Somebody help me...

[torch621]

I feel like I’m out of sync with the Church’s social teachings. I have been a staunch conservative Republican for years, and yet everything I’ve seen tells me I have to abandon those views to be in sync with Catholic social teaching; I have to support the welfare state, amnesty for illegal immigrants, government-run health care, and the like, so that I can be promoting the common good.

I don’t know what to do. Someone help me.

 

[CatholicBoy1957]

I’m sure there will be lots of recommendations, but here’s a starter: Stop reading the Huffington Post.

 

[JackVk]

Not everything conservative is anti-Catholic. I’m a Catholic and a big Righty myself. The Right, you will find, is mush friendlier towards religion. The universal health care policy includes abortion. Plus, it is, for all intents and purposes, Socialism, which is an atheist ideology. As for immigration, I believe that those who should be allowed into the country are the ones who are looking for a better life instead of giving amnesty to the cocaine cartels. On welfare, it should be a hand up and not a handou
Hope I can help.

 

[markbrumbaugh]

Stop paying attention to the socialist agenda of the USCCB. The bishops have strayed from their purpose.

 

[Tietjen]

Stop paying attention to the socialist agenda of the USCCB. The bishops have strayed from their purpose.

I know that this will do no good. However, I will simply say that you are out of line when suggesting that the USCCB is socialist. It’s so very sad when people who claim to be Catholic are so quick to condemn our Bishops in the name of politics. Perhaps my friend, you should educate yourself on:

1. What the USCCB is ACTUALLY wanting to see happen in regards to the border issue.

and

1. What Socialism is.

 

[Whitacre_Girl]

I feel like I’m out of sync with the Church’s social teachings. I have been a staunch conservative Republican for years, and yet everything I’ve seen tells me I have to abandon those views to be in sync with Catholic social teaching; I have to support the welfare state, amnesty for illegal immigrants, government-run health care, and the like, so that I can be promoting the common good.

I don’t know what to do. Someone help me.

Actually this isn’t true. You’ll find that many devout catholics are also republicans. See, we have a social responsibility to be sure, but we are free to choose how best to carry that out. I am a political conservative myself. I believe that caring for the poor and needy is not the job of the government. It’s our job as the light of Christ in this world. Churches should be doing outreaches, not the government, so that we can spread the message of hope and peace. This also means taking care of the sick (healthcare) and as far as legal vrs. illegal immigration, is this also a matter of policy. We should take care of and welcome the foreigner. We do not, on the other hand, have to abide people taking advantage of the system and essentially stealing from taxpayers. Although I admit, immigration wouldn’t nearly be the issue it is for me if the government wasn’t in the business of charity.

Frankly, I think the social responsibilities of a Catholic or any other follower of Christ would be so much easier with a smaller government that wasn’t taxing people who could actually help half to death.

This, however, is my own interpretation of how best to fulfill my social obligations as a catholic in the context of American politics. As is true with any opinion, I may very well be wrong. Just don’t buy into the mistake that just because you’re a republican, you don’t give a rat’s patootie about caring for the poor, sick, and orphaned/widowed.

Another thing to consider is the alternative. The left typically (note: typically, not always!) supports things that grossly fly in the face of the church: gay marriage, abortion, and contraception. Unlike ideas about how to fulfill our obligation to help others and avoid violence while protecting the innocent (social welfare, war, etc…) these are indisputably against church teaching and incredibly harmful and/or unjust. Abortion alone kills millions of innocent children per year. We can not ignore that at the ballot box.

So, we are essentially free to choose a politician that we think will best address the issues of caring for the poor and how to protect the innocent, but we are not free to differ on things such as abortion.

 

[torch621]

I took a moment last night to pray for guidance, and it appears I’ve gotten it

Thank you all for your help.

 

[puzzleannie]

I feel like I’m out of sync with the Church’s social teachings. I have been a staunch conservative Republican for years, and yet everything I’ve seen tells me I have to abandon those views to be in sync with Catholic social teaching; I have to support the welfare state, amnesty for illegal immigrants, government-run health care, and the like, so that I can be promoting the common good.

I

since the Church condemns the welfare state, socialism and nowhere calls for amnesty of illegal immigrants or your other issues, I am at a lost to understand your confusion. Have you every actually read the great social justice encyclicals or do you just react with a jerk of the knee every time you hear the term “social justice.” For that matter have you ever read the gospels?

 

[markbrumbaugh]

I know that this will do no good. However, I will simply say that you are out of line when suggesting that the USCCB is socialist. It’s so very sad when people who claim to be Catholic are so quick to condemn our Bishops in the name of politics. Perhaps my friend, you should educate yourself on:

1. What the USCCB is ACTUALLY wanting to see happen in regards to the border issue.

and

1. What Socialism is.

I hate when someone calls me a friend in a condescending manner. And I “claim” to be a catholic. So thanks for letting me know I’m really not a Catholic.

Anyway I am pretty educated about this. Here is a start for you…
catholicity.com/commentary/hudson/07652.html

 

[markbrumbaugh]

Actually this isn’t true. You’ll find that many devout catholics are also republicans. See, we have a social responsibility to be sure, but we are free to choose how best to carry that out. I am a political conservative myself. I believe that caring for the poor and needy is not the job of the government. It’s our job as the light of Christ in this world. Churches should be doing outreaches, not the government, so that we can spread the message of hope and peace. This also means taking care of the sick (healthcare) and as far as legal vrs. illegal immigration, is this also a matter of policy. We should take care of and welcome the foreigner. We do not, on the other hand, have to abide people taking advantage of the system and essentially stealing from taxpayers. Although I admit, immigration wouldn’t nearly be the issue it is for me if the government wasn’t in the business of charity.

Frankly, I think the social responsibilities of a Catholic or any other follower of Christ would be so much easier with a smaller government that wasn’t taxing people who could actually help half to death.

This, however, is my own interpretation of how best to fulfill my social obligations as a catholic in the context of American politics. As is true with any opinion, I may very well be wrong. Just don’t buy into the mistake that just because you’re a republican, you don’t give a rat’s patootie about caring for the poor, sick, and orphaned/widowed.

Another thing to consider is the alternative. The left typically (note: typically, not always!) supports things that grossly fly in the face of the church: gay marriage, abortion, and contraception. Unlike ideas about how to fulfill our obligation to help others and avoid violence while protecting the innocent (social welfare, war, etc…) these are indisputably against church teaching and incredibly harmful and/or unjust. Abortion alone kills millions of innocent children per year. We can not ignore that at the ballot box.

So, we are essentially free to choose a politician that we think will best address the issues of caring for the poor and how to protect the innocent, but we are not free to differ on things such as abortion.

Excellent post. Good for you!!!

 

[markbrumbaugh]

The USCCB has lauded Obama’s “Comprehensive Immigration Reform” which will turn out to be blanket amnesty, just as a health care turned out to cost more, subsidize abortions, and ruin the coverage of people who have worked all their lives to provide health care for themselves.
If you choose to support Obama (as some of the posters appear), that is your right.
Please stop calling me a “so called catholic” and condescendingly call me “my friend”.
I am a catholic, I am a conservative, and I have great empathy for immigrants. I however, believe they must follow the law and should not receive amnesty after breaking our laws. I don’t trust many in Washington to do the right thing, but establishing a streamlined worker program would be fine by me. That is NOT what the USCCB is supporting when they admire Obama’s “comprehensive immigration reform” and anyone with a lick of sense can find this out if they do a little research.

Just look at who is in favor of this…Obama, Pelosi, Reid. How can any Catholic side with these people?

 

[Tonks40]

Whitace_girl got it right. Social justice isn’t about socialism - it’s about help those in the light of Christ who cannot help themselves.

 

[Ender]

The USCCB has lauded Obama’s “Comprehensive Immigration Reform”

Fortunately the opinions of the USCCB have no moral force; we certainly have no obligation to accept them. Unfortunately many people don’t realize this. It appears that the machinery of the USCCB has been taken over by those with political agendas which is then reflected in their output. We would all be better off if they disbanded the organization. And razed the building. And sowed the land with salt.

Immigration reform - and health care reform, tax policies, welfare programs, and all the bazillion other political problems - are prudential and we are free to choose our own solutions. The short list of political issues that are also moral concerns - e.g. abortion, euthanasia, same sex “marriage” - are the only ones where one position alone is permitted. In general, if the USCCB supports a particular political solution, that (for me) usually means I will end up opposing it.

Ender

 

[torch621]

since the Church condemns the welfare state, socialism and nowhere calls for amnesty of illegal immigrants or your other issues, I am at a lost to understand your confusion. Have you every actually read the great social justice encyclicals or do you just react with a jerk of the knee every time you hear the term “social justice.” For that matter have you ever read the gospels?

I felt like my own views were out of sync because of the opinions of some who felt my views were inconsistent with the Catholic view of social justice.

I probably let my emotions get the better of me. It’s a cross.

 

[Ender]

I felt like my own views were out of sync because of the opinions of some who felt my views were inconsistent with the Catholic view of social justice.

Your mistake was in believing that the political opinions of bishops and the USCCB represent the Catholic view of social justice. In fact, what Catholicism teaches are the goals to which we are to strive as well as proscriptions against specific practices, but she says nothing whatever about what means will work best to achieve those goals. Those are entirely prudential judgments about which we are not just free to make our own choices but positively obligated to do so. The Church teaches about ends; we are free to choose our own means.

She may teach that *“The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin.” *but this does not translate into the command that one must oppose the Arizona law or support blanket amnesty. Those decisions, notwithstanding the opinions of bishops who have vocally supported those position, are ours to make.

Ender

 

[Tietjen]

I hate when someone calls me a friend in a condescending manner. And I “claim” to be a catholic. So thanks for letting me know I’m really not a Catholic.

Anyway I am pretty educated about this. Here is a start for you…
catholicity.com/commentary/hudson/07652.html

Perhaps I misspoke. As all good Catholics ask the question posed in the link you provided, “Is it time for us to start throwing tea bags at the USCCB?” How is it one can be so against our Bishops and at the same time say that they are Catholic? Nah… I didn’t misspeak.

Here is your chance to educate yourself on what the Bishops want as far as the immigration subject is concerned:

justiceforimmigrants.org/documents/immigration-and-catholic-social-teaching.pdf

Peace (non-condescendingly)

 

[Ender]

How is it one can be so against our Bishops and at the same time say that they are Catholic?

What obligation do we have to adopt our bishop’s politics? It is the bishops, not the laity, that are out of bounds here; they have intruded into an area that by rights belongs to us, not to them.

1. **Clerics and laity are not to usurp each others rights **
   *Just as we desire lay people not to usurp the rights of clerics, so we ought to wish clerics not to lay claim to the rights of the laity. We therefore forbid every cleric henceforth to extend his jurisdiction, under pretext of ecclesiastical freedom, to the prejudice of secular justice. Rather, let him be satisfied with the written constitutions and customs hitherto approved, so that the things of Caesar may be rendered unto Caesar, and the things of God may be rendered unto God by a right distribution.

Fourth Lateran Council

Ender

 

[andyandely1997]

We would all be better off if they disbanded the organization. And razed the building. And sowed the land with salt.

Ender

I agee completely with disbanding the USCCB. The bishops should be more concerned with saving souls than any political agenda. Also, how much money does it take to run this bureaucracy every year? I am sure this money could be spent in better ways.

 

[joandarc2008]

IMHO - vote pro-life. The rest of the issues - you will never find the PERFECT candidate on all Catholic social politics. Pro-life issues including abortion, euthanasia, birth control, and abstinence education are a good start. God bless you for taking the time to look at your views and not blindly and stubbornly digging in your heals.

As Catholics we have an obligation to show respect for our Magisterium - but we may not agree with 100% of everything. We should not be bishop bashing.

 

[GratefulFred]

As followers of Christ and wanting to obey the commandment to love one another as I have loved you, we do have a never ending duty to the poor, whom Chirst said we will always have with us.

Our duty starts with the charity in our hearts for the poor. We must always remember, “there, but for the grace of God, go I.” We have a serious problem if we harbor hatred for the poor and begrudge them a reasonable measure of support.

It is debatable as to what is a reasonable measure of support. No one political party has THE BEST answer on how to deal with poverty. We need to pay close attention to the individual candidates. We have very few laws that have not been voted by BOTH parties.

I went out to www.usccb.org and located “Economic Justice for All” and went down to the Poverty section. The 10 year anniversary book was written in the mid 1980s. Among the ACTIONS our bishops advocate are:

1. Build and sustain a healthy economy that provides employment opportunity at just wages for all adults who are able to work. Unemployment is a major cause of poverty.
2. Remove barriers to full and equal employment for women and minorities. Provide for career advancement above minimum wage levels.
3. Promote self help efforts that empower the poor to take charge of their future and become responsible for their own economic advancement. Programs should be small scale and locally based. Corporations, private organizations and the public sector should provide seed money, training, technical assistance.
4. Education is the key to any long term solution. {{Personal comment: See # 3 above.
5. Those in poverty should not pay taxes. {{Personal comment: With 15% in poverty, nearly 40% of Americans do not pay federal taxes. The top federal tax bracket is at 35% of income. The rich buy goods and services and invest money that provide jobs in support of # 1 above. Most also give generously to charities.}}

When we vote this particular year the questions seem to be,

“Who seems more likely to create jobs?”
“Who seems more likely to push for self help and education programs for the poor?” "Will an increase in taxes on the rich (I am not rich) help to create jobs?

And when it comes to other Moral Issues, those who promote abortion and want to change the definition of marriage cannot receive my vote.