I wish Catholics would listen to this guy...

[bloom]

In the New York Times Monday, the 11th.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/11/opinion/11roche.html?th

by Mark W. Roche - the dean of the College of Arts and Letters at the University of Notre Dame.

<snip>
But if Catholic voters honestly examine the issues of consequence in this election, they may find themselves returning to their Democratic roots in 2004.

The parties appeal to Catholics in different ways. The Republican Party opposes abortion and the destruction of embryos for stem-cell research, both positions in accord with Catholic doctrine. Also, Republican support of various faith-based initiatives, including school vouchers, tends to resonate with Catholic voters.

Members of the Democratic Party, meanwhile, are more likely to criticize the handling of the war in Iraq, to oppose capital punishment and to support universal heath care, environmental stewardship, a just welfare state and more equitable taxes. These stances are also in harmony with Catholic teachings, even if they may be less popular among individual Catholics.

When values come into conflict, it is useful to develop principles that help place those values in a hierarchy. One reasonable principle is that issues of life and death are more important than other issues. This seems to be the strategy of some Catholic and church leaders, who directly or indirectly support the Republican Party because of its unambiguous critique of abortion. Indeed, many Catholics seem to think that if they are truly religious, they must cast their ballots for Republicans.

This position has two problems. First, abortion is not the only life-and-death issue in this election. While the Republicans line up with the Catholic stance on abortion and stem-cell research, the Democrats are closer to the Catholic position on the death penalty, universal health care and environmental protection.
<more>

[jean]

1. yes - this is very good and is going to my Catholic relatives pronto

They haven't considered that there is more than one life or death issue (and will say abortion is the most important so they can protect the 'innocents') or that there is a way of organizing a hierarchy of these issues.

[pelagius]

2. Good one! Very thoughtful. n/t

[ScreamingMeemie]

3. Good luck...I tried to post this earlier and it sank like a stone...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1040830&mesg_id=1040830&page=

We're too worried about what was under Bush's suit I guess...:eyes:

[cthrumatrix]

4. AWOL doesn't want thinking on issues.... the media doesn't break it

down like this....

AWOL can just hi-jack a religion with no debate.... this is wrong

[NewYorkerfromMass]

5. Catholics should be naturally predisposed to liberalism

if they are true Catholics. Abortion is a minor issue in the big picture for a true Catholic.

[eauclaireliberal]

6. Someone once said to me

"Being Catholic...you should oppose abortion...it's a sin, says it in the Bible," etc., etc.

I reminded him that the Bible also says that if my neighbor works on the Sabbath, I am obligated to kill him.

[bloom]

7. I wanted to get another Catholic viewpoint out there

what with the Bishop and his meme.

I wonder if the Bishops and all are worried that a moderate Catholic like Kerry somehow poses a threat?

It's hard for me to comprehend ANY religious (or sane...) person voting for Bush.

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. Do not forget Bishop Gumbleton of Detroit, who stood shoulder to shoulder

with Daniel Ellsberg and was arrested for following the pope and protesting the war...There are some strong leaders in the church. They are just drowned out by zealots. :hi:

[catbert836]

9. This Catholic is! n/t

[USA_1]

10. Dean Roche

Now that's a true Catholic.

Senator Kerry's outlook is that of what every Catholic, every Christian, every considerate human being should be. A vote for Kerry is a vote for everything that the Bible and the Constitution stands for.