Tough Love for Catholic Voters

Tuesday, October 26th, 2004 Also, Monday, June 25, 2007

Let’s start with Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver and his interview with the New York Times, Oct. 12th, and also written up in the National Catholic Register Oct. 24-30th, 2004. p. 1,13.
“ … how important should the abortion issue be in perspective of voting. That it’s foundational, it’s been foundational for the many years that have passed since Roe v. Wade became the law of the land. Archbishop Burke in St. Louis caught my attention again on Friday (Oct. 1). He issued a statement basically stating that it is a sin if you vote for a pro-choice politician….Let me say this! A lot of Catholic Democrats, whether they are clergy or laity, have used the “seamless garment” as an excuse to sideline the abortion issue, making one among many others. And, we can’t do that. The bishops, themselves, issued a statement several years ago, called “Living the Gospel of Life” which was a reflection on the centrality of the abortion and life issues for our public life. You know the fact that Catholics have been overwhelmingly Democrat and have had no impact on the Democratic platform on this matter for the last 20 years is horrible. What does that say about our commitment to Catholic values? … You know, I think we’ve been hoping that some kind of reasoned discourse would turn our country around and it hasn’t because the other side doesn’t reason. They are ruthless … in their position. It seems that Catholics should be just as ruthless in their pro-life positions as the pro-choice people are ruthless in theirs. And I use “ruthless” … that word …I don’t mean that in an unkindly way. I mean just be determined and stubborn … persistent. … So, it’s not like we’re with Republicans, it’s that they’re with us.” p. 13

Let us continue with a personal note. As John F. Kennedy once said, “The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.” The Catholic vote in the last three presidential elections drove pro-lifers up the wall. In the year 2000, Catholics voted for Gore 49% to Bush 47%.
Will it be any different this time? An early August Gallup poll showed Kerry ahead of Bush among Catholics overall, 51 to 45 percent. Political writer Michael Barone’s dictum “Americans increasingly vote as they pray – or don’t pray” applies to Catholics as to any other group. Thanks to the Protestant vote, Bush got elected in 2000. It was Bush 58%, Gore 40%. It was a miracle that pro-life won. Why? Pro-life is like an orphan within most Catholic parishes throughout the country.

In California, the Catholic Church is in a quandary. We have 13 Catholic Congress Representatives who are partial-birth abortion supporters. (Loretta Sanchez is one of them) In 1998, Senator Barbara Boxer was elected with the Catholic vote 54%. Her opponent Fong got the Protestant vote with 56%. Our Catholic governor supports Prop. 71. (Embryonic Stem Cell Research)

All of this is a most serious scandal. It is obvious that Catholic politicians are not grounded in their faith, compromise and make fools of Catholic voters. A religious revival focusing on the Daily Rosary and Eucharistic Adoration is the way out. Political common sense will surface for all by studying the thoughts of the other brave bishops, Gracida, Wenski, Sheridan, and Myers.
George H. Kubeck, Duplicate and or translate into Spanish.