Catholic bishop: I changed from Democrat to Republican after ‘awful’ 2012 Democratic Convention

[CaptFun]

lifesitenews.com/news/bishop-reveals-he-changed-party-registration-from-democrat-to-republican-ov

PROVIDENCE, RI, August 14, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Bishop Thomas Tobin of the Diocese of Providence has revealed that he changed his voting registration from the Democratic to the Republican Party after what he said was an “awful” 2012 Democratic Convention, reports WPRI. At the 2012 Convention the party strongly endorsed abortion on demand and same-sex “marriage.”

Addressing a meeting of the Rhode Island Young Republicans, the bishop said, “I just said I can’t be associated structurally with that group, in terms of abortion and NARAL and Planned Parenthood, and [the] same-sex marriage agenda and cultural destruction I saw going on. I just couldn’t do it anymore.”

The Democratic Party platform in 2012 endorsed taxpayer-funded abortion through all nine months of pregnancy, ignoring the call of some 25,000 people who asked the party to amend its platform to recognize the existence of its pro-life members. It also rescinded language that abortion should be “rare.”

For the first time, the platform also supported redefining marriage, branding state marriage laws “discriminatory.” At the time Bishop John Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois, said those planks “explicitly endorse intrinsic evils.”

It’s not like changing bread and wine into the substance of Our Lord. But Bishop Tobin has made a change I understand (having done it too for similar reasons - but sooner).

If I ever meet him though, I will be tempted to get even with all the Catholic School teachers who chided me publicly for my occasional tardiness.

“Good AfterNOOOON!”

Sounds like His Excellency had an epiphany like this old joke:

I got a new shadow. I had to get rid of the other one… It wasn’t doing what I was doing. – Steven Wright

Or maybe like in this old story (where the pro-life hero is an elephant)?

http://imgc.allpostersimages.com/im...hears-a-who-a-person-s-a-person-on-yellow.jpg

 

[markomalley]

I personally don’t understand any clergy being registered with any political party. It sort of seems like a conflict of interest (although, like many of us, there might be areas of disagreement, his registration could be perceived as an endorsement of that party’s platform).

Considering this thread is in the “Catholic News” forum, vice the “World News” forum (where discussion of the merits of particular politicians and political parties is allowed), I think I’ll leave my comments at that.

 

[Memaw]

I personally don’t understand any clergy being registered with any political party. It sort of seems like a conflict of interest (although, like many of us, there might be areas of disagreement, his registration could be perceived as an endorsement of that party’s platform).

Considering this thread is in the “Catholic News” forum, vice the “World News” forum (where discussion of the merits of particular politicians and political parties is allowed), I think I’ll leave my comments at that.

I wonder what took him so long, I changed when Ronnie was running for President. God Bless, Memaw

 

[Cirdan_XII]

I personally don’t understand any clergy being registered with any political party. It sort of seems like a conflict of interest (although, like many of us, there might be areas of disagreement, his registration could be perceived as an endorsement of that party’s platform).

Considering this thread is in the “Catholic News” forum, vice the “World News” forum (where discussion of the merits of particular politicians and political parties is allowed), I think I’ll leave my comments at that.

If a bishop were to be a regsitered member of a tennis club, would he be endosring the game of tennis?

Bishops are entitled to opinions and free time activities as much as anybody else. As long as they make clear when they are acting as a bishop and when they are acting in private capacity, I see no need for restrictions on what they can or cannot do, as long as its nothing immoral or contrary to Church teachings.

 

[markomalley]

If a bishop were to be a regsitered member of a tennis club, would he be endosring the game of tennis?

Bishops are entitled to opinions and free time activities as much as anybody else. As long as they make clear when they are acting as a bishop and when they are acting in private capacity, I see no need for restrictions on what they can or cannot do, as long as its nothing immoral or contrary to Church teachings.

I didn’t say they should be prohibited from doing so. I was saying that I’m not sure of the prudence of such a move one way or the other.

 

[Memaw]

If a bishop were to be a regsitered member of a tennis club, would he be endosring the game of tennis?

Bishops are entitled to opinions and free time activities as much as anybody else. As long as they make clear when they are acting as a bishop and when they are acting in private capacity, I see no need for restrictions on what they can or cannot do, as long as its nothing immoral or contrary to Church teachings.

Well the Democratic Party has been pro-abortion for many years and now pro same -sex marriage, how much more “contrary” to Catholic teaching do they have to get!!! God Bless, Memaw

 

[Michael_Mayo]

Why does Republican have to be the only other option? If more people would dare think outside the current corrupt process there might be some hope of a better democracy.

 

[jediliz]

Why does Republican have to be the only other option? If more people would dare think outside the current corrupt process there might be some hope of a better democracy.

the problem with that is that there is NO perfect 3rd party and no 3rd party has a chance to win the presidency.

I am registered to vote as “unaffiliated” but I usually ask for a republican ticket sheet when I vote. There are no pro life 3rd party candidates that even have a chance to win, simple as that. Plus, a very faithful Catholic from my diocese is my district’s rep in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is a voice for the unborn in congress.

Again, there is NO perfect 3rd party. Some of these 3rd parties would probably be for the 2nd amendment rights, but be lukewarm on protecting preborn life, the elderly and the disabled.

 

[Deus_tecum]

Why does Republican have to be the only other option? If more people would dare think outside the current corrupt process there might be some hope of a better democracy.

I agree in principle but whether we like it or not, on a national level no candidate has hope of winning unless he or she is either Republican or Democrat. Also in many States you register your party by whichever primary you vote in, so you cannot register independent unless you skip the primaries.

 

[Neofight]

I didn’t say they should be prohibited from doing so. I was saying that I’m not sure of the prudence of such a move one way or the other.

I agree.

But, that being said, while I will be obedient to apolstolic authority in the matter of faith, I feel no obligation to subscribe to their political beliefs, or favorite flavor of ice cream.

I don’t recall Jesus telling us our voter registration card will determine our eligibility for entrance into the Kingdom.

God bless the good bishop no matter what polically party he favors!

 

[thyrodandstaff]

Good for him! Amen!

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

I personally don’t understand any clergy being registered with any political party. It sort of seems like a conflict of interest (although, like many of us, there might be areas of disagreement, his registration could be perceived as an endorsement of that party’s platform).

Considering this thread is in the “Catholic News” forum, vice the “World News” forum (where discussion of the merits of particular politicians and political parties is allowed), I think I’ll leave my comments at that.

Are you saying clergy shouldn’t vote?

 

[Memaw]

Why does Republican have to be the only other option? If more people would dare think outside the current corrupt process there might be some hope of a better democracy.

A third party only divides the Republican Party and that gives the Dems a much better chance of getting their liberal people in. My Mom used to call that “cutting off your nose to spite your face”. God Bless, Memaw

 

[_Abyssinia]

Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards and president of NARAL Nancy Keehan each gave keynote speeches at the Democrat convention in 2012.

 

[Stylteralmaldo]

A third party only divides the Republican Party and that gives the Dems a much better chance of getting their liberal people in. My Mom used to call that “cutting off your nose to spite your face”. God Bless, Memaw

I used to think this way. I just don’t buy that argument anymore. The Democrats have been becoming more and more liberal for years without a 3rd party splitting the Republican vote.

The nose is already missing from the face so you can’t cut off what isn’t there.

After seeing the debacle of 2012 with Romney getting the nomination, I am seriously considering not voting for a Republican presidential candidate (regardless of the Democrat running against him) unless he’s a solid candidate. If he’s not a solid candidate, why even bother. We’re already over the cliff. We need a strong leader at this point in our nation’s history. One may not exist unfortunately.

Time to hold the Republicans accountable…at least for this lifetime Republican voter.

 

[markomalley]

Are you saying clergy shouldn’t vote?

No, not at all. But it is not seemly for clergy to be involved in partisan politics.

Can. 287 §1. Most especially, clerics are always to foster the peace and harmony based on justice which are to be observed among people.

§2. They are not to have an active part in political parties and in governing labor unions unless, in the judgment of competent ecclesiastical authority, the protection of the rights of the Church or the promotion of the common good requires it.

As I said above, I an not suggesting a prohibition. I am talking about prudence.

 

[livingwordunity]

I switched from Democrat to Republican way back when it was the Bush vs Kerry election of 2004. As a matter of fact, when I first registered to vote for that election I was still a registered Democrat, and I initially had my mind made up that I was going to vote for Kerry (because he is a Catholic). But then I started to see red flags. I observed that although Kerry was a Catholic he and the Democrat party were advocating abortion which the Catholic Church says is an absolute intrinsic evil. And around the same time, my wife was pregnant with our first baby, and I saw the ultrasounds of our baby. Also at the same time, I stumbled on some pictures of abortions while doing internet searches for pictures of babies in the womb for my wife’s pregnancy stage. Seeing the pictures of abortions instantly made me Pro-Life and opened my eyes to how horrible it is that someone would advocate killing a baby in the womb. And when Kerry claimed that he believes that life begins at conception but that he has no problem with abortion, I realized that he was admitting that it’s murder and infanticide but that he has no problem with it.

 

[Michael_Mayo]

the problem with that is that there is NO perfect 3rd party and no 3rd party has a chance to win the presidency.

I am registered to vote as “unaffiliated” but I usually ask for a republican ticket sheet when I vote. There are no pro life 3rd party candidates that even have a chance to win, simple as that. Plus, a very faithful Catholic from my diocese is my district’s rep in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is a voice for the unborn in congress.

Again, there is NO perfect 3rd party. Some of these 3rd parties would probably be for the 2nd amendment rights, but be lukewarm on protecting preborn life, the elderly and the disabled.

There is no perfect party or candidate anyhwere. The only reason 3rd party has no chance of wining is because not enough people have the idealism to step outside the machine. The important thing is to vote your concience even if that seems like cutting off your nose to others. Otherwise we are in collusion with the system.

 

[livingwordunity]

There is no perfect party or candidate anyhwere. The only reason 3rd party has no chance of wining is because not enough people have the idealism to step outside the machine. The important thing is to vote your concience even if that seems like cutting off your nose to others. Otherwise we are in collusion with the system.

That’s how Obama got elected twice. We don’t have to do that, and it’s not what was recommended by Pope John Paul II. And there is no such thing as a perfect 3rd party either. But we are still told we should vote. So who can we vote for when one of the candidates isn’t Jesus Christ? Here is the basic principle that can be applied (everyone please read this quote slowly and carefully):

“A particular problem of conscience can arise in cases where a legislative vote would be decisive for the passage of a more restrictive law, aimed at limiting the number of authorized abortions, in place of a more permissive law already passed or ready to be voted on. Such cases are not infrequent. It is a fact that while in some parts of the world there continue to be campaigns to introduce laws favouring abortion, often supported by powerful international organizations, in other nations-particularly those which have already experienced the bitter fruits of such permissive legislation-there are growing signs of a rethinking in this matter. In a case like the one just mentioned, when it is not possible to overturn or completely abrogate a pro-abortion law, an elected official, whose absolute personal opposition to procured abortion was well known, could licitly support proposals aimed at limiting the harm done by such a law and at lessening its negative consequences at the level of general opinion and public morality. This does not in fact represent an illicit cooperation with an unjust law, but rather a legitimate and proper attempt to limit its evil aspects.” - Evangelium Vitae, 73 (par. 3)

 

[Jeanne_S]

I agree.

But, that being said, while I will be obedient to apolstolic authority in the matter of faith, I feel no obligation to subscribe to their political beliefs, or favorite flavor of ice cream.

I don’t recall Jesus telling us our voter registration card will determine our eligibility for entrance into the Kingdom.

God bless the good bishop no matter what polically party he favors!

While our voter registration card won’t determine our heavenly entrance,voting for a party that for the most part pushes platforms that are blatenty antithetical to Church teaching,certainly won’t bode well for our salvation.