Comments on: Catholocism and Politics

By: cindylu

cindylu — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 02:14:20 +0000

The abortion issue is what gets me most morally. I didn’t feel guilty or wrong at all when I voted against Prop 8 (and it’s predecessor Prop 22). However, when it comes to voting on parental notification measures for minors, I feel much more conflicted. In our community, I think the pro-life/pro-choice issues is a little too black and white. I think Mamita Mala at VivirLatino spelled it out quite eloquently. For Latinas, it’s just as much as reproductive choice as it is about sex education, access to contraceptives, access to neonatal care (and good health care in general), access to affordable child care, etc. You get the picture. Like you said, we need to take care of the children after they come out of the womb too.

By: John R.P. Russell

John R.P. Russell — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:46:10 +0000

Laura,

I, for one, am against both abortion and unjust war – as are the teachings of the Catholic Church – and I do not support politicians like those you describe.

Abdul-Halim,

Voting for Obama precisely because of his stance on abortion (which is not a “bedroom issue”) was a sin. Voting for McCain precisely because of his stance on preemptive war was a sin too. I didn’t vote for either one of them. I don’t think a Catholic can have voted for either one of them in good conscience.

By: abdul-halim

abdul-halim — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:48:20 +0000

Yeah, there is a real discrepancy which never really made sense to me. The Bible contains a wide-range of statements about a whole palette of issues, poverty. war and peace, social justice, theology, etc… so how does the “Christian vote” get reduced to bedroom issues?

Especially in the case of that priest who claimed voting for Obama was a mortal sin… even if you want to talk about the “culture of life” and abortion, shouldn’t that also include war, the death penalty, and health care?

I hope the Matthew 25 isn’t just a short term thing. I would hope the progressive religious types stay more vocal. It is interesting because some of the voices on the conservative side (Schwarzeneggar, Guliani, Ron Paul, even McCain) don’t seem as eager to pander to the “religious right”. I wonder if, as the GOP tries to reorganize, the libertarian fiscal conservatives will end up on top.

By: Laura

Laura — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:55:04 +0000

I don’t understand how a politician who, because he wants to outlaw abortion, is somehow pro-life when that same person has been responsible for the killing of many INNOCENT lives of civilians in war-torn countries and that doesn’t seem to matter. Children are injured and killed everyday because we have an agenda that we deem more important than those civilian lives and that is somehow Pro-Life????? Being against abortion does not bother me, what bothers me are the inconsistencies that exist in the “Pro-Life” political agenda.

By: John R.P. Russell

John R.P. Russell — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 03:31:13 +0000

Catholicism is not democratic. You cannot change the Church. Your opinions do not influence Church teaching. Dogma does not change. If you wish to impenitently adhere to false, anti-Catholic ideas you should leave the Church.

By: elenamary

elenamary — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 23:30:59 +0000

John, How are my beliefs not Catholic? I think this might help explain my views on my Catholicism http://www.elenamary.com/2007/catholic/