H
Holly3278
Guest
lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/aug/10081603.html
Disgusting! I hope this isn’t another repeat of the Notre Dame scandal!
- Status
Disgusting! I hope this isn’t another repeat of the Notre Dame scandal!
R
Redratfish
Guest
Sadly most Catholics like Obama, and where he stands on his issues. Look at a political map, and look at the polls of Catholic support for Obama.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/aug/10081603.html
Disgusting! I hope this isn’t another repeat of the Notre Dame scandal!
Its truly a sad day when the one man at Notre Dame was told to be quiet when he started saying the truth, that obama is an infant killer.
D
Dale_M
Guest
As the LifeSite article mentions, Xavier University, has a relationship with President Obama dating back to at least 2006 when he gave the commencement speech and was given an honorary degree. I guess I wonder what is the relationship of the Newman Society with Xavier University? Surely if they want to have influence, they should at least be on speaking terms, before they make an objection.
A
Alan55
Guest
In my view, it is entirely proper for a Catholic university to invite the President of the United States to speak on its campus. The politicization of the abortion issue is the real scandal in my view.
I
irishpatrick
Guest
It never ceases to amaze me that so few Christians understand that we are called to convert the world. We are not called to have the world convert us.
I
irishpatrick
Guest
Would you have felt the same prior to the Civil War regarding slavery? Should a Catholic university at that time have welcomed a pro-slavery President?
J
Joe_5859
Guest
One thing is different: Notre Dame confered an honorary degree on Obama. At least Xavier U is just having him speak.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/aug/10081603.html
Disgusting! I hope this isn’t another repeat of the Notre Dame scandal!
Wait, I just saw Dale’s post. They already gave him an honorary degree back in 2006. So much for that…
G
George_2007
Guest
This is a shame, you’re right. The Democrat party enjoys strong, historical support from Catholics. Republicans are traditionally more Protestant - probably 100% so for the first many years of the GOP. Read some of Lincoln’s anti-Catholic writings some time - yikes - and it’s pretty easy to see why Catholics would prefer another party back in the day.
The continued Catholic support for the Democrats is frustrating for two reasons. One, that Catholics put economic issues over human life issues.
Two, many seem to have bought the notion that how much you care about someone is measured by how much you want the government to be responsible for taking care of them. The best way to take care of someone in need is for the family, the local church, the immediate community to do so. Only needs that can’t be taken care of this way should be handled by the state. This is the concept of subsidiarity, and it is official Church teaching. The Left obliterates this concept.
Obama is teaching the next generation of Americans that the way you take care of poor people is to have the government take care of them. If you’re poor, look at what someone else has that you don’t, then look to the government to make it right. Or, if you have it good, you should gladly pay high taxes so that Godless government agencies will take care of people with policies tainted by anti-life, church-hostile ideology. We know that organizations such as Catholic Charities are hugely more efficient than the government in meeting needs. Think how much more they would get if well-off Catholics got to keep more of their income to spend as they choose.
If all the Democrat activist Catholics would channel their energy toward getting contributions to Catholic Charities instead of contributions to elect Democrats, the poor would be better off.
We Christians should be making government programs for the poor irrelevant and unnecessary. Instead, too often, we just contribute to making the government role bigger and bigger.
R
Redratfish
Guest
B
Beau_Ouiville
Guest
A Catholic university at that time owned slaves which had built some of the campus buildings.
If you want to be technical about Georgetown.
I
irishpatrick
Guest
Please go here regarding the myth that Lincoln was anti-Catholic:
greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=0011rh
G
George_2007
Guest
Thanks. Not central to my point, though. Clearly, the GOP’s heritage is Protestant and clearly, in 19th century USA, Catholics suffered much, open discrimination and bigotry from Protestants. The influx of Catholic immigrants was seen by many as a threat, and the Democrat party was the only one that seemed to welcome Catholics, and so the lines were drawn, and so began a tradition that is still holding to some extent today.
I
irishpatrick
Guest
Yes, sadly true because people do not bother to learn both sides.
B
Beau_Ouiville
Guest
Folks should realize that Xavier (which my mom attended) is the only Catholic HBCU, being established for the specific purpose of educating black folks. So it may be particularly appropriate for the president to speak there and inspire the current students, or some such.
G
George_2007
Guest
Yes. My pastor gave a really wonderful homily on politics and said it’s not a problem for us to not feel at home in either political party - it’s what we should expect.
D
Dale_M
Guest
Yep. Plus, Xavier University, last year, invited Donna Brazile to be their commencement speaker, and awarded her an honorary degree. She had grown up in the area, and the students and staff were proud of her. How much more so would they be of President Obama?
J
John_Monaco
Guest
Should Catholics start supporting the Republicans solely because they are more conservative? The terms “conservative” and “liberal” are so subjective, and the Catholic Church condemns both when they are put to the extreme. Last time I checked, the Catholic Church didn’t associate herself with a particular party, so I don’t see where the problem is.
I am **vehemently ** against abortion, and I am pro-life to the highest degree. I am against gay marriage, and I agree with all of the teachings of the Catholic Church However, just because Obama is more “progressive” and “liberal” than most previous presidents doesn’t mean he should not speak at Xavier University. I cannot give any political allegiance to the Republican Party solely because they are “conservative”. Let’s not forget that the Republican Party does not equal Catholicism, just as the Democratic Party does not. I do like Obama’s care for the poor and needy, pulling out the troops, among other political philosophies.
I say this, not out of provocation, but rather out of confusion. I see, way too often, people who are incredibly against Obama, even to the point of calling him the “Anti-Christ” speak, and say their opinions reflect the Catholic Church. They do not. I understand why people are against him, because of abortion, and other issues that violate Catholic Social Teaching, but you cannot seriously tell me that McCain would have not violated Catholic Social Teaching also.
Peace and Love,
John
I am **vehemently ** against abortion, and I am pro-life to the highest degree. I am against gay marriage, and I agree with all of the teachings of the Catholic Church However, just because Obama is more “progressive” and “liberal” than most previous presidents doesn’t mean he should not speak at Xavier University. I cannot give any political allegiance to the Republican Party solely because they are “conservative”. Let’s not forget that the Republican Party does not equal Catholicism, just as the Democratic Party does not. I do like Obama’s care for the poor and needy, pulling out the troops, among other political philosophies.
I say this, not out of provocation, but rather out of confusion. I see, way too often, people who are incredibly against Obama, even to the point of calling him the “Anti-Christ” speak, and say their opinions reflect the Catholic Church. They do not. I understand why people are against him, because of abortion, and other issues that violate Catholic Social Teaching, but you cannot seriously tell me that McCain would have not violated Catholic Social Teaching also.
Peace and Love,
John
C
canadianguy1143
Guest
In order for me to appreciate what you have said, let me ask you this: Should Notre Dame have invited Obama and given him an honorary degree?
T
Tsuwano
Guest
Your view that the Democratic Party was the only party that seemed to welcome Catholics is not exactly true. American politics in the 1840’s and 1850’s was in a great state of upheaval due to the question regarding slavery and saw a split among the Democrats which almost destroyed the party. The Whigs, of which Lincoln was a member, disintegrated, opening the way for the emergence of the Republican Party which replaced it. The new Republican Party openly courted German Catholics, especially in the Northern and Midwestern states, precisely because they were almost totally against slavery. As far as Lincoln is concerned, he was quoted by his good friend, Joshua Speed, as saying “How can one who abhors the oppression of negroes, be in favor of degrading classes of white people? Our progress in degeneracy appears to me to be pretty rapid. As a nation, we began by declaring that all men are created equal. We now practically read it all men are created equal, except negroes. When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics. When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretence of loving liberty . . . to Russia, for instance.” In my view, Catholics have been drawn to the Democratic Party since after the Civil War and primarily as a result of that party’s views regarding labor and social welfare. The traditional Catholic support for the Democratic Party is a 20th Century tradition born from Catholic immigrants attempting to find and keep jobs.
T
Tsuwano
Guest
In my view it is proper for a Catholic university to invite the President of the United States to address the student body and faculty of that institution even if that president does not agree with the religious and moral positions held by the institution. The school does not cease to be Catholic in doing so as long as it makes clear that it does not support those views which go against its own theology and morality. A university is a forum of education where a variety of views should be expressed and debated. I do not think the Catholic view of life has anything to fear from those who express a different view and we should note the strength and depth of our Catholic institutions and their influence on our society when the President himself feels it necessary to address the public from a Catholic institution. As has been noted, Xavier University has a special relationship with Black American Catholics and it is not odd to think a University dedicated to educating Black Americans would invite the first Black American President to speak on its grounds. This does not mean the university supports all the views held by that president, but it doesn’t mean the university should ignore that which is held in common either.
- Status