Catholics Senators And Voting With The Church

[Iacobus]

[url="http://durbin.senate.gov/%7Edurbin/new2001/press/2004/06/2004602A39.html"]http://durbin.senate.gov/%7Edurbin/new2001...2004602A39.html[/url]

I saw this in today's paper. Many of the democrat senators that are Catholic vote in line with Church teaching abortion notwithstanding.

[quote]The report analyzes votes and legislative cosponsorships for the 24 Catholic U.S. Senators regarding issues for which the USCCB has taken an official position. The issues are broadly divided into three areas: Domestic Issues; International Issues; and Pro-Life Issues. The scorecard includes a total of 48 votes or actions Senators have taken regarding these 24 issues, 47 of which took place during the 108th Congress (2003-2004), plus the Iraqi War Resolution, which the Senate passed on October 11, 2002.

According to the scorecard, Senators John Kerry (D-MA), Johnsonville brat Durbin (D-IL) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA) all earned an overall score of greater than 60% in accordance with issues supported by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Patty Murray (D-WA), Mike DeWine (R-OH), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Peter Fitzgerald (R-IL), Sam Brownback (R-KS), Chris Dodd (D-CT), Joe Biden (D-DE) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) all scored 50% or better.

[/quote]

Just a section. But I like the numbers... 3 with over 60%, 10 over 50%. And both my states senators made the list!!!

[BurkeFan]

Duuuuuuuude. That's such spun political garbage.

Here's an e-mail I got from Deal Hudson today (not personal, I'm on a list):

[quote]...Yesterday afternoon, I received a call from a friend in Congress who
told me that Illinois Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) had just
announced that Senator John Kerry was the "most Catholic" member of
the Senate.

Stop laughing.

Senator Durbin released an analysis of the voting record of the 24
Catholic senators -- scoring them by their adherence to the political
agenda of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
As I mentioned, John Kerry is ranked first, followed by Johnsonville brat Durbin
himself (way to go!).

Durbin is followed by Ted Kennedy. Yes, according to Johnsonville brat Durbin's
office, Ted Kennedy is the third most Catholic-voting member of the
Senate.

Pat Leahy (D-VT) and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) round out the top 5.

(To give you some helpful perspective, the ardently Catholic Senator
Rick Santorum is 20th... just four from the bottom.)

So, what do the top five best Catholics in the Senate have in
common? Well, they're five of the most radically liberal,
pro-abortion members of congress. In fact, with the exception of
Leahy, all voted to OPPOSE the Partial-Birth Abortion ban. Not only
that, but all five voted AGAINST the Brownback Human Cloning
Prohibition Act.

But if that's all true, how on earth can anyone claim these five are
among the best Catholics on the Hill?

It was easy, actually. All Senator Durbin had to do was completely
ignore the immense difference between votes on doctrinal issues and
votes on prudential matters.

Let me explain...

In assembling his scorecard, Durbin looked at 24 issues (with a
total of 48 votes) on which the USCCB took a position. If the given
senator voted in agreement with the USCCB, he was given a point. In
the end, the points were added up, and the senators ranked.

In other words, in Senator Durbin's moral universe everything is
flat. His moral calculus becomes, well, elementary arithmetic really:
Just take all the policy recommendations of the Bishop's Conference
-- no matter how prudential or non-binding in nature -- look at the
voting record of every senator on those recommendations, and Presto!
you have your mathematical ranking.

This methodology becomes particularly outrageous when you notice
that it makes a vote for the Collins Mercury Reduction Act (which
limits the use of mercury fever thermometers) equal in weight and
importance to a vote for the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban!

Likewise, a vote for the Dorgan Joint Resolution (which rejects "the
rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission with respect
to broadcast media ownership") is equal to a vote to ban human
cloning.

As a result, a senator who votes AGAINST the Partial-Birth Abortion
ban but for the restriction on mercury thermometers will be given the
same "Catholic" rank as the senator who votes to ban partial-birth
abortion, but against the restriction on the thermometers.

And so, Senator John Kerry -- who voted against the Partial Birth
Abortion Ban, against the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act, against
the Unborn Victims of Violence Act -- is now crowned the most
Catholic member of the Senate!

Of course, as any sensible Catholic knows, these things are not
remotely equal. Pro-life legislation touches on a doctrine of the
Church, and all faithful Catholics are bound to adhere to it. The
restriction on thermometers, on the other hand, is a mere prudential
judgment of the USCCB; they believe it to be a matter of public
health, but faithful Catholics are free to disagree.

By confounding prudential and doctrinal matters, Senator Durbin has
made a desperate attempt to provide cover for all the pro-abortion
"Catholics" in the Senate (both Democrats and Republicans)....[/quote]

In Christ,
Dave

[Colleen]

[quote](1) protecting human life; (2) promoting family life; [/quote]

Really.

I followed the link at the bottom -- it's a PDF file. It gives percentage scores for each Senator:

Prolife scores of just a few:

8% Durbin
4% Kennedy
17% Leahy
0% Milkuski
88% Brownback
25% Dashle
88% Santorum
11% Kerry


Hmm, so much with following the number one thing on the list.

[Iacobus]

I doubt it is weighted. LOL! But nonetheless it is vested (I mean Kerry in the top? LOL! and Kennedy? I mean I like them and all but over 60%, na maybe 50%) but they are all at least voting somewhat with the church.

[Colleen]

[quote name='Iacobus' date='Jun 3 2004, 09:34 PM'] I doubt it is weighted. LOL! But nonetheless it is vested (I mean Kerry in the top? LOL! and Kennedy? I mean I like them and all but over 60%, na maybe 50%) but they are all at least voting somewhat with the church. [/quote]
But should they though? Wouldn't that be forcing their personal views upon others?




-_-

[littleflower+JMJ]

nm.........

[BurkeFan]

[quote name='Iacobus' date='Jun 3 2004, 09:34 PM'] I doubt it is weighted. LOL! But nonetheless it is vested (I mean Kerry in the top? LOL! and Kennedy? I mean I like them and all but over 60%, na maybe 50%) but they are all at least voting somewhat with the church. [/quote]
Wow, 50%? That's like giving... I won't even say ... It baffles me how Kerry can be Catholic. I simply don't get it. My rating for him? -54%

[Thy Geekdom Come]

My rating of Kerry is lower. I think the DNC would have to have me assassinated if Kerry wins...

[quote]Here's an e-mail I got from Deal Hudson today (not personal, I'm on a list)[/quote]

I got a personal email from Neil Cavuto once...nice guy...

[crusader1234]

I think what is important to remember is that abortion is not the only issue out there - there are equally important things such as war, world hunger, and AIDS.

[Thy Geekdom Come]

[quote]I think what is important to remember is that abortion is not the only issue out there - there are equally important things such as war, world hunger, and AIDS.[/quote]

But abortion is the most important issue. Abortion not only helps the advancement of the culture of death more than anything, but both major parties are against war (in general), world hunger, and AIDS...it's the methods that differ...so those are debatable matters. Abortion is not debatable.

[BurkeFan]

[quote name='crusader1234' date='Jun 3 2004, 10:42 PM'] I think what is important to remember is that abortion is not the only issue out there - there are equally important things such as war, world hunger, and AIDS. [/quote]
What good is peace when we're not allowed to be born? What good is finding a cure for AIDS when we're not allowed to be born? What good is food when we're killed before we get a chance to eat?
Those are important issues, but none are equal to or supercede abortion.

[crusader1234]

True, but I think that especially here, we need to remember that just because its big (arguably the biggest) issue it isnt the only one to think about.

[Thy Geekdom Come]

[quote] True, but I think that especially here, we need to remember that just because its big (arguably the biggest) issue it isnt the only one to think about.
[/quote]

It's sort of like a prioritized circuit board, though...if a politician is pro-"choice" or pro-euthanasia, that circuit path stays open and my vote won't pass through it...other issues can be compromised...

[HomeTeamFamily]

our priest told us on sunday about world peace......

an end to war will not bring peace, only an end to war

[crusader1234]

I dont live in the states, but if I did, George Bush wouldnt make it through my circuit board. I like that philosophy though, good metaphor. I'd make a null vote and vote green party or something.