Reaching Catholics: Obama Catholics # 2 of 2

Reaching Catholics: Obama Catholics # 2 of 2

In pursuit of the truth - www.cinopsbegone.blogspot.com - Thurs. May 24/12

Jim Arkedis, Reaching Catholics - NYTimes.com - May 18/12
“Recent events suggest that these vast groups of Catholic voters (again: women, moderates, Latinos) are now more open to a progressive faith-based message than they have been perhaps since Kennedy-Nixon. The Obama campaign should tread lightly, however, and resist any poll driven urge to drive a wedge between the faithful and the official church positions on women’s issues or same-sex marriage. Divisive messaging probably won’t fly among most Catholics, who may grumble about their religious leaders’ positions, but don’t seek overt separation from them. I can’t say there is any scientific evidence to support this theory, but it comes from my observations over a lifetime in the Catholic community. [With Osama’s billion dollars, it is possible for him to persuade Catholics!]

“The Obama campaign’s message should unequivocally stand with the church and Jesus Christ’s humble message of social justice, equality and inclusion. These are distinctly Catholic themes that draw sharp contrasts for Catholics who have tried the Republican Party with less room for those who are not straight, male, white and self-sufficient.

“Mitt Romney’s embrace of Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget bill, replete with radical cuts to social-safety net programs, is a good place to start. The budget which Ryan, Republican of Wisconsin, put together, and which the House passed, was rejected by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, who said the plan failed a “basic moral test.” Some 90 members of Georgetown’s faculty, wrote a letter to Ryan that read, in part, “your budget appears to reflect the values of your favorite philosopher, Ayn Rand, rather than the gospel of Jesus Christ.” The letter went on: …

“For its part, the White House protested that the Ryan budget imposes “a particular burden on the middle-class and the most vulnerable.” This argument should form the bedrock of Obama’s faith-based appeal to persuadable Catholics. A broad, upbeat theme of social justice will be enough for Obama to reach persuadable Catholics, who can interpret the message in concert with their beliefs. The president might quote Pope John Paul II, …

“New available date show the Obama campaign exactly where to target persuadable Catholics. On May 1, the United States Religious Census published a survey detailing where Catholics live on a county-by-county basis across the country… They heavily populate the Northeast, the upper Midwest, south Florida, southern Colorado and northern New Mexico and California. In other words, there are a lot of Catholics in crucial swing states. …

“Overlaying a map of densely Catholic counties on top of a map of persuadable voters shows that Obama re-election team has a unique chance to focus its social justice message on prized areas: heavily Catholic, moderate counties within swing states. This strategy prescribes very specific Catholic outreach efforts… In total, there are approximately 200 counties nation-wide that should end up on the camp again list. [Orange County, Ca. ?]

“What would a Catholic voter outreach program look like? … there are several progressive Catholic organizations - Catholics United, Catholics in Alliance, Catholic Democrats - that the campaign could engage first to build a volunteer corps… it’s a must: a positive social justice message could be what tips the balance toward the re-election for the president…

George H. Kubeck - In spite of the evils of partial-birth abortions, same-sex marriage, and embryonic-tem cell research, the writer of the above claims to be a moderate Democrat and a Catholic. He believes his party has a deep belief in social justice. “That’s what Jesus said, and that’s the society President Obama wants to build.” Could you imagine a post-election headline? Obama wins with the Catholic vote!