics.

Carl Anderson should resign as Supreme Knight so the good work of the Knights of Columbus can continue without the stain of partisan politics on it.

More in this CNS Article

Poll Finds Obama Won Debate - McCain continues to have problems with Catholic Voters

2008-09-28T11:02:00.003-05:00

A new USA Today/Gallup Poll shows 46% of people who watched Fridaynight’s presidential debate say Sen. Barack Obama did a better job than Sen. John McCain; 34% said McCain did better.

It is no wonder. McCain looked at times as if he was impatient and grumpy. He went out of his way to avoid eye contact with Obama. That speaks to character, the character that Catholic voters will be looking for this election. If McCain can not look Obama in the eye, how can he look the American people in the eye in times of crisis?

The margin of error was +/- 4 percentage points.

With Obama ahead of the margin of error, independent voters and Catholic voters are receiving Obama's economic message with open arms. Meanwhile McCain and his cronies on Capital hill move to protect the golden parachutes and bottom lines of their banking buddies by stalling the bailout plan.

Catholic and independent voters are simply not being fooled by McCain's attempt to repackage his campaign as the agent of change.

Voters know that this country has wounds and when it comes to changing the band aid, they know that removing the band aid slowly and painfully ( McCain - Palin) is not the change that America needs.

America needs the band aid removed quickly and to heal correctly American needs Obama - Biden.

WHY THIS PRIEST VOTES FOR OBAMA

2008-09-28T08:38:00.005-05:00

I received an email from a Priest I know who read Fr. Schroth's post below and this was his reaction. Because he is not public with his thoughts and my respect for that, I am not publishing his name - but I simply could not agree more. Thanks for these thoughts Father, and thanks to Father Schroth for his bravery to speak the truth.

I thank Raymond Schroth for his boldness to speak his convictions. As priests we must stand up and speak out and give brother and sister Catholics another option to being told that they are not good Catholics if they vote for someone who stands for choice. I am against Abortion, but not just Abortion in the Womb but every form of it. The Abortion that is killing people everyday in an immoral war, poor education, poverty, death penality, Racism, Sexism, homelessness, no healthcare, and on and on and on. Anything that keeps a child of God from attaining his or her Divine Destiny and purpose is a form of abortion!! - unnamed Priest in response to Fr.Schroth's piece.

Cross posted from NJ.COM

by Raymond A. Schroth September 27, 2008 11:48AM

One school of thought says that because of the separation of church and state and because the priest has a religious role requiring him to rise above politics, he should not run for office or identify himself with any candidate or party. Some add that if a priest takes a political stand he alienates those who disagree with him.

On the other hand, Jesus and his followers often alienated the political and religious establishments of their day. And in Europe there's a history of popes and bishops calling on Catholics to vote against communists and those who contradict church teaching on abortion, marriage and other issues.

Here a handful of bishops declare that candidates who don't agree that abortion must be outlawed are thus in mortal sin, destined for hell, and must be denied the eucharist.

Meanwhile mid-20th century movements like the worker priests and labor priests, and, later, liberation theology have helped priests and religious orders like mine to understand the degree to which both the prophets and the gospels demand that Christians identify with the poor. As a result, more than ever, to be a Catholic today requires not just opposition to abortion, but an end to the death penalty, commitment to economic fairness, and adherence to the conditions for a just war -- conditions violated by our invasion of Iraq.

There is no way I can separate my political, literary, or social judgments from my priesthood. The values that made me become a priest permeate everything I do. Those principles are that our love for one another must reach beyond the boundaries of family, nation, or creed and that national policy should above all protect the weak. For me this includes laws that would lessen the number of abortions, mostly through social and economic reform rather than by sending women who have aborted to jail.

Therefore I will vote for Barack Obama for president and encourage anyone who reads this to do the same and to pass the word. I was born when Franklin D. Roosevelt came into office and gave us hope to overcome fear. A Hudson River aristocrat paralyzed from the waist down, he identified with the helpless. He used his God-given gifts of voice, eloquence, and character to inspire a nation through the depression and World War II. Obama has the basic FDR ideals and political skills, the ability to bring people together and lift then up with his words. Editor of the Harvard Law Review, Obama passed up big law firms to organize Chicago's neighborhood poor and teach Constitutional Law before entering politics.

He is a genuinely religious man whose social policies, more than his opponent's resemble Catholic social teaching. Above all, he opposed the Iraq war. Had his views prevailed, 4000 Americans and hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis would still be alive.

Finally, under his steady leadership, America has a chance to confront its racial problems, including the black family breakdown and the plight of young black males who lack both education and hope. No other candidate has even mentioned this problem.

I do not say this from a pulpit. I imply no mroal obligation that you accept my ideas. I simply argue that Obama, more than his opponent, represents a chance for justice and peace.

About the Author

Raymond A. Schroth, S.J., professor of humanities at Saint Peter's College, comes from a Trenton family of journalists, teachers and lawyers. He has taught or served as dean at five Jesuit colleges and universities, plus New York University graduate school and Brooklyn College.

Schroth's eight books include a biography of Eric Sevareid, a history of Fordham, and "The American Jesuits: A History," to appear in October. He is also the media columnist for the National Catholic Reporrter. He writes on religion issues.

Jobless claims pushed to 7-year high - Does McCain have a Catholic Problem?

2008-09-25T20:35:00.003-05:00

Yes - McCain does have a problem with Catholic voters. There are many problems, but one glaring one is credibility. He wants people to believe he is the change agent, yet he voted 95% of the time over the past eight years with the failed administration of George W. Bush.

Nothing has been done to stem the tide of the jobless rate over the last 7 years, and John McCain has been there all the way.

Catholic Voters are looking for a candidate who has credibility. When a candidate like John McCain says the Fundamentals of our campaign are strong while the economy crumbles and this jobless rate is on the rise, Catholics will raise their eyebrows... and rightly so.

Read the story here....

Homeless Setting Up Camp Wherever They Can

2008-09-25T20:20:00.001-05:00

From Seattle to Athens, Ga., homeless advocacy groups and city agencies are reporting the most visible rise in homeless encampments in a generation. Nearly 61 percent of local and state homeless coalitions say they've experienced a rise in homelessness since the foreclosure crisis began in 2007, according to a report by the National Coalition for the Homeless. The group says the problem has worsened since the report's release in April, with foreclosures mounting, gas and food prices rising and the job market tightening. The phenomenon of encampments has caught advocacy groups somewhat by surprise, largely because of how quickly they have sprung up.

AP Story...

Pope urges international leaders to tackle poverty with courage

2008-09-25T20:11:00.002-05:00

From Catholic News Service

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI urged international leaders to tackle global poverty "with courage" when they meet at the United Nations to verify implementation of the Millennium Development Goals. Read more

America can take the lead here, but only if we are able to address this economic crisis. Otherwise the United State may be looking to other countries for aid to solve our poverty problems that follow a meltdown of the markets.

Democrats frame economy as 'values' issue

2008-09-25T20:00:00.003-05:00

Got a mention in this excellent Eric Gorski AP article... Read it here.

Democrats, however, can argue that the Bush administration's spending on the Iraq war and expansion of government don't mesh with the smaller government that many independent voters desire, said Eric McFadden, former director of the Ohio Office of Faith-Based Initiatives, who also worked to get out Catholic votes for Hillary Clinton during the primaries.

To connect with religious voters on the economy, Obama needs to focus not so much on tailoring a message to specific faiths as talking about job loss and showing empathy, he said.

"Someone said to me, 'We need to create a flier that shows McCain's tax plan and Obama's,'" McFadden said. "We don't need that. People get lost in detail. They want to understand that someone is compassionate and understands what's going on and will fix the problem."

Meanwhile, a sign of McCain's growing problem with Faith Voters is this quote.

"I have never believed the president of the United States, regardless of who it is, can help the economy get better," said Phil Burress, head of the Ohio-based Citizens for Community Values. "I believe a president can make it worse. The best thing to do is to get off the backs of private entrepreneurs and small business."

If this who is speaking for McCain, his problems in the faith community will simply continue to grow. How on earth could this economic situation under Bush get any worse? McCain has been along for the ride 95% of the time.

Meanwhile, American voters, especially Catholic voters are seeing the wisdom of the Obama plan, which is sound and solid.

Economy tops agenda for religious voters

2008-09-25T19:48:00.003-05:00

From the Columbus Dispatch

Four years ago, the war in Iraq and the same-sex marriage debate pushed foreign policy and social issues to the top of the priority list for nearly all religious voters. Read More

It is not surprising at all. CEO's are getting the golden parachute while the rest of us are getting the shaft. Social conservatives would want us to believe that gay marriage and abortion is the root of all evil in this country. I would argue that corporate greed and materialism have become the greater evil. This is what the last eight years have brought us. McCain has been there with Bush all the way, at least 95% of the time.

The economy affects all other issues, and when it is down, the family unit will struggle.

With the McCain campaign falling over its economic message Catholic voters have much to consider the ballot box this fall. Catholic voters do have and alternative are hearing a strong economic message from Barack Obama and Joe Biden. They have a plan, not a change in plans. There is much to look forward too, but also much work ahead.

The fundamentals of the McCain campaign are strong

2008-09-23T08:32:00.003-05:00

Great Cartoon from PolitickerOH - speaks to the problem that voters are becoming increasingly aware of about McCain - especially Catholic Voters - the guy is simply out of touch with the problems of our country, especially the economic factors that have families struggling right now.

Pray for Ambassador Flynn

2008-09-22T18:13:00.005-05:00

Raymond L. Flynn, former Ambassador to the Vatican during the Clinton administration and former Mayor Boston is battling melanoma and was hospitalized recently after collapsing during a speaking engagement according to his son as reported in the Boston Globe. Read the story here.

Like Doug Kmiec, myself and others, Ambassador Flynn is a Pro Life Catholic Democrat (Kmiec came from the dark side recently.) Ambassador Flynn like many other Pro Life Democrats realizes the folly of putting a single issue above others at the expense of the least of these. Never hiding behind the veneer of the abortion issue, Flynn like many other faithful Catholics has always realized the consistent ethic of life is the key to good public policy and that life goes on after birth.

I had the distinct pleasure of working with Ambassador Flynn this past spring on the Hillary Clinton Campaign. Ambassador Flynn was a tireless campaigner for Hillary and and asset to the campaign, especially the Faith and Values team.

Please take a moment and pray for Ambassador Flynn and his family. I wish them all my best.

Ohio Christian Radio Ad Connects with Economic Crisis, Plight of Ohioans

2008-09-22T16:53:00.004-05:00

The Matthew 25 Network is running a new ad on Christian radio stations in Ohio connecting the Christian mandate to care for the least among us with the economic crisis in Ohio and around the country. Former Congressman Tony Hall, a pro-life Democrat from Dayton , Ohio is featured in the ad connecting his Christian faith to his endorsement of Barack Obama for President.

The ad entitled "When did we see you hungry?" is the first in a series of radio ads that the Matthew 25 Network will be releasing inspired by 25th Chapter in the Gospel of Matthew, where Jesus asks his followers to care for "the least of these."

This is great oppertunity for Catholics to consider other issues than the wedge issues that the right often uses as veneer to hide their failures. The economy is a life issue that directly impacts all other issues.

McCain's ongoing Catholic problem is that he is unable to resonate with folks on the economy. How on earth could a man who thinks the fundamentals of the economy are strong, flies in a private plane, drives thirteen cars and lives in seven homes across three time zones resonate with those who are struggling to get by in Ohio?

The Matthew 25 Network

Catholic Democrats find strong push-back from bishops

2008-09-18T07:01:00.004-05:00

Had a small mention in this recent RNS article:

But as the "Meet the Press" controversy demonstrates, talking about faith can be harder than it sounds. That's especially true for Catholic politicians, who are measured against 2,000 years of church tradition and doctrine.

"I don't think it's the place of politicians to get into theological debates," said Eric McFadden, who directed Catholic outreach for Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. "Congresswoman Pelosi and Sen. Biden probably should have spoken more from the heart about how Catholic teaching affects their thinking and their policy positions."

Read the entire story here.

I also stated, but it was not included that the Bishop’s are conflicted on the state of life. They argue that all abortion--at every stage of conception--is a sin against life but they do not condemn war or nuclearization that guarantees the mass loss of life or capital punishment. It is the inconsistency of their ‘life’ arguments that confuse the people.

Compare and Contrast

2008-09-17T13:53:00.002-05:00

Let me see if I have this straight.....

If you grow up in Hawaii , raised by your grandparents, you're "exotic, different."

Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, a quintessential American story.

If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.

Name your kids Willow , Trig and Track, you're a maverick.

Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable.

Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded.

If you become the President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years at the University of Chicago as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.

If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive and next in line behind a man in his eighth decade.

If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian.

If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and then left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a true Christian.

If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education,including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.

If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state's school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you're very responsible.

If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her intercity community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America's.

If you're husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one DWI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable.

OK, much clearer now.

John McCain and His Continuing Catholic Problem - Actions Speak Louder than Words

2008-09-17T09:27:00.002-05:00

Nice Press Release from Catholics - United today...and a new ad that gets to the heart of John McCain and his problem with Catholic Voters.

Catholics United TV Ad Campaign Questions John McCain's Pro-Life Credentials

Challenges Arizona Senator to Support Health Care and Assistance for Pregnant Women, Oppose War

Washington, D.C. – Catholics United today unveiled a new 527 ad campaign encouraging Senator John McCain to embrace a broad pro-life agenda including support for health care and effective assistance to pregnant women, children, and families. The ad – which will run on cable television in heavily Catholic areas of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan – comes as Catholic and other religious groups are calling for a national abortion dialogue that prioritizes effective and common good solutions over political rhetoric.

The thirty-second spot features a Catholic pro-life mother of three from the Midwest who states that "actions speak louder than words" when it comes to a pro-life record. She proceeds to cite Senator McCain's August 2007 vote against the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and support of the Iraq War as examples of actions inconsistent with authentic pro-life policy.

"Many Americans, particularly Catholic Americans, are fed up with leaders who use the 'pro-life' label to score political points without delivering real results," said Chris Korzen, executive director of Catholics United. "'Pro-life' is more than just a campaign slogan. It's a broad and deep call to defend human life at all stages, and especially to implement social and economic assistance for women and families. These are effective policies to reduce the number of abortions that Americans across the political spectrum can support."

Even as the Republican Party abandoned proposed platform language last month aimed at embracing bipartisan solutions to the abortion tragedy, a Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good study showed a clear connection between increased economic supports for women, children, and families and lower abortion rates. Catholics United also released a study showing that allowing states to criminalize abortion – as would happen in a post-Roe v. Wade America – would have little effect on the abortion rate.

Ad Script:

"I'm a mother of three children and I am pro-life. John McCain, it's not enough to say you're pro-life. Actions speak louder than words. You voted against one of the largest support programs for pregnant women. You voted against health care for our children. And you voted for a war that has killed thousands of Americans. Senator McCain, when will you start defending all human life, without exception?"

For More Information, click below:

Reducing Abortion in America: Beyond Roe v. Wade

Reducing Abortion in America: the Effect of Economic and Social Supports

John McCain's Continuing Catholic Problem - The Economy

2008-09-15T15:45:00.008-05:00

Has John McCain become Herbert Hoover?

"The fundamentals of our economy are strong." - John McCain, Jacksonville FL, 9-15-08

4.2 Jobless Rate
Deficit is is 357 Billion
America is 10 trillion in debt
Gasoline prices up, price of commodities up........

"The fundamentals of the economy are on a firm and prosperous basis" - Herbert Hoover, On the day of the stock market crash in 1929

Blessed are the young for they shall inherit the national debt.
Herbert Hoover

Just what country is John McCain a citizen of when he states "our economy" ? With the most serious financial crisis since the Great Depression, bank failures looming, Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., Merrill Lynch & Co., and American International Group Inc going in the tank, what economy is John McCain living in?

The economic policies of the the last eight years have brought us to this brink. We saw the same failed trickle down economics in the eighties resulting in the savings and loan crisis. Thankfully the fiscally responsible policies of Democratic President Clinton brought us out of the economic disaster left to us by Reagan and Bush I. This time another Bush born with a silver spoon in his mouth has brought this country to the brink of economic disaster, and John McCain, oblivious to the plight of working Americans, thinks our economy is strong. It was the Economy Stupid then, and it is the Economy Stupid now Mr. McBush.

Senator Obama said today "It's not that I think John McCain doesn't care what's going on in the lives of most Americans. I just think he doesn't know. He doesn't get what's happening between the mountains in Sedona where he lives and the corridors of power where he works." - he could not be more on target. John McCain and his lobbyist staff are completely out of touch with working Americans. They do not understand the problems facing American families: rising gas prices, expensive health care or none at all, shrinking wages and savings, and assaults on the rights of American workers. John McCain simply does not have a plan - just more of the same - like a bad movie squeal. America has already suffered through Bush I and II - we certainly can not survive a third with "McBush - Return of the bad economy part III".

Catholic Voters will not be fooled by these failed economic policies that not only result in higher abortion rates, but also take food from the mouths of their children and continue to deteriorate the structure and values of the American Family.

Does Biden Have a Catholic Problem?

2008-09-15T15:06:00.003-05:00

Great new article in the latest Time by the ever observant Amy Sullivan.

When Barack Obama announced that he had chosen Joe Biden as his running mate, Catholic Democrats knew some kind of religious rumble was inevitable.

They had spent the 2004 campaign watching John Kerry pummeled by charges that he was not a good Catholic and by warnings that he could be denied communion because of his support for abortion rights. Already this year they had seen pro-choice Catholic Kathleen Sebelius knocked out of vice presidential contention after her archbishop imposed a "pastoral action" on her, demanding she no longer receive the Eucharist.

Yet none of these Bishops, mostly marginalized in the Bishops conference and in the minority, like Chaput has a single press release on record chastising Catholic Republican lawmakers when they go against Catholic Teaching

Sure enough, the day after Biden's selection the archbishop of Denver declared that the Catholic senator should "refrain from presenting himself for communion." Archbishop Charles Chaput was one of the handful of Catholic leaders who had targeted Kerry in 2004, but he had become a marginalized in the bishops conference — losing key leadership elections — in part because of his extreme views about denying communion to politicians. His warning to Biden stood alone. Even the conservative Catholic League's Bill Donahue, who rarely hesitates to fire off press releases condemning Catholic Democrats, was unusually silent about Biden.

Chaput is often alone in his partisan attacks on Catholic politicians. Recently being denied a leadership role in the Bishops conference. Apparently the other Bishops are trying to distance themselves from the divisive politics of the Chaput Doctrine.

Then the Bishops stepped in. On Wednesday, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops publically called out Biden for comments he made about abortion on NBCs Meet the Press. Even Kerry, whose support for abortion rights is much stronger than Biden's and who was running at the top of the ticket, never generated attention from more than a handful of the most extreme bishops. The involvement of the bishops conference is a clear signal that the communion wars are not over. And it has Catholics Democrats worriedly asking themselves: Can one of their own ever again win national office?

Maybe somebody should alert the Bishops to the facts: Hugh Skees of Miamisburg, Ohio, has culled from the public records of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that from 1979 to 1990 the annual rate of abortion increased by 14.2 percent.

"If the rate had not increased during those 11 years, approximately 740,000 abortions would have been prevented," Skees said. "From 1990 to 2000, the annual rate decreased by 34 percent. If the rate had not decreased as it did, approximately 2.3 million more children would have been aborted, but instead are alive today."

What was so favorable in the 1990s that abortion rates dropped? Skees speculates that it was the relatively prosperous economic times and policies that favored the average family. Hmmm - Democratic policies regarding Abortion Reduction vs the failed policies of the Republican

In many ways, Biden is in a better position to deal with criticisms of his Catholicism than Kerry ever was. The 2004 Democratic nominee was utterly unprepared for the attacks that came his way. He had to contend with a press corps that trailed him to mass each Sunday and practically accompanied him to the communion rail to see if he would indeed be given the Eucharist. And when Kerry's campaign decided to remain silent about the issue, he left unchallenged the idea that he was a bad or insincere Catholic.

What Biden should say: "There is no disagreement between me and the bishops; of course, I understand that life begins at conception not just as a matter of personal belief, as I said on MTP, but also, as an objective biological fact that can be known by all. I didn’t think it was necessary to give emphasis to the second basis, but I understand why the bishops give emphasis to its importance. The bishops remind us that abortion is “a moral question,” and that is exactly how Senator Obama has consistently described it as well, which is precisely why women facing this tragic dilemma, will have – in our administration, access to health care, including especially prenatal care, paid maternity leave, and other income support , as well as more accessible adoption."

Biden, in contrast, knew what was coming. Delaware's Catholic leaders have never sought to withhold communion from the senator because of his support for abortion rights. But in 2006, then-Wilmington Bishop Michael Saltarelli pressured Biden's high school alma mater into dropping plans to name a new student center after him, citing a 2004 statement from the USCCB: "Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles."

While he accepted Bishop Saltarelli's directive, Biden can be feisty about defending his Catholic faith. At one 2005 political event, he memorably vowed that "the next Republican that tells me I'm not religious, I'm going to shove my rosary down their throat." That spirit, along with his Scranton roots, could attract him more sympathy from fellow Catholics when criticized by church leaders. "His blue-collar background may inoculate him in ways that it couldn't for John Kerry," says Bill Roth, president of the Catholic Democrats PAC.

Biden also benefits from the work of progressive groups like Roth's that didn't exist in 2004. Catholics United, for example, has developed a specialty in religious rapid response, blasting out a press release "Palin Attacks Catholic Community Organizing by Senator Obama" shortly after the GOP running mate's speech at the Republican convention. And some conservative Catholics are speaking out as well, venting their disappointment with Bush policies that have not reflected Catholic social teaching and with the Republican Party's focus on overturning Roe v. Wade as the only way to address the abortion issue. Douglas Kmiec, a former Reagan administration official and Obama's most famous conservative Catholic supporter, has rushed out a book about his choice in time for the fall campaign: Can a Catholic Support Him? Asking the Big Question about Barack Obama.

But it's the renewed confidence and assertiveness of Catholic Democrats that may have gotten Biden in trouble. During a September 7 appearance on Meet the Press, moderator Tom Brokaw asked Biden to answer the question "When does life begin?" From a Catholic standpoint, the Democratic candidate started off well, telling Brokaw, "As a Roman Catholic, I'm prepared to accept the teachings of my church — I'm prepared as a matter of faith to accept that life begins at the moment of conception."

If he'd stopped there, Biden would have been fine. But he went on to argue that there was a debate about the question in the Catholic Church, throwing in a Thomas Aquinas "Summa Theologia" reference for good measure. It was that extra flourish that got the attention of the bishops, according to Father Thomas Reese, senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center. "Politicians should not do theology," says Reese. "Whenever they start interpreting Catholic teaching, they invite Catholic bishops to jump all over them." Within days, Cardinal Justin Rigali, who heads the USCCB committee on pro-life activities, and Bishop William Lori, who chairs the committee on doctrine, drafted a statement outlining Biden's theological errors that was released on behalf of the entire bishops conference — a rebuke not even Kerry received in 2004.

Biden may have had Nancy Pelosi to thank for the fact that the bishops were already on a hair-trigger alert. Two weeks earlier on the same program, Brokaw had posed the same question to Pelosi, who had refused to answer. "Over the history of the Church," she insisted, "this is an issue of controversy." It is true that lay and church scholars engaged in a vigorous debate in the 1960s over the acceptability of contraceptive use before Pope Paul VI ended the discussion by reiterating official Church opposition to birth control. But the issue was separate from the question of when life begins, over which there has been little internal debate. The official Catechism says that "human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception."

Pelosi's statement provoked swift response. Washington Archbishop Donald Wuerl issued a statement calling her comments "incorrect," while her own archbishop in San Francisco characterized them as "in serious conflicts with the teachings of the Catholic Church." Pelosi and her archbishop are in the process of setting up a meeting to discuss their differences. But one prominent liberal Catholic privately called the episode "a disaster."

It is a generally a good thing when the Church uses public discussion as “a teaching moment.” That said, it is important that the teaching be evenhanded and fair minded. We know the bishops, as Cardinal George in Chicago recently wrote, do not “endorse candidates” or take sides in a national campaign. So while it is always salutary for the bishops to clarify Catholic teaching, when undertaken in the midst of a national campaign, those clarifications should be evaluated in terms of both parties and it would be prudent for the bishops to point out how and why that is. For example, the restatement of the natural law claim for human life prompted by Senator Biden’s comments on MTP, one would think, would have implications for Senator McCain as well. Senator McCain claims to be pro-life, but by the bishops’ statement, he clearly is not. To be genuinely pro-life is to not allow the states to decide this issue, as Senator McCain would, but to insist that any judge he intends to nominate to the bench accept, as the bishops’ say, “life beginning at conception as a matter of objective fact.” If Senator McCain is not willing to affirm that, and his economic plan jeopardizes the average family, is he really pro-life? Not in the way the bishops have taught.

Chris Korzen of Catholics United agrees that the Democratic forays into theology have not helped their cause. "There's a legitimate conversation to be had about how best to translate the teachings of the Catholic faith into public policy," he says. "But as far as the Church is concerned, doctrine is off-limits. When public officials make those comments, of course the bishops need to correct that error."

As much as these missteps have made them groan, Catholic Democrats like Korzen complain that there is an inconsistency in the bishops' actions. In a recent interview with Religion News Service, Archbishop Chaput was asked why he has not also denounced the conflict between John McCain's support for embryonic stem-cell research and his statement that life begins at conception. Chaput responded by denying that McCain held that position. When reminded by the interviewer that McCain has made public statements of support for embryonic stem-cell research on numerous occasions, Chaput switched gears, arguing that he would only have reason to express criticism if McCain had vocal Catholic support, "if a group came out [called] Catholics for McCain.'"

There is in fact a "Catholics for McCain" organization. But contesting the fairness of criticism won't help Democrats this fall. They are already poised to improve on Kerry's support from Catholic voters, whose top issues this year have been the economy and national security instead of hot-button moral issues. In a TIME poll of Catholic voters conducted this summer, a full 80% said that they could vote for a candidate whose position on abortion differed from theirs. Even so, Catholic Democrats can't afford to look like the kids in the corner who don't know their Catechism. In the future, they might want to resist the temptation to wade into theology and stay firmly in the world of policy.

Catholic and for Obama ??

2008-09-15T13:01:00.002-05:00

Now you can tell the world and hopefully cowardly single issue Catholics will not leave you little snippy anonymous notes on your car.

Click here to orders yours today.

The single issue Catholics speak - McCains continuing Catholic problem

2008-09-15T09:13:00.011-05:00

Back on September 6th, I had a little op-ed I submitted to the Columbus Dispatch run..."Obama presidency would be a good fit for Catholics" Columbus Dispatch -Saturday, September 6, 2008

In the coming days I received many, many notes of thanks and encouragement from all over the country. And then a few notes on the nasty side. One was an email from a disgruntled Catholic in the Columbus area. So you take the good with the bad. Then two very brave people actually took the time to mail me a note of disagreement, but somehow their signature did not make it into the envelope. One though was very obvious and I wish her well with her local dry cleaning business.

Then yesterday, a letter to the editor regarding my piece was published....
"Catholics regard abortion as top issue"

Funny - The Catholic vote is actually a mirror of the American mainstream and independents, and by all rational accounts - it's the Economy stupid! - that Americans and Catholics are concerned about.... especially with the disastrous news from Wall Street today.

The letter writer is none other than Sally Testa, wife of Republican Franklin County Auditor Joe Testa. In Franklin County Ohio, Republicans are a rare breed, so they are often a bit disgruntled and angry as evidenced by the right wing talking points fueled letter that Sally submitted. Sally is also a member of the Republican central committee in Ohio. So was this letter written by a Catholic or a Republican supporting the failed policies of her party and McCain? I suspect the latter.

In her letter, Sally points to the Catechism of the Church and states:

"Let me refer him to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Article 2270: "Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person -- among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life." It doesn't get much clearer than that."

So right you are Sally. I am proud of the Church's teaching and I am very pro life. I do not agree with Senator Obama's pro life stand. However I recognize that the failed policies of the Republican party on abortion that McCain supports are out of touch and have actually led to an increase in abortion.

I am realistic and realize that to impact the abortion rate, that policies must be enacted to reduce the circumstances surrounding why a woman makes the choice to have an abortion. I am not naive to believe that simply overturning Roe V Wade will solve the abortion problem. It will not. It will simply return the issue to states where abortion will remain available on demand.

The question Sally should be asking is: Why did the Republican Party remove abortion reduction language from its platform at the RNC? Are Republicans not in favor of reducing and preventing abortions? Apparently not.

The questions I ask of Sally: Is not all life precious? From conception to death? Are you "pro life" or simply "pro birth"? What has the Republican party done to reduce Abortions in this country? What will McCain do to reduce abortions?

She then quotes the Republican operative Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver. The same Chaput who has been marginalized by his fellow Bishops in the Bishops conference for his partisan political activities on behalf of the Republican party.

"Certainly employment, health care, education, energy and the environment are important issues, but the protection of life is, in the words of Archbishop of Denver, the Most Rev. Charles J. Chaput, foundational. "Abortion undermines the foundation of all the rest. So if we don't oppose abortion, we risk the collapse of the whole structure," he said."

I think Chaput, like Sally Testa, McCain and the Republicans have got it backwards....it is the failures on the other issues that undermine the very foundation of this country and the American Family, thus leading to an increase for the demand of Abortion. The failure on these issues, employment, health care, education, energy and the environment continue to be a problem for McCain and the Republicans with Catholic voters and Americans.

McCain and his supporters like Sally Testa, can not win on the issues that truly impact Catholic Families in America, so they desperately try to insert the same failed and tired Rovian right wing wedge issues of the past.

McCain and Republicans like Sally Testa have driven this country into the ditch with their selfish wealth driven policies. Americans have had enough. Testa, McCain, Bush, Chaput and the Republicans do not stand with the working and middle class people of this country. They stand with the wealthy and the well connected. Catholic Voters will not be fooled this time.

Bush Doctrine??????

2008-09-15T08:57:00.005-05:00

Why is the media not asking more questions? Charlie Gibson asked a completely reasonable question of Sarah Palin last week in his interview. A question that should and must be asked of any candidate seeking higher office in this country, especially one that will deal with foreign policy. The Bush Doctrine directly deals with Americas currently foreign policy, yet when Gibson asked Palin to discuss the Bush Doctrine, she simply dropped the ball and starred at him with the doe eyed blank look we have all become accustomed to seeing on her face. She may have been Mayor of the crystal meth capital of Alaska, but she is not prepared to hold high office in this country. Maybe lack of experience is forgivable, but lack of knowledge of the important issues of the day is inexcusable.

Of the four candidates for President and VP, Palin is the least known quantity. The media must follow the example of Gibson and ask the tough questions.

Maybe you can put lipstick on a pig, ala Bush and the economy - but ya can't polish a turd.

Democrats don't get Rednecks

2008-09-15T08:17:00.006-05:00

Someday maybe Democrats will get the culture of the Heartland. Republicans long ago understood the value of "values voters". Democrats think it is all about Faith....but as Bill Clinton understood....there is much more to the values that the Bubba's and the Rednecks hold dear to their hearts. John McCain gets it, as evidenced by his stop by at the race yesterday. His wife gets it too. Dressed for the race in a ball cap and tee shirt. She is ready to go racin while supporting her husband. The sad thing is though, that while the Republicans know how to talk the talk, they do not walk the walk. Their policies hurt the type of folks at these races....the Dems help them - it is just the Dems just plain don't know how to talk to em. Dems should start taking notes.

More on this - "Why rednecks may rule the world"

Snoooooze.

2008-09-05T08:32:00.005-05:00

Last nights speech by John McCain further highlights his continuing problem with Catholic Voters. There was lots of red meat for those concerned with selfish materialistic wants, but nothing for the needs of the least among us. Plenty about drilling for oil, which will have no impact at all on the current problem. Plenty about cutting taxes, but no mention of how the tax burden will be balanced between rich and poor. Plenty about the sacrifices of war, but nothing about how to maintain a safe and peaceful world.

Nothing about the struggles American families are faced with day to day.

All in all it reminded me of the scene from National Lampoons Animal house. You know - the guy in the parade - with the chaos swirling around him?

John McCain thinks all is well in America....

A new and interesting web site....

2008-09-03T08:33:00.005-05:00

Visit McCain's Catholic Problem....

Some Tid Bits from the site....

Jerome Corsi Published Untruths About McCain’s Opponent, Said Goal Of Book McCain Victory. A New York Times article on Jerome Corsi’s book wrote, “Several of the book’s accusations, in fact, are unsubstantiated, misleading or inaccurate.” Discussing the book, Corsi said, “The goal is to defeat Obama. … I don’t want Obama to be in office.” [New York Times, 8/12/08 ]

Corsi Has Background Of Attacking The Pope And Catholics:

Corsi Attacked The Pope. In a blog post on the Free Republic, John Corsi wrote, “Maybe while he’s there he can tell the UN what he’s going to do about the sexual crimes committed by ‘priests’ in his ‘Church’ during his tenure. Or, maybe that’s the connection -- boy buggering in both Islam and Catholicism is okay with the Pope as long as it isn’t reported by the liberal press.” [Jerome Corsi, Free Republic, 3/03/03 ]

McCain Sought, Received And Defended Endorsement Of Pastor John Hagee – Who Repeatedly Bashed The Catholic Religion

McCain Said he was “Very Proud” to Receive Endorsement of Outspoken Pastor, John Hagee. On February 27, 2008 McCain traveled to Texas to receive the endorsement of San Antonio televangelist John Hagee. The Dallas Morning News reported, “Mr. Hagee, a leading figure in the Christian Zionist movement, said he’s confident Mr. McCain can attract wary evangelicals by emphasizing his conservative positions on Israel and abortion.” McCain said, “All I can tell you is I’m very proud to have pastor Hagee’s support.” [Dallas Morning News, 2/28/08;John McCain Press Conference, San Antonio, TX, 3/3/08 ]

Hagee Called The Catholic Church A “False Cult System.” During a televised sermon in which Pastor John Hagee discussed the history of the Catholic Church, he said, “This false cult system that was born in the Genesis 10 and progressed through Israel and became bale worship. [BVOV, video]

Hagee Said The Catholic Church Was “The Great Whore Of Revelations 17.” During a televised sermon in which Pastor John Hagee discussed the history of the Catholic Church, he pointed to an icon representing the church and said, “This is the Great Whore of Revelations 17. This is the Anti-Christ system. This is the Apostate Church.” [BVOV, video ]

McCain Allows Adviser Accused Of Sexual Misconduct With A Student To Continue On Catholic Outreach Team

Deal Hudson One Of The “100 Prominent Catholics Nationwide” Who Support McCain. In a press release dated March 10, 2008, “the National Catholics for McCain Committee is actively recruiting Catholics at the national, regional, state, local, and parish levels to help share John McCain’s vision and pro-Catholic message.” Deal W. Hudson, listed as the President of Morley Publishing Group, is on the Catholics For McCain National Steering Committee. [JohnMcCain.com, accessed 7/23/08]

Hudson Orchestrated Reconciliation Between Hagee And Donohue. In the aftermath of Hagee’s comments on the Roman Catholic Church, the McCain team brought in “Deal Hudson of Fort Worth, a Baptist-turned-Catholic whom Karl Rove tapped in 2000 to help attract Catholics for George W. Bush. Mr. Hudson is on the McCain Catholic outreach team.” Hudson and Hagee proceeded to meet in New York and Washington D.C., and a meeting between Hagee and Catholic League president Bill Donohue was arranged. [The Dallas Morning News, 5/20/08, emphasis added]
Background On Deal Hudson’s Firing From Bush Campaign:

Hudson Resigned Bush-Cheney Re-Election Campaign In Wake Of Sexual Assault Scandal. In late August 2004, the Boston Globe reported that Deal Hudson resigned his post on the Bush-Cheney re-election effort. Allegedly, during his time as a professor at Fordham Hudson sexually assaulted an 18-year old student and the resulting lawsuit was settled for $30,000. Identified as a “Catholic powerbroker in Washington” due to his connections to Karl Rove, Hudson said the event was “being dug up, I believe, for political reasons.” [The Boston Globe, 8/20/04 ]

Looking forward more for this site as it develops.... A good resource for Catholics.

McCain's Catholic Problem: Abortion - Compare and Contrast

2008-09-02T19:37:00.003-05:00

Barrack Obama believes in solutions that reduce the number of abortions, by recognizing that health care and education help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies. This will reduce the number of abortions. Obama strongly supports a woman's decision to have a child by ensuring access to programs for pre- and post-natal health care, parenting skills, income support, and caring adoption programs. Barrack Obama will empower women to choose life over abortion.

John McCain and the Republican party have stricken abortion reduction language from the RNC platform and returned to the divisive abortion politics of the past thirty years. They would rather try unsuccessfully to overturn Roe V Wade, thus still allowing abortions to be performed at the state level. Abortions will still remain at an all time high and available on demand. Nothing will change other than availability in some ultra conservative states. McCain and Bush offer no other options or support for women who have actual life decisions to make.

McCain and the Republicans offer no commitment at all to supporting policies that have been proven to encourage women to continue with an unintended pregnancy.

Real pro-life policy vs pro birth rhetoric.

Catholic voters look forward to an Obama Presidency that offers real solutions to address the abortion issue and will not be fooled by the failed policies of the past.

McCain's Catholic Problem: McCain / Republicans out of touch on Abortion with Convention Platform

2008-09-01T16:12:00.005-05:00

John McCain and the Republican party continue to demonstrate how they are out of touch not only with Catholics, but mainstream Americans. In a move placate the religious right, ala Sarah Palin, the Republican Party recently removed abortion reduction language from their platform according to a recent AP story. Instead McCain's Republican party has taken the low road and inserted language to satisfy the extremist hard liners of the Republican Party.

Instead of looking to unite the country and work for common purpose and the common good to empower women to make other choices regarding their baby besides abortion, the Republican Party and McCain would turn the clock back in this country with the same rhetoric of the past thirty years, which has seen a recent increase under the oppressive economic policies of the Bush Administration.

Catholics United today released a statement calling on the Republican Party to reinstate language deleted from its proposed platform aimed at uniting Americans behind common ground solutions to reduce abortions.

Chris Korzen of Catholics United stated: “The Republican Party’s explicit decision to turn its back on bi-partisan efforts to reduce abortion leaves the appearance that political posturing is more important than actually delivering results. Our nation is desperate for leaders who can transcend the politics of division and unite all of us around practical solutions to the pressing moral issues of our day.”

“Catholics United welcomed the original platform language that called on all Americans to work together to reduce abortions. We implore delegates to the Republican National Convention to demand that party leaders reinstate this language as an essential component of building and maintaining a culture of life.”

Catholics are tired of the same tired failed policies and rhetoric of the past. Catholics that are truly Pro Life and not just Pro Birth, support abortion reduction policy that actually will have a realistic impact on abortions in this country and not just pay lip service to it as McCain and the Republicans have over the past thirty years.

Labor Day: Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions

2008-09-01T14:30:00.002-05:00

Reflections of the U.S. Catholic Bishops
For many of us, Labor Day comes as a much-needed break from the rigors of our busy work weeks. As we gather with friends and family this Labor
Day, we are also reminded of our Catholic responsibility to honor and support those who work hard to keep our society and our economy healthy—especially those who are struggling to support their own families. This special duty to the poor is a part of our Church’s tradition called Catholic social teaching.

As the U.S. Catholic Bishops write, “Catholic social teaching is a central and essential element of our faith. Its roots are in the Hebrew prophets who announced God’s special love for the poor and called God’s people to a covenant of love and justice. It is a teaching founded on the life and words of Jesus Christ, who came ‘to bring glad tidings to the poor. . . liberty to captives. . .recovery of sight to the blind’ (Lk 4:18-19), and who identified himself with ‘the least of these,’ the hungry and the stranger (cf. Mt 25:45). Catholic social teaching is built on a commitment to the poor. This commitment arises from our experiences of Christ in the Eucharist. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains, ‘To receive in truth the Body and Blood of Christ given up for us, we must recognize Christ in the poorest, his brethren (No. 1397??? What is this?).’”

Below are three important themes of Catholic social teaching we should keep in mind as we celebrate Labor Day this year:

Call to Family, Community, and Participation In a global culture driven by excessive individualism, our tradition proclaims that the person is not only sacred but also
social. How we organize our society in economics and politics, in law and policy directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community. The family is the central social institution that must be supported and
strengthened, not undermined. While our society often exalts individualism, the Catholic tradition teaches that human beings grow and achieve fulfillment in community.

We believe people have a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking together the common good and wellbeing of all, especially the poor and vulnerable. Our Church teaches that the role of government and other institutions is to protect human life and human dignity and promote the common good.

Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
In a world characterized by growing prosperity for some and pervasive poverty for others, Catholic teaching proclaims that a basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring. In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our tradition recalls the story of the Last Judgement (Mt 25:31-46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first.

The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
In a marketplace where too often the quarterly bottom line takes precedence over the rights of workers, we believe that the economy must serve people, not the other way around. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation.

We are called to justice in everyday life.
Catholicism does not call us to abandon the world but to help shape it. Catholics are
everywhere in this society. We are corporate executives and migrant farm workers, politicians and welfare recipients, educators and day care workers, tradesmen and farmers, office and factory workers, union leaders and small-business owners. Our entire community of faith must help Catholics to be instruments of God’s grace and creative power in business and politics, in factories and offices, in homes and schools, and in all the events of daily life. Social justice and the common good are built up or torn down day by day in the countless decisions and choices we make. This vocation to pursue justice is not simply an individual task; it is a call to work with
others to humanize and shape the institutions that touch so many people. The lay vocation for justice in the world cannot be carried forward alone but only as members of a community called to be the “leaven” of the gospel. Our families are the starting point and the center of a vocation for justice. How we treat our parents, spouses, and children is a reflection of our commitment to Christ’s love and justice. We demonstrate our commitment to the gospel by how we spend our time and money, and whether our family life includes an ethic of charity, service, and action for justice. The lessons we teach our children through what we do as well as what we say determine whether they care for the “least among us” and are committed to work for justice.

Workers are called to pursue justice.
In the Catholic tradition, work is not a burden, not just how we make a living. Work is a way of supporting our family, realizing our dignity, promoting the common good and participating in God’s creation. This means often doing the ordinary well, making the most of our talents and opportunities, treating others fairly and with dignity, and working with integrity and creativity. Believers should be encouraged to choose their work based on how they can best use the gifts God has given them. Decisions made at work can make important contributions to an ethic of justice. Catholics have
the often difficult responsibility of choosing between competing values in the workplace. This is a measure of holiness. Associations that enable workers, owners, or managers to pursue justice often make the witness of the individual more effective.

Stale Cake.... McCain's Catholic Problem

2008-09-01T13:12:00.006-05:00

The last time a major hurricane hit the Gulf Coast region, Bush and McCain had some cake, and well - we all know the rest of the story.

Gustaf is not an oppertunity for a do over. McCain is running for President and a hurricane is not the oppertunity for a photo-op, nor is a political convention the place to act as if the past three years post-Katrina did not happen.

While many Katrina survivors are still living in FEMA trailers, John McCain is asking Americans to elect him President so he can continue the failed policies of the past.

Catholic organizations have joined other faith organizations to step in and fill the gap to help re-build New Orleans, while the Bush /McCain policies of the past failed the victims of Katrina.

Catholic Voters know that Barrack Obama will not leave Americans stranded without aid or water during a national disaster. Catholic voters know Barrack Obama is a man of action, not a man of empty rhetoric, broken promises and legacies of handing out "atta boy's" to "Brownie" in times of great need. McCain promises more of the same.

Americans can not afford a continuation of the failed status quo and the cake that Bush/McCain are serving up is stale.

Attack the politics - not the person...

2008-08-31T22:57:00.010-05:00

UPDATED: To rebut rumors, Palin says daughter, 17, pregnant

This is all so silly and really nobody's business. It actually speaks to the reality that many American families actually face everyday. Not the fairytale families that people like Dobson and Perkins promote.

Could you imagine the uproar over this, if Palin was a Democrat and Barrack Obama's running mate? The GOP would be in a frenzied furor. The tag "hypocrisy" can be added to this post now.

The judgment of McCain and Palin should be called into question here. Why did they seek to hide this and thus dragging this poor seventeen girl into this mess? There is plenty of stupidity to go around here. Over zealous bloggers, political operatives and campaigns that want to promote one version of a family when another is the reality. The question that now must be asked, why was the so called party and campaign of "family values" hiding this fact? Are they ashamed of a 17 year old girl who is pregnant?

Catholics will have more to consider this fall, especially in the arena of "family values". There is the Republican party which apparently is ashamed of teen pregnancies and the Democratic Party which is actually has policy in its platform to actually reduce the numbers of teen pregnancies through education. Studies confirm that teenagers armed with the appropriate information and with the involvement of parents, make better decisions.

Maybe more abstinence-only supporting politicians and wingnuts will realize the limits of such an approach. Our teenagers will do what they will do. Maybe Bristol Palin would've been benefited from a discussion about safe sex. Now at 17 she facing a wedding to a young man, who most likely has no job, no education and still lives with his parents.

ORIGINAL POST
Bloggers by the name of ArcXIX are just plain weird. What is ArcXIX? Go by your real name and do not hide behind Dungeon and Dragon names like ArcXIX.

Recently "ArcXIX" posted a blog entry over at Kos called "Sarah Palin Is NOT The Mother [Photos+Video]" The basic premise of this entry, complete with pictures and all, is that McCain's Veep pick, Sarah Palin is not the mother of her newborn son, but actually the grandmother and her eldest daughter is the actually the father.

Of course the pictures prove nothing and the supporting evidence supplied by "ArcXIX" provide no citations or verified sources - and of course as of today - the story has fallen apart. Surprised?

I believe that Senator Obama has called for a different conversation this year. One that goes beyond the politics of smear and destruction.

If there are reasons to throw a person under the bus along with their family, then the person doing the throwing had better have some facts beyond an opinion based a few unverified photographs.

Sarah Palin is not qualified for the position of Veep for many reasons. Nor is the ticket of McCain/Palin qualified for the highest offices in this land, nor do they deserve the support of Americans considering they support the past eight years of George Bush. However they do deserve to be treated with some respect and dignity, especially when it comes to their families.

Catholics will find plenty to disagree with McCain/Palin this election, but Catholics are also charitable people, and personal attacks on family members will not gain much traction in our communities. It is too bad that those on the ultra fringe of both political spectrum's often choose to play in the gutter.

Disagree with the politics. Disagree with the position and the policy, but leave the family out of it.

Fr. Frank Pavone : Who is Catholic and who is not...

2008-08-30T07:43:00.010-05:00

In a recent little known statement put out by Father Frank Pavone, the claim has been made that Sarah Palin is a "pro-life" Roman Catholic...

That contrast extends to Biden, said the Rev. Frank Pavone, a Catholic priest who heads of Priest for Life. “Here we have Sarah as a pro-life Catholic and Biden as a pro-abortion Catholic. The Catholic issue there is going to be very, very strongly in play,” Pavone said. read more

Interesting....

Meanwhile - from a 2007 story on Governor Palin....

Her Christian faith--Palin grew up attending nondenominational Bible churches--was a minor issue in the race. She told me her faith affects her politics this way: "I believe everything happens for a purpose. In my own personal life, if I dedicated back to my Creator what I'm trying to create for the good . . . everything will turn out fine." That same concept applies to her political career, she suggested. Read More....

Pavone has been famous for manipulating the facts in the past, now it appears he is converting folks to the Catholic Faith without their knowledge.

The Catholic Case Against McCain - Palin does not like Polar Bears, for drilling - bad steward of enviroment

2008-08-29T16:57:00.003-05:00

Care for God's creation:

A Biblical vision of justice is much more comprehensive than civil equity; it encompasses right relationships between all members of God’s creation. Stewardship of creation: The world's goods are available for humanity to use only under a "social mortgage" which carries with it the responsibility to protect the environment. The "goods of the earth" are gifts from God, and they are intended by God for the benefit of everyone. Man was given dominion over all creation as sustainer rather than as exploiter, and is commanded to be a good steward of the gifts God has given him. We cannot use and abuse the natural resources God has given us with a destructive consumer mentality.

Catholic Social Teaching recognizes that the poor are the most vulnerable to environmental impact and endure disproportional hardship when natural areas are exploited or damaged. US Bishops established an environmental justice program to assist parishes and dioceses who wanted to conduct education, outreach and advocacy about these issues. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops Environmental Justice Program (EJP) calls Catholics to a deeper respect for God’s creation and engages parishes in activities that deal with environmental problems, particularly as they affect the poor.

Well right off the bat we find a huge Catholic problem with the pick of Palin as McCain's VP.

Apparently she has little regard for the survival of Polar Bears - Gods Creation...

And she wants to drill in Alaska - abusing the natural resources God has given us with a destructive consumer mentality.

Read AP Story....

Al Gore - Steward of the Enviroment

2008-08-29T08:50:00.006-05:00

"I believe in recycling, but that is ridicules": Vice President Al Gore, referring to the prospect of of four more years of Bush and McCain....

I wanted to post our great former Vice President's speech last night, but I like every body else got caught up in the Obama speech and one of the greatest moments in American Political History.

Catholics had much to take away from last nights historic event in Denver, and Al Gore reminded us of a few. Catholics are charitable and Pro Family. Gore reminded us that Bush / Cheney who, indifferent to the facts, subordinated the good of the many for the good of the few.

As Catholics we are called to be good stewards of the environment and to care for Gods creation. This is a life issue. There are those forces of the status quo who are afraid of change, and want to distract Catholics from this prominent tenant of our faith.

Vice President Gore reminded us last night that Climate Change is a planetary emergency. It is also a national security issue as we will begin to see climate refugees destabilizing nations.

By addressing the Climate Change problem, investing in alternative energies and reducing carbon emissions, we can revive the economy and strengthen our nations security.

Stewardship of the environment and proactive action to address Climate Change is a life issue and it is a Catholic Value.

"Big Oil and coal have a 50 year lease on the Republican party and they are drilling it for all they are worth" - Al Gore - August 28th, DNC, Denver CO.

McLoserman?

2008-08-29T08:38:00.003-05:00

Doubtful - but it would be interesting for sure... and a gutsy pick on behalf of the "Maverick". Catholics focused on single issues would have much to lament.....

The Catholic Case for Barrack Obama and the Catholic Case Against John McCain

2008-08-29T07:28:00.005-05:00

In the coming days and weeks, I will focusing a series of posts making the Catholic Case for Barrack Obama and why Americans who are informed by their Catholic Faith should vote for the Obama/Biden Ticket and not for the McCain/Bush Ticket.

WOW

2008-08-28T23:32:00.007-05:00

There is so much in Barrack Obama's acceptance speech tonight. It was magnificent. This was the greatest convention speech ever. It spoke to the heart of America. There is much for Catholics in the speech, but so much more for America. I can not wait to get the transcript and go through this again. Tonight's speech is the foundation for the Catholic case for Obama to be our next President.

"The times are too serious, the stakes are too high for this same partisan playbook. So let us agree that patriotism has no party. I love this country, and so do you, and so does John McCain. The men and women who serve in our battlefields may be Democrats and Republicans and Independents, but they have fought together and bled together and some died together under the same proud flag. They have not served a Red America or a Blue America, they have served the United States of America." - Barrack Obama, August 28th, 2008 DNC, Denver CO.

This was a unifying speech, a liberating speech, a moral speech and a speech for the Common Good...
More to come.....

Fannie Lou Hamer's America, 44 Years Later (by Burns Strider)

2008-08-28T18:17:00.002-05:00

I am overwhelmed at the historic nature of what's happening this week, and it's important that we all think about this. It's important for me as a Mississippian. For me, I can't stop thinking of the Mississippi Freedom Democrats and Fannie Lou Hamer. I wish Hamer could be here.

In 1964 the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP) arrived at the Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City with the goal of unseating the "regular Democrats" and representing their fellow Democrats from Mississippi.

The Freedom Democrats were civil rights pioneers attempting to engage the political process and give African Americans equal participation in our nation's democratic system. They wanted to vote. They wanted to participate. They wanted their voice to be heard.

The regular Democrats were the establishment. They were all white and were seeking to maintain the status quo, which was maintaining their control of the political process in Mississippi.

The Freedom Democrats stood for an America where everyone had a place at the table. The regular Democrats stood for an America where the white establishment had a place at the table while African Americans stood to the side taking what scraps were tossed to them.

Fannie Lou Hamer led the Mississippi Freedom Democrats. She was impoverished, a sharecropper with hands calloused from the back-breaking work of hand-picking cotton. She couldn't read. And she had lived a life with no say about her own choices. Speaking before the DNC credentials committee, Hamer proclaimed "Is this America?"

Hamer is also famous for telling America, "I am sick and tired of being sick and tired."

The Freedom Democrats were denied official recognition, but the MFDP kept up their agitation within the convention. The MFDP delegates borrowed passes from sympathetic northern delegates and took the seats vacated by the "regular" Mississippi delegates (most had left), only to be removed by the national party. When they returned the next day to find that convention organizers had removed the empty seats that had been there yesterday, the MFDP stayed to sing freedom songs.

This week, 44 years later, the Democratic Party at their national convention in Denver, Colorado, has nominated Sen. Barack Obama as their candidate for president of the United States.

The diverse Mississippi delegation of black and white, the heirs of the Freedom Democrats of 1964, many with direct connections with those who were there in 1964, cast their votes for this historic candidate.

Let's not forget the true nature of this historic week. Let's not forget the African Americans back in Mississippi who once couldn't vote, who lived under Jim Crow, and on Thursday night will watch a black man accept the nomination of the Democratic Party to lead this oldest active political party on the planet, to be their candidate for president of the United States. What will go through their minds?

Fannie Lou Hamer was right to ask in 1964, "Is this America?"

As I sit in my hotel room here in Denver, in 2008, I would love to be able to tell Hamer, "Yes ma'am it is. Yes, ma'am, this is America; it's your America. Yes, ma'am, because of your determination 44 years ago, in just a few hours a black man will stand on one of the globe's largest stages and demonstrate to us that this is indeed the America we hope for."

Burns Strider is former senior advisor and director of faith outreach for U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, former advisor to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and currently a founder and partner of The Eleison Group.

Catholic and Voting for Obama and Biden this November

2008-08-28T09:31:00.000-05:00

With families struggling to survive, and both parents working jobs under threat of layoff, America needs new leadership. With healthcare costs soaring and millions of Americans without health insurance, America needs a new plan. With our country at war and relations with other countries strained, American needs a new strategy. With our educational systems failing and our children falling behind, America needs a new perspective. With our planet warming and energy costs rising America needs to show the way.

As a Catholic going to the polls this November, I am mindful of these shared problems we face as Americans. My faith and love for my country compel me to vote for a candidate that will bring a systematic reform of No Child Left Behind. As a Catholic I am called to vote for the candidate that will bring improved access to health care for the poor and working families. As a Catholic, I seek a candidate who supports a lowering of the federal deficit. I seek a candidate who seeks a realistic investment in alternative energy speaking to the call I have as a Catholic to be a good steward of the environment. As a Catholic watching my country from a world view, I seek a candidate that will end the harsh interrogation of detainees and restore our respect and relations globally. As a Catholic I seek a candidate who works to address the circumstances surrounding a woman’s decision to have an abortion and works to reduce and eliminate abortions in this country.

The possibility for a Barrack Obama Presidency brings the prospect of a national unity not felt since the presidency of JFK. Catholic social teaching proclaims that we are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, no matter if they are rich, poor, white or black. As President, Barrack Obama will tend to the dignity of the human person. We will hear his call to family, community and participation. Rights will become a priority as will options for the poor and vulnerable. As President, Barrack Obama will bring dignity back to work and secure the rights of workers. As our nation regains respect in the world, I believe an Obama presidency will bring solidarity to our planet as well as care for God’ Creation. These tenants and issues are part of my being, part of my faith narrative and the reasons I will vote for Barrack Obama and Joe Biden as a Catholic this November.

45 Years Ago............a Dream..... now a reality...

2008-08-28T08:18:00.008-05:00

On the 45th Anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King's historic speech, Senator Barrack Obama will deliver his acceptance speech as the Democratic nominee. It has taken time, and time heals. God Bless America.

Catholics must take a special time to pause today and hold their heads high. One of the unknown stories of the civil rights movement was the unyielding support of Women Religious and Priests. As Catholics we responded to the call to serve the least among us 45 years ago, just as Barrack Obama has renewed that call in 2008.

Americans are capable of great things, and with Obama and Biden, this country will continue that long tradition.

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check — a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.
Martin Luther King, Jr., delivering his 'I Have a Dream' speech from the steps of Lincoln Memorial. (photo: National Park Service)

We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. They have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied, as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating "For Whites Only". We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.

Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

---Dr. Martin Luther King

President Clinton at the DNC: "People the world over have always been more impressed by the power of our example than by the example of our power."

2008-08-27T21:05:00.008-05:00

I will make no bones about it. Bill Clinton is my President. I have been an FOB since 1992 and will continue to be. They say the boss lady hit it out of the park last night, well Bubba ran the bases tonight.

President Clinton forcefully endorsed Barack Obama's bid for the White House, telling the assembled delegates to the Democratic convention that Obama is "ready to lead America and restore American leadership in the world."

"With Joe Biden's experience and wisdom, supporting Barack Obama's proven understanding, insight and good instincts, America will have the national security leadership we need," Clinton said.

The delegates stood on their feet and roared for nearly 3 1/2 minutes when Clinton walked on stage.

Another magical night at the DNC.... and Thursday night is yet to come.

“New study finds finds social and economic supports for women significantly reduce abortions”

2008-08-27T17:16:00.006-05:00

I was going to write this outstanding study up, but David Gibson did such a great job over on Commonweal, that I am going to cross post his assessment.

“New study finds finds social and economic supports for women significantly reduce abortions”

That’s the promise of the new study released today by Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good. According to the group’s news release, the study is the first of its kind and looks at the “long- and short-term effects of public policy on the abortion rate over a twenty-year period. The findings reveal that social and economic supports for women and families dramatically reduce the number of abortions. As Democrats gather in Denver for their national convention, and as Republicans prepare to gather next week, the study offers compelling findings that pro-life and pro-choice leaders from both political parties can unite behind to reduce abortions.”

Indeed, if this holds true, the findings would (I would think) provide ammunition for those looking to move beyond the stalemate over Roe v. Wade. Apparently the findings were presented at a “town hall” meeting in Denver with Sen. Bob Casey, Rep. Heath Shuler and others, and sponsored by Democrats for Life of America. I haven’t seen a write-up, so don’t know what they may have added.

Catholics in Alliance commissioned the study, which was conducted by Joseph Wright, a political science professor at Penn State University and a visiting fellow at the University of Notre Dame, and Michael Bailey, a professor of American government at Georgetown University. You can read it here (in a 19-page PDF file). Tom Roberts at NCR also has coverage.

Americas Continuing Sin

2008-08-27T15:48:00.005-05:00

Why is Chaput, Bill Donohue and Deal Hudson not speaking out on this life issue? Where is their charity and Catholic Faith concerning the least among us?

One of McCain's Catholic problems is that he sees no great problem with this. The view from one of his seven Condos is pretty rosy I would bet.

New numbers released by the the Census Bureau this morning indicate “the nation’s poverty rate held steady at 12.5%, not statistically different from the 12.3% in 2006. That meant there were 37.3 million people living in poverty in 2007.” The number of uninsured dropped to 45.7 million (15.3 percent of the population), down from 47 million in 2006.
More...

No Way, No How, No McCain!

2008-08-26T22:26:00.008-05:00

Hillary Clinton at the DNC....

The Boss Lady has spoken. She was so graceful and beautiful as usual, and I do not believe there are any doubts left. For those on the fringes and the "PUMAs" - hey it's over. She said if you are in it for her, you are there for the wrong reasons. If you are in it for the least among us - then you are in it for the right reasons and you should vote for Obama.

Classic, graceful, witty, elegant and classy as usual.

Thanks Madam Senator!

"It's fitting that John McCain and George Bush will be meeting in the Twin Cities next week, because it's getting pretty hard to tell them apart." -- Hillary Clinton

Four more months..........

2008-08-26T20:30:00.007-05:00

Senator Casey just completed his anticipated speech at the DNC. It was widely noted in the media that Senators pro life father was denied a chance to speak the 1992 convention.

Senator Casey, himself a pro life Catholic was expected by many to focus his chance to speak on the issue of abortion. Many will be disappointed.

The highlight from his speech was bringing the convention to its feet to chant "Four more months", regarding the Bush administration.

Red meat was offered as he defined McCain as a "sidekick" of Bush and not the maverick that McCain likes to define himself as. McCain voted with Bush policies 95% of the time in his Senate career.

CNN's Candy Crawley wanted to expand on the abortion debate after in her interview, but the Senator did not bite. Too bad as it would have been a great time to talk more about abortion reduction.

Crawley also asked what Obama needs to do to win Cathoic Vote. Sentor Casey indicated he did not believe there was such a thing as the "Catholic Vote" and "it is not much different than other voters" - he indicated that if Obama tell his story, shows his faith, how he is a father of good character and show human side and who he is, he will win the Catholic vote.

All in all the speech was simple, and just what the convention needed - direct, drawing contrasts, defining the race and going on the attack.....

Lets hope we hear more like it.

Catholics Have New Reasons to Rethink Abortion Politics

2008-08-26T20:11:00.002-05:00

This is a great post over at Newsweek/ Washington Posts On Faith - Catholic America. by Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo

Both John McCain and the Democrats are giving Catholics reasons to reconsider which party can and will do more to reduce the number of abortions in America.

When on August 11, McCain told the Weekly Standard that he welcomed pro-choice Republicans, he articulated openly what has been obvious for some time: the GOP uses the issue to get votes, but will not outlaw abortion. In other words, it is foolish to think that voting for Republicans is the "Catholic" thing to do.

On the other hand, no less an expert than Prof. Douglas Kmiec, once professor of law at Catholic University, and a former Reagan Administration lawyer who wrote briefs for the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, now says the Democrats have a stronger approach to reducing abortions.

Kmiec is a veteran of the pro-life cause and his reasoning is best explained in his own words, not in the shortened space of this column. Nonetheless, coming as it does so close to McCain's embrace of pro-choice Republicans, Kmiec's redefined position represents a significant shift in the abortion aspect of the "culture wars."

Read More.....

McCain Campaign is Sexist

2008-08-26T19:53:00.003-05:00

Catholic Women Religious who supported Hillary Clinton in large numbers this past primary season should be outraged by the McCain campaign's treatment of Hillary Clinton. She is being used against her will by the McCain campaign and her words are being used out context in swiftboat style campaign ads by the McCain Campaign.

What part of Hillary's endorsement of Barrack Obama way back in June of this year did the McCain campaign miss?

Hillary herself said: "My name is Hillary Clinton, and I do not support this ad" - are the McCain folks deaf?

Catholic women and women all across America have much to consider this fall when going to the polls - do they continue with the same sexist polices of the Bush administration by voting for McCain? Policies that only talk about abortion and do to nothing reduce them by empowering women with other choices. Policies that keep the average salaries of women lower in the work force? Policies that try to keep women home and away from higher education and good jobs?

All indications are that they will vote for change and to move the country forward, and Catholic women and Women Religious will lead the way.

Denver Archbishop Chaput Should Resign

2008-08-26T18:39:00.007-05:00

Pro Bush, Republican Archbishop Chaput of Denver should stop fooling himself and others and simply resign from his post and become a full time paid operative of the Republican Party, instead of the unpaid surrogate he is now.

Chaput has suggested that some politicians should forgo Communion due to their pro-abortion stance. Chaput has been a very staunch and partisan supporter of the Republican Party and George W. Bush. By doing so, Chaput has betrayed some of the very principles of the Catholic Faith and betrayed the flock he is entrusted with. Chaput should excuse himself from communion.

Instead of the Common Good and the tenants of Catholic Social Teaching, Chaput's partisan position supports Oil Companies and war contractors adding four trillion dollars to the national debt. He betrays his flock by supporting an administration that has the United States paying more for defense than anytime in history, and three times more for gasoline and home heating oil and twice what we paid for health care eight years ago.

The partisan agenda that Chaput supports has seen millions of Americans, many in Chaput's flock lose their jobs, homes, health care and pensions.

Chaput has been silent while an unjust war in Iraq cost thousands of American and Iraqi lives. The same war that has borrowed money from China to bomb bridges in Iraq, but has seen little money spent to build bridges at home.

Why has Chaput not spoken out about the torture and violations of international law that the Bush administration has supported, while alienating our allies and spending our children's inheritance?

Chaput should not be faulted for speaking out on abortion, but he should also speak out on other issues central to Catholic teaching and life. Instead Chaput seeks attention from the media for his ego and sales of his book. Instead of fighting for the rights of workers and fair wages, Chaput seeks photo ops with Bush and McCain. Instead of speaking out for fair trade, good jobs and rebuilding our infrastructure, Chaput sits by his phone waiting for a call from the Wall Street Journal.

Instead of working to protect our environment, health care for all, education for all and peace in our world, Chaput instead sides with the agents of the wealthy and big business while he betrays the Catholic Faith and flock he is charged with pastoral care.

If Chaput seeks to play politics,then he should indeed follow his vocation and step down as Archbishop and officially join the Republican party and thus ending the hypocrisy of his ministry.

The Lion Roars

2008-08-26T11:08:00.002-05:00

Last night during the DNC, we were reminded by the great Lion of the US Senate, why we as Catholics should vote for Barrack Obama this November. Senator Ted Kennedy whose public service is well grounded in Catholic Social Teaching moved many to tears with his impassioned and inspirational speech to the DNC. Despite his illness, Senator Kennedy gave a thrilling speech that many claimed passed the torch to Barrack Obama.

Prior to the speech we were reminded by Caroline Kennedy of the Senators long commitment to the Common Good and the least among us. Nobody has fought for the rights of working Americans and those in need more than Senator Kennedy.

We are all reminded by Senator Kennedy's relentless fight for universal health care as a basic human right, his efforts to raise the minimum wage, to truly leave no child behind, to protect our troops with proper body amour and his commitment a better America, why we must elect Barrack Obama as President so Senator Kennedy can return to the Senate and be a part of a great progressive moment in this country.

Last night, Kennedy again challenged Americans to live up to the country's ideals:

"The work begins anew," he said, "the hope rises again and the dream lives on."

Italian priest organizes beauty contest for nuns

2008-08-25T16:53:00.003-05:00

From the AP - this is a hoot! I love the Sisters, and they are beautiful!! - all of them - but - Mother Angelica in a bathing suit?? Will Inside Catholic and Deal Hudson run the Sisters Swimsuit Issue?

ROME (AP) -- An Italian priest and theologian said Sunday he is organizing an online beauty pageant for nuns to give them more visibility within the Catholic Church and to fight the stereotype that they are all old and dour.

The "Miss Sister 2008" contest will start in September on a blog run by the Rev. Antonio Rungi and will give nuns from around the world a chance to showcase their work and their image.

"Nuns are a bit excluded, they are a bit marginalized in ecclesiastical life," Rungi told The Associated Press after Italian media carried reports of the idea. "This will be an occasion to make their contribution more visible."

Rungi, a theologian and schoolteacher from the Naples area, said that visitors to his site will have a month to "vote for the nun they consider a model."

Nuns will fill out a profile including information about their life and vocation as well as a photograph. It will be up to them to choose whether to pose with the traditional veil or with their heads uncovered.

"We are not going to parade nuns in bathing suits," Rungi said by telephone from his town of Mondragone. "But being ugly is not a requirement for becoming a nun. External beauty is gift from God, and we mustn't hide it."

Rungi said the idea was first suggested to him by nuns with whom he regularly prays and works. He hopes there will be dozens of submissions once the Web site is started.

The contest drew criticism from the association of Catholic teachers.

"It's an initiative that belittles the role of nuns who have dedicated themselves to God," the group's president, Alberto Giannino, told Italy's ANSA news agency on Sunday.

Voting Catholic this November

2008-08-25T06:33:00.002-05:00

Does John McCain support Banning birth control?

2008-08-08T13:08:00.006-05:00

The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that the Department of Health and Human Services is circulating the draft of a regulation that would allow health care professionals and institutions to refuse to provide women access to some of the most common forms of contraception, under the auspices that such contraception is a form of abortion. The purpose of the draft rule is to pre-empt state laws that have protected women's ability to get birth control at pharmacies where a particular pharmacist refuses to fill these prescriptions. Read more....

With over 90% of Catholics who have ever had sexual intercourse claiming to have used contraceptives at some point, the question has to be asked of Senator McCain, if he supports the latest draconian efforts by the Bush administration to push this country back to the stone age? Rather than try and help impoverished people and reduce the number of abortions in this country, will McCain continue this Bush policy as he has so many others?

It is not fair to say that Senator Barrack Obama supports infanticide

2008-08-07T18:59:00.005-05:00

Captain Infanticide, aka Deal Hudson, is at it again. In his latest round of published smears against Senator Obama, not only has he once again raised this issue, he has listed others who have also made the same charge against Senator Obama to buttress this silly notion. The motley crew he lists includes Rick Santorum, the failed Senator who lost re-election to an actual Pro Life candidate, Ultra Neo Conservative Terry Jeffries, extremist Jill Stanek, grumpy extremist Bill Donohue, Gary Bauer of the far Christian right, and Libertarian Nat Hentoff. Hardly a jury of peers to make such a charge, much less support it with any credibility.

As I reported earlier on this site, Webster’s defines "infanticide" as "the killing of an infant". To this date, there is no record of Barrack Obama killing any infants. The charge that Deal Hudson makes is about as silly as charging George W. Bush with “genocide”. However, could the case be made that Bush is guilty by association for “genocide” as he did nothing to stop the genocide in Darfur? From the extremist point of view, is it fair to say the George W. Bush supports genocide? Since infants are killed during genocide, infanticide takes place, so is it fair to say that George W. Bush supports infanticide? If he does, do his supporters such as Deal Hudson and Bill Donohue support genocide and infanticide? Well, you get the point.

This is the same crowd that supports Republican candidate John McCain and President George W. Bush, leaders of the Republican administration that has brought to America the missing “weapons of mass destruction”, the debacle of Hurricane Katrina, Alberto Gonzales, Walter Reed, Guantanamo Bay, the largest national debt ever, tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy, Dick Cheney, the Iraq war, the stolen election…the list goes on. They, along with the "the decider" and Candidate McCain, want Catholic Americans to once again buy this charge of infanticide to deflect the foremost issues that Catholic Americans and their families are really concerned about.

Catholics going to the polls this November will be compelled me to vote for a candidate that will bring a systematic reform of No Child Left Behind. Catholics will be called to vote for the candidate that will bring improved access to health care for the poor and working families. Catholics will seek a candidate who supports a lowering of the federal deficit. They seek a candidate who truly desires a realistic investment in alternative energy, who by the way speaks to the same call that they have as a Catholics to be a good stewards of the environment. Catholics watching their country from a world view, seek a candidate that will end the harsh interrogation of detainees and restore our respect and relations globally. Catholics seek a candidate who works to address the circumstances surrounding a woman’s decision to have an abortion and works to reduce and eliminate abortions in this country.

Several times, I have challenged Deal Hudson to debate that the abortion conversation at this point in time should be about offering policy solutions that promote life and the support of parents beyond the birth of their new child. The conversation must move beyond the question of the legality of abortion and move towards actually reducing the need for abortion by investing in programs that will for example offer educational opportunities to communities in need so that in time we can see a quantitative reduction in both unintended pregnancies and abortions.

Moreover, I believe instead of asking "gotcha" questions on where a candidate has voted in the past or arguing about the failed and divisive policies of the past thirty years, or in this case pinning an unrealistic and radical title on Senator Obama, we have a moral obligation to address the issues that all sides can agree on, whether pro-life or pro-choice. We have to come to the collective realization that if candidates and their supporters are serious about the desire to reduce and eliminate abortions in this country then we all must find a common ground to build upon that can eventually reverse the recent trends and reduce the ever increasing number of abortions in this country.

The George W. Bush Presidential Library

2008-08-07T14:57:00.006-05:00

This was in the in box today. Thought it was funny enough to share.

The GEORGE W. BUSH PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY is now in the planning stages....The Library will include:

01. The Weapons of Mass Destruction Room, which no one has yet been able to find.

02. The Hurricane Katrina Room , which is still under construction.

03. The Alberto Gonzales Room, where you won't be able to remember anything.

04. The Texas Air National Guard Room, where you don't even have to show up.

05. The Walter Reed Hospital Room, where they don't let you in.

06. The Guantanamo Bay Room, where they don't let you out.

07. The National Debt Room, which is huge and has no ceiling.

08. The Tax Cut Room, with entry restricted only to the wealthy.

09. The Airport Men's Room, where you can meet some of your favorite
Republican Senators.

10. The Economy Room, which is in the toilet.

11. The Iraq War Room, after you complete your first tour, they make you to go back for a second, third, fourth, and sometimes fifth tour.

12. The Dick Cheney Room, in the famous undisclosed location, complete with shotgun gallery.

13. The Environmental Conservation Room, still empty, but very warm.

14. The Supreme Court Gift Shop, where you can buy an election.

15. The Decider Room, complete with dart board, magic 8-ball, Ouija board, dice, coins, and straws.

Additionally, the museum will have an electron microscope to help you locate the President's accomplishments.

Admission: Republicans - free; Democrats - $1000 or 3 Euros

What Rick Warren Should Ask Obama & McCain On Abortion

2008-08-06T15:04:00.005-05:00

I did a bit of guest blogging over at Beliefnet. Thanks to Steve, Dan and Paul for giving me the opportunity. Read the entry over there, by clicking here.

Sen. McCain: Take Down This Ad

2008-08-05T12:31:00.003-05:00

Catholics are not so much concerned with the end of the world as we are with having said our last confession prior to the apocalypse.

As reported previously on this blog, the McCain campaign wants us to believe that Obama is somehow the anti-Christ. Are we sure it was not Dick Cheney??

From our friends at the Matthew 25 Project.

Dear Friends,

As Christians, we were appalled to see John McCain's recent ad entitled "The One."

This ad, released on the web last Friday, tries to portray Senator Obama as some kind of Messiah and mocks those who support him as cult-like followers looking for a new Savior. Even more troubling, many view the ad as a dark attempt to portray Senator Obama as an anti-Christ figure.

The McCain campaign has said that the ad is meant to be humorous. But make no mistake about it: this ad is targeted at Christian voters with a very dark message.

We reject this tactic of fear and distortion out of hand. This false, desperate, and insulting ad should be renounced and taken down immediately.

Tell Senator McCain to repudiate this ad and take it down. Sign our petition to Senator McCain today.

Please forward this email to as many friends and family as you can. We cannot let this kind of negative campaigning go unanswered.

Help us get thousands of signatures in the next 48 hours. Sign-here.

Blessings,

Mara, Sharee and Grant
Matthew 25 Network

Deal Hudson - "Captain Infanticide"

2008-08-05T07:51:00.004-05:00

The 2008 Swift boaters have a new captain at the helm. His name is "Captain Infanticide", aka Deal Hudson. Being the ever divisive political hack that he is, Hudson has joined the swift boaters with false charges of "infanticide" against Barrack Obama. Websters defines "infanticide" as "the killing of an infant". To this date, there is no record of Barrack Obama killing any infants.

Instead of talking about ways to reduce the number of abortions, jobs, the economy, gas prices and the war, issues Catholics have a genuine stake in, Hudson would rather stay down in the divisive gutter and continue to run his smear campaign.

Seth Colter Walls article on the Huffington Post - The Next Smear Against Obama: "Infanticide" - not only highlights how Hudson is misleading people, but also once again reminds readers of his sordid past.

Catholics will not be fooled by this continued hypocrisy, when they cast their votes this fall.

The Anti Christ!!

2008-08-03T21:51:00.005-05:00

Now McCain wants Americans to believe that Obama is the Anti Christ. Funny - I was under the impression the Anti Christ was the Vice President? (disclaimer, I DO NOT BELIEVE, Dick Cheney is the Anti-Christ nor do I promote him as such - this is an attempt at humor)

The McCain Campaigns Sophomoric attempt at humor. Boorish at best...

Translating Big Daddy: Rules for the Campaign Trail

2008-07-30T17:21:00.002-05:00

This was a welcome surprise in the in box today.

From EthicsDailey.com

Some words of advice and wisdom from a good friend and brother...

COLUMN
Translating Big Daddy: Rules for the Campaign Trail

Burns Strider
07-30-08

Leading up to the 2006 mid-term elections when the Democratic Party regained majorities in both the House and Senate I was on the phone one evening with my friend, Christine Pelosi, when she asked me to share with her the rules of politics I follow.

Christine had been tireless over the year traveling across the nation conducting training sessions for Democratic candidates, political staff and volunteers. These trainings remain a key part of Democratic strategy and her book, Campaign Boot Camp: Basic Training for Future Leaders, has become a must read for those who want to win.

Christine's question was an interesting one. I have spent my whole life working in politics and much of what I do is more second nature than a set of rules on a piece of paper for referral. What were my rules for succeeding in politics? Eventually, the answers came. I learned about politics and how to win from my father.

He was known as Big Daddy by nearly everyone. He stood at 6 foot 7, weighed in at over 330 pounds and wore a suit, cowboy hat and cowboy boots seven days a week. Jesse A. "Big Daddy" Strider was sheriff of Grenada County, Miss., for 24 years. Big Daddy lived out and taught a progressive brand of politics that was about doing and not talking.

With Christine's encouragement and a lot of remembering I managed to put on paper, for referral, the basic rules he taught me. So, here it is, translating Big Daddy, rules for the campaign trail.

--"A pick up truck beats a Cadillac every day of the week out here in real America." Translation: Don't get fancy. Don't get fancy with your words, with your plan or with your attitude. Folks are looking for one of them to lead.

--"Every tub has got to sit on its own bottom." Translation: In the final analysis the candidate has to carry the day. The candidate is who the voters want to hear from. Only the candidate can ultimately speak for the candidate.

--"If you're driving down the highway and see a car coming toward you in your lane then you're going to change lanes." Translation: Don't get in the way of your friends. Stay out of other people's races. Stay in your lane and don't bring undue criticism and opposition by being nosy or getting involved where you shouldn't.

--"If you come up on an old yella dog that is barking the word 'God' then let him bark." Translation: Don't challenge, denigrate or dismiss the faith of anyone. A person's faith represents the core, the essence of who they are. It's one of their most personal choices. You tear that person down if you tear down their faith.

--"Be careful what you say about someone, you're probably talking to their cousin." Translation: You're probably talking to their cousin.

--"Preach it three times. Before you do it, when you're doing it and after you do it." Translation: It's not just enough to believe it or even do it. People must know where you stand on an issue. They must know your actions. Just doing something without getting the news out is a waste of good time. I run across people running for office all the time who have done good things but no one knows. They're even indignant that others don't know of their good work. Well, they lose no matter how much time they waste being indignant. Tell your story and tell it often.

--"No one ever had to apologize for something they did not say." Translation: Don't talk if you don't have too. If it doesn't help you, remain quiet. If you're unsure if it helps you, keep your mouth shut. You must know for certain what you're saying and why. Don't take chances saying something you likely can't fix.

--"The person with the khaki pants, sweaty shirt and old baseball cap, driving the old farm truck is probably on the local bank board. The slick guy with the pin stripped suit, silk tie, tasseled shoes and new car probably charged his clothes and is, more than likely, a couple of payments behind on his car." Translation: Big Daddy was never impressed with those who put on airs. Being flashy was artificial to him. He wasn't against spending money and living good, but he was against anyone who seemed to take pleasure in using material items to show off or feel superior to others. We all know that flashiness is a waste of time in politics.

--"Take the blame. Be responsible." Translation: Don't pass the buck. Stand up and take it when things go bad.

--"Spread the credit" Translation: And when things go good, let people know who all was involved. Share the wealth and it will be returned to you over and over again.

--"Don't kick a person when they're down." Translation: When people are at their lowest, no matter what they did, no matter how bad, it is not the time to pile on. Show them attention, love and support. This was Big Daddy's philosophy not just in politics but for how the inmates were to be treated at his jail. Not your normal take on how a Mississippi sheriff may run things. And he kept running his jail and sheriff's department because his county would give him 70-75 percent of the vote nearly every time he was on the ballot.

--"Remember your raising." Translation: Cissy Ross Pierce was moving to South Korea with her soldier husband who was being stationed there. There was a going away party on our farm with all the area families in attendance. At the end of the party, Big Daddy hugged Cissy and simply said "You remember your raising while you're over there." I think it would bode well for all of us if we took time every now and then to remember our raising.

There you have it--Big Daddy translated. I don't think Big Daddy considered himself a post-modern philosopher, but what he taught and lived is as relevant today, in an age of blogospheres, Internet social networking and micro-targeting, as it was in the last century. It's about building true relationships, sharing your heart, playing fair but tough and keeping your eye on the ball. It's about winning with integrity.

Burns Strider was senior adviser and director of faith-based outreach for Sen. Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign. He is a founder of Eleison Group, a consulting firm that helps political candidates, businesses and non-profit organizations engage with people of faith.

Republican Archbishop Chaput meets with McCain

2008-07-30T17:11:00.003-05:00

In a not so surprising move, the outspoken and partisan Republican Archbishop Chaput has met "privately" with Republican Presidential hopeful John McCain. I suspect that wedge issues and McCains extreme view on abortion was the topic of discussion while the 100 year war of McCains imagination was not even brought up. Chaput has been seen with many Republicans over the years, however I suspect that if Senator Obama made a similar meeting request, Chaput would be high tailing it out of town.

Read more....

Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests targets Sen. John McCain

2008-07-29T09:16:00.004-05:00

This is an interesting tid bit from Stephanie Innes of the Arizona Daily Star.

The national Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests is angry at Sen. John McCain.

Members of the national group say they’ll be holding a media event in Phoenix on Tuesday, July 29, to demand that McCain fire Deal Hudson from his Catholics for McCain steering committee.

The SNAP protestations come shortly after a group called Catholics United, which leans left, also demanded that McCain dump Hudson. Catholics United says Hudson does not represent Catholic values.

The reason? A sex scandal…..

In 2004 the National Catholic Reporter revealed that Hudson had resigned his faculty post at Fordham University a decade earlier — in 1994 — after an 18-year-old student complained that he had sexual relations with her in his office after taking her to a party at a New York bar and getting her drunk.

Just months after Hudson left Fordham, he was hired as senior editor of Crisis, a conservative Catholic magazine. In 1995 he became editor and publisher.
And just a month after the National Catholic Reporter story broke, Hudson stepped down from a job with the Bush-Cheney campaign. He also resigned as publisher of Crisis.

It was national news back then, four years ago. Now, it’s news again.

Hudson is also being criticized for ‘brokering a deal’ between a meeting of conservative Catholics and San Antonio mega-preacher John Hagee.

Bill Donohue of the conservative Catholic League is incensed by the vitriol aimed at Hudson.

“Hudson has made several public statements of apology regarding his improper sexual encounter with a coed in 1994. What are we to do as Catholics—say it isn’t enough?,” Dononue wrote.

“Hudson and Hagee have paid their dues. It’s time everyone—especially Catholics—acknowledged it. Kudos to the McCain campaign for seeing through this phony effort and standing by Hudson.”

SNAP on the other hand refers to Hudson as a “wrongdoer.”

“We feel that when wrong doers are given positions of power it sends a very dangerous message to victims, a message that wrongdoers are rewarded and there is no point in reporting abuse since the predator is not punished,” a SNAP press release states.

The event will take place at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday outside the McCain Southwest Regional Headquarters at 5353 N. 16th Street, Phoenix, AZ

Article on line here...

I must say though - if Hudson were a Priest, he would not be involved in the activities he is now involved in. The thing about politics is that people have long memories....

In 2004, Hudson was gleeful about his role in costing the job of Ono Ekeh, a “low level employee” at the Secretariat for African-American Catholics, and father of three, who had hosted a “Catholics for Kerry” Internet forum. Hudson told NCR’s Feuerherd, “If you’re going to play in the sandbox, then you have to take the consequences of your public utterances and your public actions.”

Indeed Deal, and that is why states have "sex offender" registry's.

"Why Obama Seized the Faith-Based Mantle"

2008-07-29T07:32:00.007-05:00

In this weeks USA today, the ever observant Amy Sullivan writes about Presidential Candidate, Barrack Obama's plan for Faith-Based initiatives. (It should be noted that I advised the Obama campaign along with many others prior to the release of the plan)

Amy notes in her editorial that "It's fair to say Democrats were expecting a presidential nominee who would vow to overturn the faith-based initiative once he reached the White House, not one who doubled down on the program." --- I agree and we faced similar sentiments in Ohio, when Governor Strickland took office and inherited a statutory and mis-managed Faith-Based Office. Some were not quite sure what to do with it while others would have privately liked to have seen it done away with had it not been a statutory office. It is refreshing to see that the Obama team has a plan viewed through fresh eyes to put into place for Faith-Based initiatives from day one.

As Amy notes there is reason for Obama to embrace the initiatives rather than do away with them. "For one, by embracing the idea of partnerships between government and faith-based institutions, Obama isn't moving to the right so much as reclaiming an issue Democrats used to support. For decades, religiously affiliated organizations like Lutheran Social Services and United Jewish Communities received, without a hint of controversy, government funds to provide social services." ----- What is often lost though is the purpose of Faith-Based initiatives. That is to build capacity for small Faith-Based organization to apply and compete for Federal Funding. The big organizations have grant writers and the staff needed to go after this money. More often than not, the only organizations that will serve the least among us and provide services in poverty stricken neighborhoods are small Churches and faith based organizations. These services are certainly enhanced and improved with the proper funding.

The common misconception of Faith-Based initiatives, especially among Democrats is that there is a big pot of money for Churches and that they can use it to build Churches and buy bibles, a clear separation of church and state issue in their eyes. The facts are, that federal money comes with complications and strings attached to it. Faith Based initiatives sought to level the playing field. Money was made available to provide training and resources to small faith based organizations who did not have the large staffs and talented grant writers like a Catholic Charities would have.

With the Bush administration, the money was made available, but at times to only those who had the "right" kind of faith. With a fresh look from an Obama administration, we may well see the initiatives implemented in the right way, and services delivered to those truly in need of the assistance that in most cases can only be provided in a meaningful way by local faith based organizations. It also helps that Senator Obama began his career as a faith based organizer, living his faith with works.

With an Obama Faith Based initiative, we may finally see the small faith based community organization receive the training, funding and capacity they need to provide robust and long term services for those in need in their communities.

Read more of Amy's article here...

Bush commits man to Death Penalty

2008-07-29T07:12:00.004-05:00

I have long struggled with my views on the Death Penalty and my Catholicism. The Church is clear on this issue. It is a life issue, although some will argue that there are clear exceptions to the Church's teaching. Circumstances where the crime was so repugnant and offensive to humanity that it warrant's taking ones life. Robert Gray may be such a scumbag, based on his horrific and heinous crimes. Do we in society have the right to judge before Gray is judged by his maker?

President Bush, who some have described as the first "Catholic" President for his "Pro Life" credentials signed off on Grays execution yesterday.

AP Report:

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush could have commuted the death sentence of Ronald A. Gray, a former Army cook convicted of multiple rapes and murders.

But Bush decided Monday that Gray's crimes were so repugnant that execution was the only just punishment.

Bush's decision marked the first time in 51 years that a president has affirmed a death sentence for a member of the U.S. military. It was the first time in 46 years that such a decision has even been weighed in the Oval Office.

Gray, 42, was convicted in connection with a spree of four murders and eight rapes in the Fayetteville, N.C., area between April 1986 and January 1987 while he was stationed at Fort Bragg. He has been on death row at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., since April 1988.

The court-martial panel convicted Gray of:

_Raping and killing Army Pvt. Laura Lee Vickery-Clay of Fayetteville on Dec. 15, 1986. She was shot four times with a .22-caliber pistol that Gray confessed to stealing. She suffered blunt force trauma over much of her body.

_Raping and killing Kimberly Ann Ruggles, a civilian cab driver in Fayetteville. She was bound, gagged and stabbed repeatedly, and had bruises and lacerations on her face. Her body was found on the base.

_Raping, robbing and attempting to kill an army private in her barracks at Fort Bragg on Jan. 3, 1987. She testified against Gray during the court-martial and identified him as her assailant. Gray raped her and stabbed her several times in the neck and side. The victim suffered a laceration of the trachea and a collapsed or punctured lung.

Gray has appealed his case through the Army Court of Criminal Appeals (then known as the U.S. Army Court of Military Review) and the Court of Appeals for the Armed Services. In 2001, the Supreme Court declined to hear the case.

Read More

The Cost of Irresponsible War and Mismanagement of Goverment

2008-07-29T07:04:00.005-05:00

The White House predicted Monday that President Bush would leave a record $482 billion deficit to his successor, a sobering turnabout in the nation’s fiscal condition from 2001, when Mr. Bush took office from President Clinton who left three consecutive years of budget surpluses.

The worst may be yet to come. The announcement does not reflect the full cost of military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the potential $50 billion cost of another economic stimulus package, or the possibility of steeper losses in tax revenues if individual income or corporate profits decline.

tsk tsk

1-20-09 can not come soon enough....

Noah And The Flood of 2008?

2008-07-27T09:26:00.003-05:00

In the year 2008, the Lord came unto Noah, who was now living in the United States , and said:

Once again, the earth has become wicked and over-populated, and I see the end of all flesh before me.

Build another Ark and save 2 of every living thing along with a few good humans.

He gave Noah the blueprints, saying: You have 6 months to build the Ark before I will start the unending rain for 40 days and 40 nights.

Six months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah weeping in his yard - but no Ark.

Noah! He roared, I'm about to start the rain! Where is the Ark ?

Forgive me, Lord, begged Noah, 'but things have changed.

I needed a building permit.

I've been arguing with the inspector about the need for a sprinkler system.

My neighbors claim that I've violated the neighborhood zoning laws by building the Ark in my yard and exceeding the height limitations. We had to go to the Development Appeal Board for a decision.

Then the Department of Transportation demanded a bond be posted for the future costs of moving power lines and other overhead obstructions, to clear the passage for the Ark 's move to the sea.

I told them that the sea would be coming to us, but they would hear nothing of it.

Getting the wood was another problem. There's a ban on cutting local trees in order to save the spotted owl.

I tried to convince the environmentalists that I needed the wood to save the owls - but NO GO!

When I started gathering the animals, an animal rights group sued me.

They insisted that I was confining wild animals against their will.

They argued the accommodations were too restrictive, and it was cruel and inhumane

to put so many animals in a confined space.

Then the EPA ruled that I couldn't build the Ark until they'd conducted an environmental impact study on your proposed flood.

I'm still trying to resolve a complaint with the Human Rights Commission on how many minorities I'm supposed to hire for my building crew.

Immigration and Naturalization are checking the green-card status of most of the people who want to work.

The trades unions say I can't use my sons. They insist I have to hire only Union workers with Ark-building experience.

To make matters worse, the IRS seized all my assets, claiming I'm trying to leave the country illegally with endangered species.

So, forgive me, Lord, but it would take at least 10 years for me to finish this Ark.

Suddenly the skies cleared, the sun began to shine, and a rainbow stretched across the sky.

Noah looked up in wonder and asked,

'You mean you're not going to destroy the world?'

'No,' said the Lord.

'The government beat me to it.

As Ohio goes ... the nation may not go

2008-07-24T09:23:00.002-05:00

A good analysis of the 08 Campaign from PolitickerOH's Justin Miller..

"Is Ohio's reign as the single must win state for the presidency over?

As a handful of states across the country show fresh signs of swinging from one partisan column to another, it appears that Barack Obama and possibly John McCain could lose Ohio and still win the presidency.

Using the 2004 electoral map as a foundation, Obama could lose Ohio and win three Western states he's targeted prominently: Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada. The total electoral votes from those three states are one short of Ohio's 20, but taking them from McCain would give Obama 271 votes in the Electoral College - one more than he needs to win. Alternatively, Obama could win Iowa and add either Virginia or Missouri to survive and Ohio loss."

READ MORE...

Senator Durbin on Abortion Reduction

2008-07-24T09:03:00.002-05:00

This is in my opinion one of the best sound bytes from a Democrat on Abortion I have heard in years. Senator Durbin is dead on regarding the issue of Abortion. It is smart public policy and more Democrats should begin to talk this way and follow through with substantial policy and legislation.

From Media Matters:

On the June 12 edition of his MSNBC show, Chris Matthews asserted, "I don't hear Democrats talk ... about the need to reduce the number of abortions." He continued: "They talk about the rights issue, the constitutional question of Roe v. Wade, but you don't hear them talking a lot about the need for education, for much fewer, maybe enormously fewer, unwanted pregnancies, which is the reason people get abortions." In fact, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama, Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean, Sen. Hillary Clinton, and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee chairman Sen. Chuck Schumer (NY) -- have all said that the United States should work to reduce the number of abortions through education and access to contraception.

Matthews made his comment after Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) said: "I think women and men have the same concern about where this country is going and struggling from paycheck to paycheck. When it comes to more basic issues, issues of privacy, certainly it means a lot to all of us. And it means a lot to women in this country. I think Barack Obama's position on the issue of choice is one that most Americans agree with. He wants to try to downplay and discourage the number of abortions in this country, to have more family planning, to avoid unplanned pregnancies."

At a Compassion Forum at Messiah College on April 13, Obama said, "[W]e can certainly agree on the fact that we should be doing everything we can to avoid unwanted pregnancies that might even lead somebody to consider having an abortion," and, "I think that we can reduce abortions and I think we should make sure that adoption is an option for people out there." Obama's campaign addresses the issue on its website also; under the headline, "Preventing Unwanted Pregnancy," it reads: "Barack Obama is an original co-sponsor of legislation to expand access to contraception, health information and preventive services to help reduce unintended pregnancies."

Time for Some Campaignin'

2008-07-24T08:51:00.000-05:00

The Matthew 25 Network - Christians supporting Obama

2008-07-24T08:19:00.006-05:00

I would love to take credit for the name of this group, maybe inspired by the name of this blog, but alas it appears to be a simple coincidence.

Named after the Bible verse (“I tell you the truth, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me”) The Matthew 25 Network is a consortium of Christian faith leaders and activists working to elect more Democrats, including Senator Barrack Obama, to office who share the same “biblical and gospel values,” my friend Mara Vanderslice, the head of the PAC tells me.

The group began to run ads prior to the Indiana Democratic primary in early May. Mara tells me that the group intends to spend at least $500,000 in advertising between now and Nov. 4, and the group will focus mainly on Christian radio and Christian publications, such as the National Catholic Reporter and Relevant Magazine.

A new one-minute radio ad will be airing on Christian radio in Ohio, Michigan, and Colorado in the short-term. Vanderslice said they plan to expand the buy to other swing states, including Pennsylvania, Virginia, Missouri, and North Carolina.

Obama’s Christian faith has been well documented this election cycle, and multiple polls have shown that many Americans still believe the false notion that he is a Muslim. The ad underscores Obama’s Christianity.

“You know it’s an election year when certain people start grabbing headlines by attacking the faith of presidential candidates, with all these stones being cast at Barack Obama it can be hard to know what to believe,” the ad states. It features a clip of an Obama speech where he says, “I think we make a mistake when we fail to acknowledge the role of faith in people’s lives.” and "I submitted myself to his will and dedicated myself to his to discovering his truth"

On a conference call yestereday with the media Bart Campolo, an urban minister and founder of Mission Year who works out of Cincinnati, Ohio, told reporters that he has long been “uncomfortable” with evangelicals marching in “lock-step” with the Republican Party in recent decades largely over the wedge issues of abortion and gay marriage. He said the Matthew 25 Network is working to expand the dialogue about Christians and public service.

“What I’m excited about at this stage of the game, it seems like the evangelical community is waking up to the deeper and broader approach to the teachings of Jesus for the poor, the depressed, and the marginalized,” Campolo said.

Others on the conference call included:

Mara Vanderslice, Founder and Director, Matthew 25 Network
Rev. Derrick Harkins, Nineteenth Street Baptist Church, Board Member of World Relief
Sharon Daly, Former Vice-President of Catholic Charities
Rev. Wilfredo DeJesus, Vice-President for Social Justice Ministries,
National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference

Of great interest to Catholics was discussion surrounding the issue of Abortion. Rev. DeJesus and Sharon Daly openly acknowledged their pro-life beliefs. Both discussed how Senator Obama supports Abortion reduction measures and how society and lawmakers must begin to address the circumstances surrounding abortion to reduce the numbers of abortions.

Here the radio ad:

Web Site

17 years of distorted reality

2008-04-08T22:30:00.003-05:00

President Bush’s attempts at defending the Iraq war as it reached its fifth anniversary in mid-March were as irresponsible as the reasons he advanced for getting the United States involved in this sorry and costly misadventure.

His defense is inane because his assertions that “successes are undeniable” and that the United States is on the verge of winning something in Iraq lack any sense or logic. Unfortunately, his latest words constitute but one more chapter in the dissembling that began shortly after the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and allowed the administration to falsely link Iraq to the attacks, to make preposterous claims about its weapons of mass destruction and to wildly inflate its threat to the United States.

More at NCR

The Catholic Coalition on Climate Change

2008-03-24T15:50:00.002-05:00

See Web Site

Awhile back we reported on this new Coalition. Well we stumbled back across their website today. Check it out!

“Remedies are very complicated. … We’re in a mode of listening and learning.” —Dan Misleh, Executive Director

Since its launch in 2006, the Coalition has focused its work on providing a forum to explore the issues and faith implications of climate change through hosted hearings around the country.

They have partners!

“This kind of serious discussion … is not intended to settle these questions, but rather to lift them up and focus them so we can make wise and necessary choices.”
—Bishop Thomas Wenski, Diocese of Orlando

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

* Social Development and World Peace/Environmental Justice Program More
* Catholic Campaign for Human Development More

National Religious Partnership for the Environment More

Other Partnering Organizations

* Catholic Relief Services More
* National Council of Catholic Women More
* Catholic Health Association of the United States More
* Catholic Charities USA More
* National Catholic Rural Life Conference More
* Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities More
* Franciscan Action Network More

Good Stuff indeed and we are glad to see this site up and running!

U.N. Security Council Must Act Preemptively – On Climate Change

2008-03-24T15:41:00.002-05:00

Climate Change is one of many issues Catholics should examine before going to the polls. See the U.S. Bishops' "Faithful Citizenship"

Everyone is responsible for caring for environment, says U.N. nuncio

The United Nations tackled the task of troubleshooting climate change last month. Between holding General Assembly meetings at headquarters in New York, bringing 100 environmental ministers to Monaco in the largest meeting of ministers since Bali, and launching a Climate Neutral Network to highlight best practices in tackling global warming, the UN appears to be doing what it can to ensure that climate change does not fall off the political radar. Yet, it still isn't enough. A concerted international strategy, on a par with the seriousness and scope of a Security Council resolution, is what's needed to counter this climate crisis.

More from the Christian Science Monitor.

Easter Message - Pope denounces 'scourges of humanity' - Encourages the Common Good

2008-03-23T11:18:00.004-05:00

In a speech at the end of the Mass in St. Peter's Square, Benedict said that on the joyous day of Easter, "in particular, how can we fail to remember certain African regions, such as Darfur and Somalia, the tormented Middle East, especially the Holy Land, Iraq, Lebanon and finally Tibet, all of which I encourage to seek solutions that will safeguard peace and the common good."

Benedict denounced "selfishness, injustice, hatred and violence" between individuals and peoples.

"These are the scourges of humanity, open and festering in every corner of the planet, although they are often ignored and sometimes deliberately concealed, wounds that torture the souls and bodies of countless of our brothers and sisters," he said, speaking over the sound of heavy rain in the square.

Mission Accomplished??

2008-03-23T10:58:00.002-05:00

Five years into the Iraq war, much of America's focus has been on the nearly 4,000 U.S. soldiers who have died, the $600 billion in tax money spent, and the projected tab of $3 trillion. Those figures are a staggering reminder of how much the war has cost us in blood and treasure. But often lost in our debate and fading news coverage is the toll the U.S. invasion has taken on the Iraqi people.

More from the Philadelphia Inquirer

George Weigle trips over his tongue

2008-03-20T10:27:00.004-05:00

It has been long thought around here that George Weigle (Wingnut) may have hit his head at tender age - and now it is confirmed....

Recently, the Archdiocese of Denver run by the Politically active, very Republican uber neo conservative Archbishop Chaput, ran an article by Weigle in its diocesan newspaper. Apparently Weigle could not get this mean spirited attack on the Jesuits printed any place else. We do feel sorry for the good Catholics of Denver. How sad it must be to be a member of such an oppressive Diocese. We found the piece to be highly offensive and have decided not to sully this blog by listing it here. If you want to read it - click here. (make sure you have not recently eaten lunch)

Now the response to the attack piece, we found to much more in line with Catholic Teaching and found it to be quite charitable. We would expect nothing less from our Jesuit friends. We do hope somebody will direct Weigle to a confessional.

Attack on Jesuits out of place
( Ed. note: Following is a letter to the Archdiocese of Denver in regard to a column by George Weigel carried in the Feb. 20 Denver Catholic Register. Written by University of San Francisco President Jesuit Father Stephen A. Privett, the letter was forwarded to Catholic San Francisco in anticipation of the newspaper carrying the Weigel column on this page. )

I write in response to George Weigel's column attacking the Society of Jesus and to register my disappointment that the Archdiocese of Denver saw fit to publish this piece [Feb. 20] and offer it for syndication.

It is difficult for me to understand how the Church is well served by such a mean - spirited assault on a religious order that has served the Church, not perfectly but well, for almost 500 years. The blood of Jesuit martyrs seeded Christianity in the Americas and Asia and more recently witnessed to the Church's preferential love for the poor in El Salvador. We Jesuits have been the subject of malicious attacks for our entire history, but rarely in an official archdiocesan newspaper. We deserve better.

Let me address some specific concerns I have regarding the accuracy of this column. Mr. Weigel falsely claims that Father James Keenan, SJ testified in 2003 before the Massachusetts Legislature's Joint Commission on the Judiciary that Catholic social thought "demanded" gay marriage. He did not do so. Father Keenan testified against unjust discrimination against gay couples. He did not testify in support of gay marriage or approve homosexual activity. Mr. Weigel is free to argue with Father Keenan's position, but he is not free to put false words in his mouth.

Mr. Weigel's stunningly sweeping statement that Jesuit Father Robert Drinan "did more than anyone else to convince Catholic legislators" on the issue of abortion lacks any supporting evidence. Further, attacks on Father Drinan, who has been out of Congress for more than 25 years and dead for two, strike me as singularly unfair, much like similar attacks on Pope Pius XII or Father Marcel Maciel, neither of whom are alive to defend themselves. Judgments on such complicated persons and situations are best left to qualified historians and only after a thorough review of all relevant archival materials, not to 700 - word columns by opinionated pundits. The Church would be better served if we all followed the Catholic adage, dic nihil nisi bonum de mortuis ( of the dead speak kindly or not at all ) .

On a more philosophical point, I disagree with Mr. Weigel's reduction of abortion to a "civil rights" issue. It is that, but only by extension and secondarily. The right to life is not simply a "civil right" conferred by the 13th or 14th amendments to our Constitution or by any civil authority; it is a God - given right constitutive of the dignity of every human being at every stage of life. Mr. Weigel would seem to minimize the importance of abortion by mischaracterizing it as "the great civil rights struggle" rather than "the pivotal moral issue" of our time.

Mr. Weigel's reference to Jesuit novices in "gay drag" refers to a photo taken at a Halloween party seven years ago at the novitiate. The novices were in costumes that Mr. Weigel chose to characterize as "gay drag" while disingenuously implying some sort of sybaritic happening. ( I hope no one unearths the fifth grade photo of me dressed as a nun in the 1952 All Saints Day parade at St. Mary Magdalen Grammar School in Los Angeles! ) The photo in question of two novices was never "featured" by the California Province website; it was mistakenly put on - line and immediately taken off for fear it would be malevolently misinterpreted by the likes of Mr. Weigel.

"Will Father Nicolas demand that Jesuits observe their vows of chastity. " This is a classic "When did you stop beating your spouse?" question. I am not a literalist, but I saw no evidence whatsoever from Weigel that Jesuits do not observe their vow of chastity. Mr. Weigel has apparently not read the document on chastity published in 1995 by General Congregation 34 which thoroughly discusses the significance of the vow of Chastity in Jesuit life. Mr. Weigel asks, "Are there no consequences for those who violate those vows?" without producing a shred of evidence that Jesuit superiors do not hold members accountable for fidelity to their vows. They do.

To refer to Catholicism as "vestigial at best" on Catholic college campuses indicates an animosity toward and ignorance of Catholic universities. Just one example: USF has a Catholic Studies program; a Catholic focused - curriculum in the Theology and Religious Studies Department; a Master's Program in Catholic Theology for which those who teach in Catholic schools receive a 50 percent tuition reduction; the Lane Center for Catholic Studies and Social Thought; a Catholic theology emphasis; an endowed faculty chair in Catholic thought; the McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Common Good; a graduate Institute for Catholic Educational Leadership that has prepared countless Catholic school administrators across the country; a residential student learning community, the St. Ignatius Institute, whose common curriculum is comprised of classic texts from Augustine and Aquinas to John Paul II; a partnership with the Archdiocese of San Francisco to support Catholic grammar schools in the Mission; USF has honored Cardinal Levada and Archbishop Niederauer with honorary doctoral degrees and both archbishops have lectured on campus and met with University trustees; USF has a flourishing university ministry program with retreats, liturgies, lectures and prayer groups; USF students participate in international papal youth day.

Pope Benedict XVI expressed his feelings for the Society of Jesus in an address (the entire talk is worth reading) to members of the current General Congregation when he said to the assembled Jesuits, "The Church needs you, counts on you, and continues to turn to you with confidence, particularly to reach the geographical and spiritual places where others do not reach or find it difficult to reach." The pope asked that Jesuits "make the face of the Lord known to so many for whom it remains hidden or unrecognizable."

Mr. Weigel began his column by citing Father General Nicolas' chiding of those who "create rifts and an artificial tension" between the pope and the Society of Jesus. It appears that Mr. Weigel himself has authored a "not so helpful" piece that appears to question Pope Benedict's confidence in the Society of Jesus. The readership of Catholic diocesan newspapers deserve more civil, balanced and professional fare than that served - up and passed around by the Denver Catholic Register. One cannot build - up the Body of Christ by tearing down its members.

Pope on Iraq: Enough With the Bloodshed

2008-03-19T07:13:00.003-05:00

I wonder if any of GWB's "Catholic" advisors made him aware of B16s remarks? You think Deal Hudson may have sent him a note?

Urges Citizens to Rebuild Nation After 5 Years of War

VATICAN CITY, MARCH 16, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI made a strong appeal for peace in Iraq today, in the wake of the kidnapping and death of the archbishop of Mosul.
The Pope led the praying of the midday Angelus in St. Peter's Square after he celebrated Palm Sunday Mass. He began his pre-Angelus address with a tribute to Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho of Mosul.

The 65-year-old archbishop was kidnapped Feb. 29 after leading the celebration of the Way of the Cross. His two guards and driver were shot and killed.

After nearly two weeks with no news of the prelate's whereabouts, his kidnappers called Wednesday to say he was dead and disclosed where his body could be found.

On Thursday, his body was retrieved from a shallow grave near Mosul, showing signs that the archbishop had been dead for a few days. He was buried Friday in a celebration led by Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly, patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans.

"At the end of this solemn celebration in which we have meditated on Christ's Passion," the Holy Father said today: "I would like to recall the late Chaldean archbishop of Mosul, Monsignor Paulos Faraj Rahho, who tragically died a few days ago.

"His beautiful witness of fidelity to Christ, to the Church and his people, whom he did not want to abandon despite numerous threats, moves me to cry out forcefully and with distress: Enough with the bloodshed, enough with the violence, enough with the hatred in Iraq!"Lift up your heads.

The Holy Father went on to plea for an end to the upheaval caused by the war in Iraq, which began five years ago this week.

He said: "And at the same time I make an appeal to the Iraqi people, who for five years have endured the consequences of a war that has provoked upheaval in its civil and social life: Beloved Iraqi people, lift up your heads and let it be you yourselves who, in the first place, rebuild your national life!

"May reconciliation, forgiveness, justice and respect for the civil coexistence of tribes, ethnic groups and religious groups be the solidary way to peace in the name of God!"

On Monday, Benedict XVI will preside over a memorial Mass in the Vatican for Archbishop Rahho. Vatican Radio will broadcast the service.

CATHOLICS CONDEMN MURDER OF ARCHBISHOP RAHHO; URGE END TO IRAQ WAR

2008-03-19T07:05:00.011-05:00

Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good sent out the release below yesterday. I am sure though that GWB will make no mention of the loss of the Archbishop as he takes to the airwaves today to tout success in the war he declared "Mission Accomplished" in FIVE YEARS AGO.

Today Catholic social justice organizations from across the country joined together to issue the following statement regarding the murder of Chaldean Archbishop Paul Faraj Rahho. His body was found on March 13 in a shallow grave near Mosul , Iraq .

The brutal murder of Archbishop Faraj Rahho is another tragic reminder that “war is always a defeat for humanity.” - Pope John Paul II, Jan. 23, 2003

Today, we join with other Catholic, Jewish and Muslim leaders around the word to express our profound sorrow at this loss and denounce this callous act of terrorism against a true prophet of peace.

From the depths of grief, we find hope in Archbishop Rahho’s tireless commitment to his country and to building a world where the children of God will never again kill each other in the name of religion, tribe or ethnicity. Together in solidarity with the people of Iraq and the United States , we recommit ourselves with more determination than ever before to help end the horror of this unjust war.

As people of faith called to be peacemakers, we must express our moral outrage at our own government’s role in perpetuating violence and death in Iraq . As we approach the fifth anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq tomorrow, we again urge our political leaders to seek a responsible withdrawal of troops. Political, diplomatic and economic solutions to rebuilding Iraq must be emphasized over a failed policy of endless war.

We join with Pope Benedict XVI, who said on Palm Sunday: “Enough with the bloodshed, enough with the violence, enough with the hatred in Iraq .”

Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities

Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good

Catholics United

Conference of Major Superiors of Men, Justice and Peace Director

Leadership Conference of Women Religious

Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns

National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd

NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby

Pax Christi, USA

Sisters of Mercy of the Americas , Institute Justice Team

The Joan and Ralph Lane Center for Catholic Studies and Social Thought, University of San Francisco

Mail Bag: Letter to Fr. Landry and Deal Hudson on SCHIP

2007-10-24T07:53:00.000-05:00

Dear Fr. Landry and Mr. Hudson,

On October 12th and October 22nd of this year, you individually posted comments regarding SCHIP on your blogs. While we congratulate you on your attempt to educate Catholics on important public policy issues such as SCHIP, we found several erroneous statements in your posts. We would like to offer corrections to your statements as we are sure you would like to correct them and provide the most accurate information you can to Catholics.

Your blogs state: “Among other things, the rewritten SCHIP pays for contraceptives to be distributed to teenagers without parental permission or oven knowledge.”

THE FACTS ARE: The bill vetoed by the President makes no change to current laws regarding parental notification and permission for contraceptives, which vary from state to state.

Your blogs state: “It authorizes the diversion of previously allocated abstinence education funds to condom pushing campaigns.”

THE FACTS ARE: An earlier House version dealt altered abstinence programs, but those provisions were not included in the version vetoed by the President. In other words, the current rules supporting abstinence programs were unaffected by the final bill.

Your blogs state: “It permits tax dollars to be used for sterilizations according to individual state policies.”

THE FACTS ARE: Some current state laws allow this for adults, not children. However, the bill vetoed by the President removes adults from the SCHIP program over the next two years, so this would no longer be an issue if the President had not vetoed it.

Your blogs state: “And worst of all, it promotes and funds abortions.”

THE FACTS ARE: Not true. The bill vetoed by the President retains in full the longstanding “Hyde amendment” provisions of current law that allow abortions in SCHIP and Medicaid only in cases of rape, incest or when the life of the mother is threatened.

If states provide abortion funding, they can do so with their own state funding, but the bill that President Bush vetoed does not change that, and it has been true since the inception of SCHIP. Federal funds under SCHIP or Medicaid cannot be used for abortion since federal funding of abortion is prohibited by the Hyde Amendment.

The euthanasia claim made in your posts may have been in response to the House bill which had proposed cuts in Medicare that would not have led to the kind of denial of services that some claimed would lead seniors to be w/out medical services, and thus “euthanized.” These provisions were in the House bill, but they were removed since the Senate would not consider Medicare provision in a SCHIP package.

States have considerably leeway when it comes to SCHIP. They can design their own programs in effect within certain guidelines. The bill the President vetoed does nothing to promote any particular procedures. Don’t you both think if there were anything affecting abstinence funding, teen access to contraceptives or any of the other inflammatory issues claimed, we all would have heard about it long ago and certainly during the very long debates in both the House and Senate.

Your blogs are both widely read and you have credibility with the constituency that follows your work. We know that you only want to provide the best and most accurate information to these readers.

We therefore respectfully request that you re-examine your posts and your sources and post statements reflecting the true contents of the SCHIP bill so that the Catholics who read your blogs will be accurately informed.

You might also mention that the USCCB supports SCHIP expansion, as noted by a recently letter to NCR from Richard M. Doerflinger, Secretariat for “Pro-Life” Activities USCCB. As you note in your posts the Catholic Health Association and Catholic Charities USA also support the bill. We have found that many Catholic Conferences and many Diocesan offices around the country also support the bill.

We know you only want the best information shared with your readers, and we look forward to the updated posts with the corrections.

Blessings,

Eamon

Hudson Blog

Fr. Landry Blog

Respect for Life - from Conception to Natural Death

2007-10-23T12:28:00.000-05:00

As I ponder on the recent writings of some of our Neo Con friends regarding what is "Pro-Life", I am reminded of some of the basic teachings of the Catholic Church.

We are taught respect for the dignity and life of the human person, from conception to natural death. The foundation of all Catholic Social Teaching is an unwavering commitment to the dignity and worth of every human being without exception. The Book of Genesis teaches that every person is created in the image and likeness of God. Thus all human life, at every stage from conception through natural death, is sacred. The human person is the clearest reflection of God among us. We are therefore called to revere and cherish the life of every person.

In this day in our world, the climate is threatened, countries are at war, children go with out health-care, genocide goes unchecked, human rights are abused, abortion continues to be widely available, and millions live in poverty, Catholics should take the time to look into the mirror and then in the faces of those close to them, and then into the face of a stranger. The reflection should reveal what is sacred to us not only as Christians, but as humans sharing the same home.

The right wing SCHIP myth.

2007-10-23T10:46:00.000-05:00

Deal Hudson is claiming there is a “Catholic” problem with SCHIP. He references Father Roger Landry, a Pro Republican Priest from Massachusetts as his reference. In his blog post, Deal points to the wild assertion that Fr. Landry makes regarding SCHIP

” It permits tax dollars to be used for sterilizations according to individual state policies. And worst of all, it promotes and funds abortions."

Well Deal – here are the facts: As you know, SCHIP is just a block grant to states, which set most of the eligibility and coverage guidelines, so it's doubtful that one could claim the bill "promotes" any type of medical procedure, including abortion or euthanasia. If anything, the individual states would be favoring or promoting one procedure over another. Giving the states the power to determine what they'll pay for (or "promote") isn't the same thing as forcing them to promote certain procedures. Deal, you should know this.

Deal should also know that even if it had gotten through, the Hyde amendment is still in place, which prohibits any federal money to fund an abortion.

In an October 2nd, 2007 letter to the National Catholic Register, Richard M. Doerflinger, Secretariat for “Pro-Life” Activities USCCB further debunks the myths reported by Fr. Landry and Hudson even further.

“it (SCHIP) does not turn the entire federal program into a nefarious plot to maximize abortions. Some political obstacles to the "unborn child" amendment, in fact have nothing to with abortion.

The Catholic Bishops' conference strongly supports retaining and expanding SCHIP, and we are working at every step of this process for the best possible legislation to safeguard the life and health for all children, born and unborn - notwithstanding obstacles to this goal coming from any part of the political spectrum.”

Surely Deal and Fr. Landry do not see themselves as obstacles to health-care for all children – born and unborn.

There is no Catholic problem with SCHIP - Only broad support.

Deal should take a closer look at the facts and who he is quoting in the future. We look for Deal to examine the fact further and to update his blog entry regarding SCHIP. With the Church firmly behind SCHIP expansion, we would hope Deal would not be the one lone dissenter.

B16 and Poverty - Do the poor really have a voice?

2007-10-21T09:58:00.000-05:00

CNS reports: "Pope calls for greater effort to reduce poverty"

The extreme poverty in which millions of the world's people live is an offense to their human dignity, Pope Benedict XVI said at his weekly general audience.

Focusing on the problem of poverty, the pope said, "The disparity between rich and poor is becoming more evident and disturbing, even within the most economically advanced nations."

According to the United Nations, 980 million people live in "extreme poverty," struggling to survive on less than $1 per day.

"This worrying situation calls on the conscience of humanity because the condition in which a great number of people live offends the dignity of the human person and consequently compromises the authentic and harmonious progress of the world community," Pope Benedict told the estimated 30,000 people at his general audience.

Read more...

And on it goes. In my life time I have witnessed endless calls to end poverty. Endless books have been written and articles published. Politicians pander to religious groups and tell them how they are concerned with those impoverished at election time and vow to implement policy to uplift those impoverished. Celebrities band together and raise money to help those in poverty and community groups organize. And so it goes.

But who speaks for the poor? Do the poor themselves have a voice? Do they tell us what they need? Do they tell us what would truly alleviate their suffering? Do we hear their cry? Their voice? Often not. Often the story of those impoverished is told by those at high altitudes. They have good intentions, but they are not speaking for the impoverished, they are speaking for their own vanity.

As the disparity between the rich and poor increases, so does the experience that many of previous generations had in experiencing hard times.

We have a whole class and generation of Americans who have never really experienced hard times. Americans have become soft, thus it becomes difficult for their conscious to become outraged. A vast majority of Americans can not even relate to poverty.

B16 is correct. Extreme poverty, any poverty is an offense to human dignity, not just to those impoverished, but to all of humankind.

Until those impoverished are organized into a constituency and they have a voice that is actually heard by the politicians, the poor as Jesus tells us, will always be among us.

B16 has tied extreme poverty to human dignity as a life issue. At this time of presidential elections when poverty polls low on the issue totem poll, will we hear the same pandering as before, or maybe at the Popes urging, Catholics will insist, no demand that politicians finally begin to work for the common good.