Why I'm a Conservative Catholic

[MC Just]

[url="http://www.jesseromero.com/essays/article_jr1005.htm"]http://www.jesseromero.com/essays/article_jr1005.htm[/url]


Why I'm a Conservative Catholic (the essay that had to be written)

Winston Churchill was noted for saying that if you are 18 and not a liberal you don’t have a heart, if you are 30 and not conservative you don’t have a brain.

This describes my journey from one political party (Democrat)I to another (Republican)II. My Dad was a Democrat, my Mom was a Democrat, my relatives were Democrats; this was simply the experience of the average Latino immigrant family. All I heard from the elders in the Latino community was, “Democrats goooood, Republicans baaaaad; Democrats are for the worker and family, Republicans are only for the rich.” So, as a young man, I voted as my dad did since I didn’t understand politics III. After many years of working in law enforcement, I was able to clearly see in people, society and institutions, the virtue of ‘good’ and the vice of ‘evil.’ These are two ideas clearly laid out in the bible IV which holds a privileged positionV for me as a Catholic Christian.

We can’t follow the road paved by John F. Kennedy (may he rest in peace). Kennedy promised that he would keep his Catholic faith out of the oval office / public service and I think all American Catholics have been paying for that mistake for 40 years. This has paved the way for hundreds of politicians who claim to be Catholic, yet support legalized abortion and deny the teaching authority of the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II.



"Prayer is the most powerful weapon a Christian has. Prayer makes us effective. Prayer makes us happy. Prayer gives us all the strength that we need to fulfill God's commands. Yes, indeed, your whole life can and should be prayer."
- Saint Josemaria Escriva

In fact, just days after Senator John Kerry announced his intention to run for president in 2004, Pope John Paul II ordered the publication of the following statement regarding the responsibilities of Catholics who hold public office: ”Those [Catholics] who are directly involved in lawmaking bodies have a grave and clear obligation to oppose any law that attacks human life. In the same way, it is necessary to recall the duty to respect and protect the rights of the human embryo.”

What was Senator Kerry’s response? He thumbed his nose at the Holy Father and he said that he would not allow the Pope or the teaching authority of the Catholic Church to influence his decisions in public office! Kerry went out of his way to say: “As a Catholic, I have enormous respect for the words and teachings of the Vatican, but as a public servant I’ve never forgotten the lasting legacy of President Kennedy who made clear that…no elected official should be limited…by any oath, ritual or obligation.”

What arrogance! What utter disrespect for the authority of the Church and the Holy Father! Every loyal Catholic should feel sick at reading those words, and join the many Church leaders who have spoken out against pro-abortion (so called) Catholic politicians. VI

A Catholic in name only
There is an anti Catholic by the name of Frances Kissling who is the president of Catholics for a Free Choice – the pro-abortion organization that makes hate-filled attacks against the Vatican. Frances Kissling has been demanding that the Vatican be thrown out of the United Nations (because the Vatican fights to defend and protect unborn babies).VII I need to mention that Catholics for a Free Choice has twice been publicly denounced by the United States Catholic Bishops as a fraudulent organization that is hostile to Catholicism.

Now, Frances Kissling has the right to free speech; I don’t have a problem with the exercise of her constitutional right. What I do have a problem with is that Terry McAuliffe, who is the chairman of the Democratic National Committee (D.N.C.) and has the gall to sell himself as a champion of equality, has offended many Catholics. How? He has a link on the D.N.C. website to Kissling's Catholic for a Free Choice. He has been told by Dr. William Donahue from the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights to drop the link from the DNC website since Frances Kissling's organization is not a Catholic organization and she does not represent Catholic views but Terry McAuliffe refuses to drop this link.

The shameless boldness of Terry McAuliffe is unparalleled, that he would allow himself to be used by Anti-Catholics like Frances Kissling who bashes the Catholic Church on a whole range of issues. Once the presidential campaign gets into full swing, Terry McAuliffe and the Democratic National Committee will be forced to explain to Catholic voters ‘why the leaders of the Democratic party break bread with Catholic Bashers like Frances Kissling.

In addition, N.O.W., (National Organization for Women), whose president is Patricia Ireland, has also contributed to anti-Catholicism. For example, she protested the visit of Pope John Paul II to the U.S.A. in 1993, saying “Women will not be silenced. Were going to keep on until the Pope stops calling U.S. Catholic feminist pagans.” Obviously she offered no evidence for this outrageous remark, for the Pope never said this. N.O.W. has joined the anti-Catholic campaign of Frances Kissling to discredit the Vatican by subverting its permanent observer status at the United Nations.VIII By the way, N.O.W. is also a link on the Democratic National Committee website.

Catholics have typically voted Democrat out of culture, family immigrant tradition and habit, not out of thoughtful reflection on the issues. Catholics may have Christian hearts but, typically when it comes to voting, Catholics have secular minds. Catholics that don’t attend Church tend to vote liberal; if you regularly attend Church, you tend to vote conservative (according to the Randy Thomasson Campaign for California Families).

If America is to be saved, Catholics must stand up and vote their properly formed Christian conscience. We must take our faith into the voting booth; Catholics need to wake up to our responsibility.IX Secular humanists, atheists, pagans, new-agers, animists, feminists, pro-aborts, tree huggers, homosexuals, etc. are allowed to vote according to their beliefs. The 60 million Catholics in this country should do the same. Below, we point out the five issues that Catholics cannot compromise when it comes to voting [compliments of Catholic Answers apostolate, San Diego CA].

Catholic Answers Voters Guide
Issues a Catholic can’t compromise when it comes to voting:
• Abortion
• Gay Marriage
• Euthanasia
• Stem Cell Research
• Cloning


Democrats are pro-abortion

Republicans are pro-life

Democrats are for same sex marriage

Republicans want to maintain the time-tested, time honored institution of marriage between a man and a woman

Democrats are for Euthanasia ("mercy" killing, ending someone’s pain by assisted suicide)

Republicans oppose Euthanasia

Democrats are for stem cell research

Republicans are against stem cell research (this is experimentation with human embryos)

Democrats are for cloning

Republicans are against cloning (making humans beings from a petri dish)

As I see it, the Republicans represent the Catholic position on the critical moral issues of our day.

I must confess, I am a compassionate conservative; I want to conserve tradition, faith, marriage, family, defense of the unborn, defense of the elderly, defense of our national freedom and the defense of Judeo-Christian values that has made this country the best place to live on planet earth.

As Catholics we should be faithful to the Magisterium and faithful to our baptismal calling. As Catholic citizens we understand that participation in the political process involves making judgments on issues that fall under the arena of what is called ‘prudential judgment.’ In other words, faithful Catholics can and do disagree on some issues such as ‘capital punishment’ and ‘war.’

I need to state that the Catholic Church allows for ‘Capital Punishment’ (CCC 2267), albeit in rare occasions. The Church also allows for a ‘just war’ (CCC 2309) after strict conditions have been met. It is the President and his administration that have the authority and duty to make the decision whether to enter into a ‘just war.’ The Catholic Church defers to the public authorities in the case of national defense.

I am personally for the war that we are engaged in because I believe that the greatest threat to mankind is not the reduction of the ozone layer, or off shore oil drilling, or the cutting down of trees. I believe the greatest threat to modern man is the face of ‘evil,’ which today is seen in Islamic terrorism. Islamic roots of violence come from the life and teachings of their founder Mohammed.

Do we have the right leadership?
Although there are millions of Muslims who want peaceful relations with the West and millions who aspire to live in free societies like America, there nevertheless remains a deep and powerful strain of violence within Islam and it is important that Americans understand that. All the major religions are prone to violence, but Islam by far is the most violent.X The signs of the times suggest that we are indeed in for a clash of civilizations that will be neither brief nor bloodless.

The following appeared in the Durham, North Carolina (February 2003) local paper in the section; a letter to the editor. This letter will answer the allegations of the Bush hating liberals and will put things in perspective regarding the war. Liberals claim President Bush shouldn't have started this war. They complain about his prosecution of it. One liberal recently claimed "Bush was the worst president in U.S. history" Let's clear up one point: We didn't start the war on terror. We have to remember, it was started by terrorists BEFORE 9/11.


Let's look at the "worst" president and mismanagement claims:

* FDR (Democrat) led us into World War II in Europe. Germany never attacked us: Japan did. From 1941-1945, 450,000 lives were lost an average of 112,500 per year.

* Truman (Democrat) finished that war and started one in Korea; North Korea never attacked us. From 1950-1953, 55,000 lives were lost an average of 18,333 per year.

* John F. Kennedy (Democrat) started the Vietnam conflict in 1962. Vietnam never attacked us. Johnson (Democrat) turned Vietnam into a quagmire. From 1965-1975, 58,000 lives were lost an average of 5,800 per year.

* Clinton (Democrat) went to war in Bosnia without United Nations or French consent. Bosnia never attacked us. He was offered Osama bin Laden's head on a platter three times by Sudan and did nothing. Osama has since attacked the United States on multiple occasions. XI

On the other hand: In the two years since terrorists attacked us, President Bush (Republican) has liberated two countries, crushed the Taliban, crippled Al-Qaeda, put nuclear inspectors in Libya, Iran and North Korea without firing a shot, and captured a terrorist (Saddam Hussein) who slaughtered 300,000 of his own people. We have lost 600 soldiers, an average of 300 a year. Bush did all this abroad while not allowing another terrorist attack at home.

Worst president in history? Come on!


Catholic hearts and the Christ-centered mind
Once last point I want to make: My liberal friends say that they believe or disbelieve some of those polarizing issues (eg. abortion, homosexual marriage) based on what their ‘heart’ tells them. Where do you get your values from? Liberals tell me they think with their heart and vote with their heart. I personally don’t trust my heart entirely (cf. Jeremiah 17:9), it is prone to error. I get my values from my mind (well formed), my heart and the WORD OF GOD. A mindless heart and a God-less heart are frightening things.

My Catholic heart thirsts for justice (cf. Matt 5:6), my mind is renewed and captive to JESUS (cf. Rom 12: 2; 2 Cor 10: 5) and the rock-solid foundation that fashions my values and worldview is the WORD OF GOD (cf. Psalm 119: 98-108). My liberal friends tell me that the foundation of their beliefs is their heart, the liberal press, the liberal media, public opinion polls or their secular academic studies. Every one of these resources is deficient and prone to human error.

I believe that most practicing Catholics are not liberal; I know I am most definitely not. There is a test I took written by Dennis PragerXII that is a compilation of 23 questions about our present culture. It is a good indicator to see on what side of the fence you stand on in regards to our present ‘Culture War.’ The Culture Wars over family, faith, art, education, law and politics is literally the struggle to define America.

Truth has always bothered people and is never comfortable. However, “he who has refused to acknowledge the truth in life will be forced to confront it in death” (Cardinal Ratzinger). The Church which is married to the spirit of this age will be a widow in the next. Speak up and tell the truth as if your life depends on it. It does!! Never weary of doing good! As Patrick Henry said, “The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave”. We must be in this fight for the long haul. In God’s name we will prevail!

Edited November 9, 2004 by MC Just

[God Conquers]

Wow, great article.

[Dave]

Word!

[StColette]

I wish they would say " some Democrats" we must remember that some Democrats are Pro-life, anti gay marriage or unions, and anti cloning

Edited November 9, 2004 by StColette

[Thy Geekdom Come]

[quote name='StColette' date='Nov 9 2004, 04:27 PM'] I wish they would say " some Democrats" we must remember that some Democrats are Pro-life, anti gay marriage or unions, and anti cloning [/quote]
As a Republican against the death penalty, I can understand this. The general rules may be the the general rules, but in something that goes as deep down as political convictions, statements based on the general rules can hurt those who don't fit the general rules.

[azaelia]

[Iacobus]

Overall a good article but this just ripped on me.

[quote]* FDR (Democrat) led us into World War II in Europe. Germany never attacked us: Japan did. From 1941-1945, 450,000 lives were lost an average of 112,500 per year.

* Truman (Democrat) finished that war and started one in Korea; North Korea never attacked us. From 1950-1953, 55,000 lives were lost an average of 18,333 per year.

* John F. Kennedy (Democrat) started the Vietnam conflict in 1962. Vietnam never attacked us. Johnson (Democrat) turned Vietnam into a quagmire. From 1965-1975, 58,000 lives were lost an average of 5,800 per year.

* Clinton (Democrat) went to war in Bosnia without United Nations or French consent. Bosnia never attacked us. He was offered Osama bin Laden's head on a platter three times by Sudan and did nothing. Osama has since attacked the United States on multiple occasions. XI[/quote]

The US, after Peral Habor, decleared war on Japan. The day after we decleared war on Japan, Germany decleared war on the US. So, polticaly, German did attack us.

The Korean war was a UN war. Part of it was part of the US forgien policy supported by both sides during the Cold War. We sought to contain communism and we went in to support the currently fighting South Koreans.

JFK didn't really start Vietnam. Again this is an over simplifation of the poltics. The French and the British had been engaged in Vietnam for years and it in a sense rotated to us during Ike ®. Ike sent Miltary advisors to Vietnam. Kennedy, already commited, increased their numbers. After the Tokien Gulf attack (if or if not it happened is another question) LBJ sent troops... after being attacked.

Bosnia was with EU allies and was after a major ethinic cleanesing.

Clinton did have a plan set in place to deal with Osama, however the plan wasn't delvoped until after the USS Cole bombing. The plan to engage Osama wasn't completed until Oct 2000ish. You know what happens in Nov 2000ish? New pres, either way. It is considered "bad" poltics to hand over an active war, so Clinton deleyed the invasion (Like Ike did of Cuba) and handed it over to the new pres with advise to act on it. Clearly, nothing was acted on until the same plan Clinton ordered to be devolped was lunched in... Oct 2001?

[ironmonk]

[quote name='StColette' date='Nov 9 2004, 05:27 PM'] I wish they would say " some Democrats" we must remember that some Democrats are Pro-life, anti gay marriage or unions, and anti cloning [/quote]
Anytime a democrat seeks national office, they change to meet their party's evil agenda.

Gore, Clinton, Kennedy, and Jesse Jackson where all at one time (at least claimed to be) pro-life.

The democrats of 50 years ago, are not the democrats of today.

Hence I say go to [url="http://www.DemocratsNoMore.org"]http://www.DemocratsNoMore.org[/url]

The current democrat party should be charged for murder, treason, and crimes against humanity.

The same cannot be said about Republicans... the propaganda that has been perpetuated by the left that the republican party is for the rich is nothing more than a lie. The left saying that the republican party is against the poor is another lie.

I hated the government when I was younger because of all the lies I saw. Then, I started seeing who lied... paying attention to who had the mindless policies... then I realized that I didn't hate the government... I hated the democratic party... they stand against God.

If you want to be counted in their number, to each his own... a wise man would leave the democrat party to be independant at least. My loyalty is with the Church, if the Rep. party looses the Church's agenda, then they will loose me.

Again I say: [url="http://www.DemocratsNoMore.org"]http://www.DemocratsNoMore.org[/url] <- A link I found on PriestsForLife.org


The democratic party... propagating evil since 1973.

Don't like what I wrote here? Feel offended? Then blame the democratic party, because their agenda is evil. They don't care about the poor, they ride on the backs of the poor... they want to keep the poor - poor because they want to keep power. If they wanted to really help the poor then they would do things to help the poor help themselves.... not want to create a welfare state (i.e. Jimmy Carter). The Church teaches to provide welfare programs that reduce dependency on welfare.



The wisest democrats in America:
[url="http://www.DemocratsNoMore.org"]http://www.DemocratsNoMore.org[/url]


God Bless,
ironmonk

[Paladin D]

Cool.

[StColette]

Thanks for the post Ironmonk, but I wasn't speaking on behalf of those who are Democrats and run for political offices, I was speaking of those who are Americans and belong to the Democratic party for issues other than Pro-life issues such as economic issues. There are many pro-life Democrats and I was just merely speaking up to say that it's wrong to say " all democrats " just as it is wrong to say " all republicans ". Because not "all" of them are going to agree on everything. It would be like me saying " all protestants " hate Catholics. It's all stereotypical.

God Bless,
Jennie

[EcceNovaFacioOmni]

Clinton's reponse to the 1993 WTC bombing was ridiculous. Six cruise missiles?

[luciana]

[quote name='Raphael' date='Nov 9 2004, 05:01 PM'] As a Republican against the death penalty, I can understand this. The general rules may be the the general rules, but in something that goes as deep down as political convictions, statements based on the general rules can hurt those who don't fit the general rules. [/quote]
Thanks for the article, MCJUst.


I agree w/ St.collette and Raphael above that I wish Mr. Jesse Romero didn't make generalizations. I get in fights w/ my bro. because he tries to pigeon-hole me into the stereotypical republican position. But I understand, Jesse is trying to make a point in regards to especially the past Presidential election. And St. Joseph Communications and the Catholic Resource center, who he is speaker for, is a good apologetics/evangelization organization.

[luciana]

[quote name='ironmonk' date='Nov 9 2004, 10:59 PM'] Anytime a democrat seeks national office, they change to meet their party's evil agenda.

Gore, Clinton, Kennedy, and Jesse Jackson where all at one time (at least claimed to be) pro-life.

The democrats of 50 years ago, are not the democrats of today........... [/quote]
^^^^Sad but true.All for money. I thought I heard that Kerry, even, was at one time more pro-life? I'm not sure, what with his super pro- abortion voting record.

That's why the few pro-life Democrats( Zel Miller, Casey..)who don't sell out to the pro-abortion special interests., are basically ignored by the Democrat party. :angry:

[franciscanheart]

[quote name='ironmonk' date='Nov 9 2004, 09:59 PM'] Anytime a democrat seeks national office, they change to meet their party's evil agenda.

Gore, Clinton, Kennedy, and Jesse Jackson where all at one time (at least claimed to be) pro-life.

The democrats of 50 years ago, are not the democrats of today.

Hence I say go to [url="http://www.DemocratsNoMore.org"]http://www.DemocratsNoMore.org[/url]

The current democrat party should be charged for murder, treason, and crimes against humanity.

The same cannot be said about Republicans... the propaganda that has been perpetuated by the left that the republican party is for the rich is nothing more than a lie. The left saying that the republican party is against the poor is another lie.

I hated the government when I was younger because of all the lies I saw. Then, I started seeing who lied... paying attention to who had the mindless policies... then I realized that I didn't hate the government... I hated the democratic party... they stand against God.

If you want to be counted in their number, to each his own... a wise man would leave the democrat party to be independant at least. My loyalty is with the Church, if the Rep. party looses the Church's agenda, then they will loose me.

Again I say: [url="http://www.DemocratsNoMore.org"]http://www.DemocratsNoMore.org[/url] <- A link I found on PriestsForLife.org


The democratic party... propagating evil since 1973.

Don't like what I wrote here? Feel offended? Then blame the democratic party, because their agenda is evil. They don't care about the poor, they ride on the backs of the poor... they want to keep the poor - poor because they want to keep power. If they wanted to really help the poor then they would do things to help the poor help themselves.... not want to create a welfare state (i.e. Jimmy Carter). The Church teaches to provide welfare programs that reduce dependency on welfare.



The wisest democrats in America:
[url="http://www.DemocratsNoMore.org"]http://www.DemocratsNoMore.org[/url]


God Bless,
ironmonk [/quote]
To say that people that vote democratic are going against Church teaching and are wrong for doing so is wrong of you.

You cant generalize and say that everyone in a specific party is for or against anything. you cant make statements like that because neither party is completely "inline" with Church teachings. and the level of "correctness" on moral and other issues changes with almost every election.

and another thing, not all republicans are pro life or against stem cell research and gay marriage. not every person in the republican or democratic party agrees completely on every issue. they simply think a lot alike on some main points which is why they are in that party. no one thinks exactly the same way. it just doesnt happen


so its unfair to generalize like that. jennie was right. SOME democrats are that way. others are not. and hate.... it's such a strong word. a little more charity would be appreciated.

[Iacobus]

God bless you, hugheyforlife.