Should we support our own?

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NoelFitz

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I am grateful to all in CAF for support and encouragement and wish you all a blessed Christmas and a successful new year.

However, I am concerned at the polarization of Catholicism in the US and the lack of mutual support, respect and understanding. It often seems to me that the US Catholic bishops do not support Catholics in public life, in spite of the fact that Catholics participate fully in politics and American life, thus five of the last six speakers of the US House of Representatives were Catholics and two thirds of the Supreme Court are Catholic.

But often it seems the Church attacks Catholic politicians rather than supporting them. The Church is more than an anti-abortion lobby group.

This view was reinforced recently on reading about the treatment of Senator Tim Kaine, who seems an excellent person. I note that Archbishop Naumann has condemned him (‘Progressive’ Cardinal in running to head U.S. bishops’ pro-life activities | News | LifeSite).

Some in the Church would seem to prefer the views of the ex-Catholic Mike Pence to the practicing Tim Kaine.
 
I would certainly hope the Bishops would not drop their morals in order to heap praise upon senators that vocally support the butcher of children in the womb, the destruction of the family unit, gender dysphoria, and other disorders.

To be more brief, what have these “catholic” democratic senators done that’s worthy of praise?
 
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NoelFitz said:
Tim Kaine, who seems an excellent person.
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If you are a Catholic Christian, you should know that the pro-abort Mr. Kaine is very much not “an excellent person.” The Catholic Church has taught, since the days of the Apostles, that the abortion of children is murder.

From the Didache:
“1 There are two ways, one of life and one of death; and between the two ways there is a great difference.
2 Now, this is the way of life:…
The second commandment of the Teaching: “Do not murder; do not commit adultery”; do not corrupt boys; do not fornicate; “do not steal”; do not practice magic; do not go in for sorcery; do not murder a child by abortion or kill a newborn infant.”"
 
NoelFitz said:
Some in the Church would seem to prefer the views of the ex-Catholic Mike Pence to the practicing Tim Kaine.
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You will know them by their fruits.
The Church teaches that people deserve the right to live. The Church teaches that people begin living at conception. Politicians make policies. If they support and promote policies that deny certain people the right to live they are doing great harm to people. Mr. Kain is doing that. Causing great harm by denying certain people the right to live. A right God gives people , some will have taken from them. Mr Kain thinks that’s a good choice, Mr Pence does not.
NoelFitz said:
The Church is more than an anti-abortion lobby group.
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It is more. Does that mean it should approve of a politician that directly apposes it’s message and efforts concerning abortion just because he is a Catholic?
That it should be less approving of another that supports it’s message and efforts concerning abortion because he is not?
NoelFitz said:
This view was reinforced recently on reading about the treatment of Senator Tim Kaine, who seems an excellent person. I note that Archbishop Naumann has condemned him
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He critisized Mr Kain’s pro-abortion record. He didn’t condemn Mr. Kain. Anyway you argue that Mr Kain’s pro-abortion record should not be critisized because he is Catholic not because of the kind of person he is.
 
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NoelFitz said:
Some in the Church would seem to prefer the views of the ex-Catholic Mike Pence to the practicing Tim Kaine.
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I can’t stand either one of them and think they are both extremely poor examples of Catholicism. I doubt that makes you feel any better, but it’s how I feel.

Edited to add, I’m not real thrilled with the example Joe Biden has set either.
 
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Unfortunately, many Catholics will only support a politician who is against abortion, regardless of their other principles. This is ultimately self-defeating because very often these same politicians, once in office, will gut programs that help the poor to support their children, thus giving those already hurting further incentive to resort to abortion and artificial contraception.
 
A viscious cycle. It is also true that sometimes the incentive to have children is government programs that support them. I just don’t think that government cuts by pro life politicians have that much effect on abortion numbers.
 
I would encourage you not to take an article from LifeSiteNews and use that solitary example as a basis for a broad assertion that the U.S. bishops have it out for politicians.

I’m sure Archbishop Naumann has his reasons (indeed, Kaine’s support of abortion is a big reason), but you can rely on LSN to frame it in the most provocative way possible. Don’t take the bait.
 
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I am grateful for all the replies.
It is recommended that a number of replies should be considered in one post, but I prefer to treat the posts individually as they are so thoughtful.
Maximilian75 (#2)
I would prefer if replies , specifically to fellow Catholics, were respectful and courteous. We can be strong in our faith and views, while respectful to those we differ with.
Senator Tim Kaine worked with Jesuit missionaries in Honduras, which is worthy of praise.
 
PaulfromIowa #4strong text
if the pope refrains from judging people (‘who am I to judge’) so should we.
Abortion is not the only action condemned in the Didache. It also condemns greedy, rapacious, hypocritical, spiteful and haughty people.
 
How was I disrespectful or discourteous? I would say that I accurately depicted Tim Kaine’s position. And yes, that is. However, what is not worthy of praise is his advocacy of abortion.
 
Benadam
You support the right to life. So do I. But many in the US claim to support life yet also support the death sentence. We had this debate before.

I claim as Catholics we should support life to the full, and this includes the right to health care for all including the poor. But this debate is for another day.

I am not sure if Mr Kain (sic) supports abortion. From the web it seems he personally does not.

My claim is we should support our own. I am tribal. We hang together or hang separately. For too long anti-Catholicism flourished in the US, I think Catholics should not join in attacking our own.
 
Kaine ran as the Democratic nominee for vice-president. A major plank of the Democratic Party Platform is “womens reproductive rights” (euphemism for killing innocent, defenseless babies in the womb. Accepting such a nomination would seem to endorse their policy propositions, no?
 
AdamPeter,
of course one does not support abortion, but if Catholic politicians support justice, health care, decent education, decent living conditions and fair taxes they should be supported.
 
Tis_Bearself,
I did not really mean to focus on any individuals. I wanted to make the point we should support our own.

I wonder which Catholic politicians are supported by the Church. But again this is for another day. I want to focus now on Catholics supporting each other in advocating Catholic values fully, and not solely focusing on abortion.

Catholics seem to have accepted divorce and contraception. Now I would like to see an emphasis on Catholics fighting for justice, fairness, support for the poor love of God and neighbor.
 
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