Can a Catholic be Democrat?

[upant]

It’s not just the issue of abortion. The democratic platform Is actively Anti-God and anti-religion, they are working to push God out and are cheering about it. I could personally never vote that way. The whole “being for the working man while republicans are for the rich” is just a stereotype anyway.

the Dems claim they are now the party of the Nones, one in 3 is a None. they are targeting the nones, do you think they are doing this by being pro-religious

WHEREAS, the religiously unaffiliated demographic represents the largest religious group within the Democratic Party, growing from 19% in 2007 to one in three today;

WHEREAS, nonreligious Americans made up 17% of the electorate in 2018 and have the potential to deliver millions more votes for Democrats in 2020 with targeted outreach to further increase turnout of nonreligious voters; (from a DNC resolution)

The DNC passed the resolution Aug. 24, according to the Secular Coalition for America, but it went largely unnoticed in the media until Fox News reported it Thursday.

DNC Chairman Tom Perez has been openly critical of church-going Americans in the past.

Perez said in December 2018 that Republicans have an advantage because “people buy” what they hear at church.

does this sound like a party that has the best interest of religious people

 

[upant]

St. Pope John Paul II is clear on it (bold mine)

The inviolability of the person which is a reflection of the absolute inviolability of God, fínds its primary and fundamental expression in the inviolability of human life. Above all, the common outcry, which is justly made on behalf of human rights, for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture- is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition for all other personal rights, is not defended with maximum determination.

at the USCCB Fall 2019 General Assembly in Baltimore (bold mine)

Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia responded to McElroy, saying that calling abortion the “preeminent priority” was not just correct but necessary, pointing out that in the current American political context it was the most pressing concern.

“But I am against anyone saying that our stating that [abortion] is preeminent is contrary to the teaching of the pope, because that isn’t true. It sets up an artificial battle between the bishops’ conference of the United States and the Holy Father which isn’t true.”

Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, who was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2016, said that “The short answer is that yes, abortion is the preeminent [concern] and the vote makes that obvious.”

 

[HomeschoolDad]

For me voting is a dilemma. Democrats promote the choice to abort babies. That’s bad, but it is my belief that Republican politicians (not the voters) have no intention of ever ending it either. That would remove a huge block of people who vote for them because of their stance. They will toss the pro-life crowd a bone here or there, but they benefit politically from the very existence of legalized abortion. They’re playing their followers for easy votes. We keep letting them do it. It’s truly an unholy mess.

I agree with what you say, but at least if Republicans get to appoint conservative judges (Supreme Court and federal judiciary), and some pro-life measures can get through the various legislatures (both federal and state), some unborn babies may be saved. If Democrats ran the whole show, there would be no chance. We’d be like all the other Western democracies where abortion rights are enshrined in law, and there’s nothing the people will ever be able to do, to change that. (Poland is a blessed exception, and I hope the people there will always be clear-headed enough to keep it that way.)

 

[TheLittleLady]

Our USCCB have given clear directions:

http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-act...onsciences-for-faithful-citizenship-title.cfm

I know people who will suggest lists and booklets done by various people, however, these are opinion pieces. The USCCB has the authority to speak to US Catholics.

 

[JoeShlabotnik]

And can a Catholic be a Republican or an Independent? Could I please have a nickel for everyone of the postings and threads about this ongoing political saga?

 

[Ridgerunner]

The ACA in part has helped lower abortion rates

No evidence for that. AGing population and increased availability of chemical abortifacients reduce the numbers.

One is permitted to vote for a pro-choice candidate

If the evils to be avoided by voting for the pro-abortion candidate are “proportionate”, which is not the case in this election.

 

[Dolphin]

The question “can a Catholic be Democrat?” could also be “can a Catholic vote for Trump?”

There are two sides to every can of worms…

 

[Willing_Spirit]

I don’t know if it is acceptable to vote for pro-choice candidates, but I definitely won’t. I don’t know what “proof” there is that abortion rates are lower when we have a president that pushes for less restrictions and more financial support for abortion clinics, but statistics are easy to manipulate, and factors are easy to ignore.

Abortion is the greatest evil the world faces. Millions of people are slaughtered before ever using the freewill God gave them.

When it comes to the environment, many people and corporations are already taking action to care for the world God gave us.

When it comes to the economy, so much tax money is already wasted. Maybe it’s a crime to hoard wealth, but I don’t really trust the government to be anymore charitable with their spending than the hoarders.

When it comes to foreign policy, there will always be conflict. People are afraid of each other, and we’ve already put too much time and money into our militaries to ever see peace.

When it comes to healthcare, have you been to the DMV? Would you opt for the public attorney? I don’t think we need the government controlling an entire industry.

When it comes to the death penalty, how many people die that had no way to avoid such a consequence compared to abortion and euthanasia?

I don’t mean to sound indifferent to the other issues, but I just think there is a lot more on the line when it comes to the legality of abortion. People now think it is a perfectly acceptable option to kill babies whenever they are faced with the stress of an unexpected pregnancy, and our culture is slowly easing into accepting infanticide too, since the criteria for personhood is being defined by developed capabilities and observations of “valuable” brain activity.

 

[Willing_Spirit]

Is it suprising that so many people are confused on how to keep in line with Catholic values while navigating the realm of politics in which there is so much propaganda, deceit, and slander? I suppose the question will never cease, since there is never a satisfying answer.

 

[JoeShlabotnik]

Politics is the home of propaganda, deceit, and slander, along with hate, fear-mongering, etc. and so forth.
The problem with siding with one political party or another is that there is no one size that fits all.
Most people are not truly Democrat or Republican.They fall somewhere in between.
George Washington cautioned against party affiliation back when the country was just getting started.

 

[Willing_Spirit]

This gives directions on how we are to view social issues. It says abortion is the top priority, so I don’t see how a conclusion could be reached that it is ever okay to vote for pro-choice candidates while pro-life candidates are an option.

One question this raises for me is, “Should the liklihood of a candidate being elected influence our vote?” Would we have a responsibility to vote for the candidate running that most reflects those views on social issues, including third party candidates?

 

[JoeShlabotnik]

Does the Democratic Party support abortion? Or does the party support the right of a woman to choose?
Everything we do in life is a choice that we make. Some choices are good, while others are not.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Does the Democratic Party support abortion? Or does the party support the right of a woman to choose?

Same as.

The second is simply a euphemism for the first.

 

[EvangelistVictor]

I bet you anything Pope Francis would vote for Bernie Sanders over Trump in a heart beat if he could vote in US elections.

 

[JoeShlabotnik]

I have talked to several women friends and they do not seem to see it as you say it. Some tell me that they are not for abortion, but they would not want to deny someone else that choice. Especially in the case of rape.

 

[Dan123]

The second is simply a euphemism for the first.

It’s really not. I don’t know anyone ‘for’ abortion, much like I don’t know many people who are against a woman choosing when to become pregnant, merely that she make that choice before the pregnancy occurs. Unfortunately in the continuing polarization of every issues known to man-kind, using anti-choice and pro-abortion is becoming more popular.

If someone was actually wanting more abortions they’d likely opposite sex-ed that included birth control education, but most folks you find who are pro-choice also support that.

If someone wanted more abortions they’d likely make it financially more difficult for someone to have a child, but I suspect you’ll find large overlap between them and people wanting paid parental leave, affordable child care, and so on.

If you wanted more abortions you’d fight to limit access to birth control, but again pro-choice advocates are often fighting to better/cheaper access to that as well.

Now don’t get me wrong I get many/all of those issues also goes against Catholic teachings. I’m not saying one should support those issues if they go against their belief. I’m just saying the vast majority of those fighting for choice are fighting for genuine choice, which means removing barriers and pressures that push that decision one way or the other.

 

[MagdalenaRita]

I have talked to several women friends and they do not seem to see it as you say it. Some tell me that they are not for abortion, but they would not want to deny someone else that choice. Especially in the case of rape.

As a woman I can tell you that those several women friends or yours do not speak for all women because many, many, many women would completely disagree with that thinking.

Also that thinking is not Church or Biblical teaching because it is still supporting another woman having an abortion, which then in turn means they are actually for abortion.

 

[Willing_Spirit]

Yeah, some choose to steal, some choose to murder. In our society, we have decided to make laws that discourage people from choosing wrong and harming each other.

Being for choice is wrong. Its like ssaying “Personally, I’m not for theft, but we should still allow pawn shops to sell stolen goods, let them decide.”

 

[Willing_Spirit]

I doubt it, Pope Francis has said abortion is the top priority.

Edit: Nevermind, I was mistaken about what i read.

 

[Dovekin]

When it comes to healthcare, have you been to the DMV? Would you opt for the public attorney? I don’t think we need the government controlling an entire industry.

But you are willing to make government agencies responsible for preventing abortions? Why do you not anticipate them doing the same terrible job that the DMV does?

All of your arguments here are like this. You seem to be arguing that the government cannot, or need not, address any of the problems you listed, but you do not offer an explanation why government would be competent in preventing abortion. When people suggest a criticism like the ones you aim at environmentalism or economics, you dismiss it. ’There is no evidence Democratic leadership causes abortion rates to go down.’

Putting the prevention of abortion in the hands of the government is a recipe for disaster. They will bungle it so badly, abortion rates will go up. Or do you disagree with hat for some reason?

Personally I do not hold any positions like this. Government workers are among the best workers in the countryimo. They are responsible for accomplishing things that are far harder than most private sector occupations. But if you do not like the DMV, government run health care, environmental agencies or economic policies, why do you think abortion policies will be effective?