Catholic politics causing division?

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miriam5

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I am so close to becoming a Catholic. In reading Steve Ray I see that he is a strong Trump supporter. I have seen the Pope called a ‘leftist’, I am reading that many Catholics do not like the Pope.
So which is it? Is the Catholic church mostly GOP or mostly politically progressive or is the church fighting among themselves? I even read there might be an upcoming split.

Do most think we have an obligation to help the poor and needy?
Do any think we should stay out of politics?
 
Like most things in life, there isn’t one set of people. The Catholic Church has people who hold all kinds of political beliefs.

US politics get confusing because neither party holds all the catholic values so it comes down to what the individual prioritizes.

We’re all supposed to help the poor and needy, and no political party in the US doesn’t. It just depends on how they think to best to do that.
 
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We should help the poor but both parties have different ideas and different views of the poor. And we should not stay out of politics. They need us.

Remember, there are Catholics all around the world. We catholics are pretty relaxed here, lol!

This is mostly an American/western thing. I would not say that any of the two parties are fully aligned with the church.
 
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Politically, Catholics in the US mirror the general population, so don’t worry about that at all!
 
Christ’s teachings through His Church are clear. That some members don’t like them or misrepresent them can unnecessarily confuse others,

Some Catholics don’t like a lot of things. That is THEIR problem. We are to remember that sinfulness is ALWAYS wrong, no matter what it is or who is doing it. And again, the Church is clear as to what is or isn’t a sin.

We should also remember to pray for all.

God bless you.
 
I agree that neither party FULLY upholds Christian teachings but if I see that one party does more to help people then will I encounter opposition in the church? Is there alot of discussion about it? I was surprised to see Steve Ray so strongly supporting one party.
Scripture says:

No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather works to please his commanding officer. 2Tim 2:4
 
I love Pope Francis, and I like Steve Ray too. I like Steve Ray, not particularly for his political views, but for his skill and enthusiasm as an evangelist and apologist. We do have an obligation, as the Church has always taught and Pope Francis continues to reminds us, to help the poor and needy. How to best go about doing that, as individuals and as members of society, is open to debate and discussion. Within the Church, as in greater society, there are those who adhere to a more conservative or a more progressive approach. This leads to vigorous debate and potentially hurt feelings, but I doubt very much an actual split is on the horizon. My faith guides me all aspects of my life, including my political choices, and so I place great emphasis on the teachings of our Holy Father, more than I do the myriad of other voices trying to get my attention and sway my vote.
 
Leftist is only a bad word if you read it that way. Catholics ought to vote the way they read their consciences being drawn.
 
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It all depends on what you think the role of government is. Some people think helping the poor means cradle to grave welfare state. Others see creating an economic atmosphere that fosters growth and opportunity as the best way to help the poor.

I personally don’t think the government should provide much more than a basic safety net. Cripples, orphans, and the mentally handicapped should have all their needs met. Children should assured enough food to eat and an opportunity at an education.

Able bodied adults? In my opinion need to take care of themselves, and that satisfying the needs of those without them working robs them of the dignity of work and fosters decline in ambition. I say this from viewing it first hand.

Others disagree and think they should be cared for the same as those who can’t care for themselves.
 
I just read on an old web site that a bishop (somewhere) instructed Catholics that to vote for Obama was a ‘grave sin’.
The church tells members how to vote?
 
Link to that? In the US I’m pretty sure they’re not legally allowed to tell people who to vote for, they can take a stand on an issue not but endorse candidates.
 
Well, pres. Obama was in favor of funding abortions, both in the US and internationally via the Mexico City policy. Abortions are pretty bad.
 
The current Pope seems to want to help the poor and needy, warns about climate change etc. What will you do when he is gone and the next Pope possibly is the opposite? I am trying to understand just how much obedience is given to the Pope.
Steve Ray’s testimony has contributed much to my looking into the Catholic church 🙂 but as I said, I was surprised later to see how strong and verbal are his political beliefs
 
Additionally, a private website may or may not be authoritative. Due to the Johnson Act (i think that is its name), clergy in 501c3 nonprofits (which the Catholic Church in the US is) cannot endose/ promote political organizations.
 
I doubt I can find that link lol. I have so many web sites open at same time it’s a wonder my pc doesn’t blow up.
I agree that abortion is wrong… very wrong… but so is not helping the poor and needy… so very many verses on that.
 
As I recall, a priest said something like that in his Sunday sermon before the election, which led to a great kerfuffle and his bishop getting involved to quiet things down.
 
Popes can have ‘themes’ so to speak in their papacy. Leo XII was against socialism, JP2 loved Mary and the Rosary, and Benedict the scholarly nature of the Church, and Francis the poor and needy and the enviornment.

None of those things became less important when each of those popes left the papacy, but rather were just promoted less at the discretion of the Holy Father.
 
As was said, Catholics can help the poor in ways other than electing canidates that have the government do that- We as private citizens should do that. Disapproving of governmental poor assistancedies not nessecarily mean that you yourself does not help the poor.
 
I think you will find, even when a particular pope has a more conservative or progressive point of view, that they never outright contradict each other. They may emphasize whatever they feel is most important, but they are usually very careful in how they word their official statements so as not to contradict their predecessors. Personally, I think this is one of the beauties of the Church, that we are large enough to encompass a wide variety of opinions. This does not, however, always make those members who insist on “black or white, but never gray” when it comes to their pet issue, whatever it may be, very happy.
 
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