DALLAS - Catholics for Obama has just launched a web site as the Nov. 4 White House race between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain enters its final laps.
Catholics, who account for close to a quarter of the U.S. adult population, comprise a key religious group that both sides have tried to woo. In closely contested swing states such as Ohio or Florida the Catholic vote could make a difference.
The web site is sure to stoke controversy in Catholic circles with this statement: “Is Barack Obama really pro-life? The answer is ‘yes.’ Looking through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching, Senator Obama has spent his entire career striving for the common good. He supports health care programs that will cover all Americans, a living wage for working families, and solutions that allow distressed families to stay in their homes.”
It goes on to say that Obama, a strong advocate like his party of abortion rights, will reduce the number of abortions by promoting health care for pregnant women and infant care.
Abortion is one of the most polarizing issues in America and official Catholic doctrine on the matter is clear: the church regards it as murder.
Archbishop Raymond Burke, a senior American in the Vatican, recently said the Democratic Party risked “transforming itself definitively into a ‘party of death’” because of its choices on bioethical questions and abortion.
Echoing several U.S. bishops, Burke accused the Democratic Party’s most high-profile Catholics — vice presidential candidate Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — of misrepresenting Church teaching on abortion.
McCain and his running mate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin are both staunchly opposed to abortion rights and the Republican Party often does well with conservative Catholics who vote largely on this issue.
But the flock itself is far more divided on the issue which can help Obama build on the leads he already has in most national polls with Catholic voters.
Photo Credit: Reuters/Jim Young. Obama speaks at campaign rally in Miami, Oct. 21, 2008.
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I find it apalling that people can call themselves Catholic, when they no longer even know what it means to be called a Catholic. “This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. And in vain do they worship me, teaching doctrines and precepts of men.” Mark 7:6-7 Jesus has spoken to us regarding who truly follows Him and who is truly Catholic : ” By their fruits you shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, and the evil tree bringeth forth evil fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, shall be cut down, and shall be cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them.” Matthew 7:16-20 When we begin to follow the words of men, and not of God…we are in deep trouble.” “And why call you me, Lord, Lord; and do not the things which I say?” Luke 6:46 “the time will come when men will not endure the sound doctrine; but having itching ears, will heap up to themselves teachers according to their own lusts, and they will turn away their hearing from the truth and turn aside rather to fables.” 2nd Timothy 4:3-4
- Posted by Catherine SanfordTonite, November 4, 2008, those of us who are truly Catholic and believe in LIFE, mourn, not only for the loss of 50,000,000 American infants, and the forecoming of the murder of still more, but also for those lost Catholics and Christians who no longer see the truth, those who have been caught up into the world and it’s false values of money, power and prestige and have forgotten Jesus and the precious gift of LIFE.
Rusty,have you never heard of the seperation of church & state.Look at the mess the muslim world is in because they don’t.Besides too many Big Macs are bad for your health.
- Posted by deegeeJust in time for election day, check out “So So Sorry Sarah” by Suji Gogo on youtube here:
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=DzHwq7xoD7 0
I’m sure it will put a big smile on your face.
- Posted by JamesCheers,
J
How can a practicing Catholic, support a candidate who supports abortion. Just because he is says all the right things and promises good things for all else…if he approves of killing an unborn child…that is murder. What good is a “good life” if it is denied to another human being through no choice of “theirs”.
- Posted by Cheryl RybarczykI am Catholic and I support Obama
- Posted by larsWhat a shame that so many so called Catholics will be voting their wallets(big mistake) over their faith.
- Posted by KathyMcCain`s is a war monger…….. someone who sounds very vinditive and timid…….. he likes to bomb his way through problems (BOMB FIRST ASK QUESTIONS LETTER ATTITUDE)…….. THATS WHY HE TALKS MUCH ABOUT HIS EXPERIANCE AND THE SCARS TO PROVE IT (PRO BUSH)…….. AMERICANS BE WARNED…… WITH McCAIN, YOU CANNOT TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS…….PLEASE NO MORE WARS
- Posted by patNobody is pro-abortion! but expecting a 12 year old who is raped to have a baby is just as inhuman. Or expecting a mother who has unforeseen health crisis to risk her life. These things are the business of the mother, her god, the doctor and the people who love them, not society.
- Posted by crystalI’m Catholic and I support Obama and Biden. It is not our job to judge, God will decide- because we as humans are very imperfect.
- Posted by crystalIn 2003 John Paul II also became a prominent critic of the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. In his 2003 State of the World address the Pope declared his opposition to the invasion by stating, “No to war! War is not always inevitable. It is always a defeat for humanity.”
- Posted by ElWar and abortion are evils. McCain wants to continue war in Iraq which will mean more troops sent overseas. Where is he going to get his soldiers????? No choice but the DRAFT!!!!!!!!! A least families have a better opportunity for input when abortion is involved. They can intervene….speak to the person, send them to a religious leader (priest, minister, counselor, et al). NOBODY will have control once the government gets hold of your 18 year old SON or DAUGHTER!!!! Your child, niece, nephew, grandchild will learn how to KILL and might be killed in the process!!!! That is what soldiers are trained to do……KILL… bombs, guns, artillery. MASS DESTRUCTION!!! Countless children, pregnant women, innocent bystanders have been MURDERED in a war based on LIES to the American people. REPUBLICANS CRY PRO-LIFE when they want your vote. Nothing is ever done. REMEMBER !!!! Abortion laws vary from state to state… It is a complicated process with many interest groups interceding. CATHOLIC FOR OBAMA!!!!!!!!! AMEN!!!!!!!
Anyone who calls themselves Catholic but supports abortion is a fool. You are known by the friends you keep and by your actions which speak louder than words (such as I am a catholic). Senator Obama is pro-death, calling for the death of the innocent under the guise of pro-choice. Choice for what? Choice to kill the unborn. You people who think that an Obama administration will be about peace and justice are kidding yourself. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness - starts with life.
- Posted by Al WunschThat’s pathetic, you can’t be Catholic (or Christian, Jewish, or Muslim for that matter) and honestly believe in pro-abortion and pro gay marriage. What’s happening is that Catholics are being corrupt by secular-American culture which teaches you should leave your values in the church and pick and choose what you want to believe in. Don’t let Obama fool you, he just wants your vote!
- Posted by ChrisAS a Catholic I can’t vote for someone who is not prolife. No abortions nor death pentalties.
- Posted by clayRita, to answer your question:
I am a Catholic, and Pro-Life all the way. What have I done to help out single mothers? Well, for a year and 1/2, I worked at a FREE childcare facility for single moms under the age of 26 (a charity set up by none other than Catholic Charities, mind you). I then became a certified FertilityCare Practitioner, and I teach young, single women frequently- I teach them how to monitor the signs of their fertility so that they can avoid pregnancy naturally without poisoning their bodies with oral contraceptives.
I also work in collaboration with a group that offers free ultrasound and counseling to women contemplating abortion (most of these women, too, are single or unmarried). In 80-90% of the cases, these women change their minds and keep their babies.
I also pray nightly for all mothers who find themselves with an unwanted pregnancy- I pray that they find the help and the education they need to know that whether they end their child’s life or not, they are already mothers.
And please don’t feel I am singling you out. You asked a question that I thought was pertinent (and a good point- people shouldn’t just talk the talk, they should walk the walk). No one is “better” than others, and judgement should not be passed.
On an even more personal note, I plan to continue helping out women who struggle with an unwanted pregnancy well into my future… I will offer to adopt their babies from them if they truly feel they have no other choice. And no, I’m not just saying that. As it turns out, my husband and I have been struggling with infertility now for over 2 years… so I would be BLESSED to be given the lives that these women feel they need to throw away.
- Posted by AmyCatholics…keep praying. One day abortion will end. Pray for the souls of those who try to justify their ,”choice”.
- Posted by MichelleHow about we pray the Holy Spirit to find out how to vote instead of listen to people who obviously do not care about two third of the population. When was the last time YOU ( Pro-Life person) helped a single mom that is not related to you, did not look like you, even turned around in church and smile to someone that you did not know and seems to have a difficult time with a child? As a Catholic I will pray and then vote.I will not listen to what the Pharisees of our church say. Thank you
- Posted by ritaI am very confused that anyone who call themselves “Christian” can tell other people what to do with their lives and judge others. Now we are quoting the scriptures like the other religion. Senator McCain is for Catholic hospital to perform abortion. All these people that are pro life when was the last time any one of you help out a single mom? When my husband abandonned me with two kids the church,the outreach group, were not there for me or any single mother that I know. How hypocritical of you who point the fingers on pro choice people and think you are better than them. Ms Palin and her family rejected the Catholic church. Let’s pray so the Holy Spirit can tell us how to vote not the people who pass themselves as beeing better than others.
- Posted by ritaCan a Christian vote with a clear conscience for a candidate who supports legalized abortion? The important words to this question are “clear conscience.” Examine the ramifications of voting for someone who is an accomplice to the murder of innocent pre-born children and then examine your own conscience. As a supporter of Obama, you will be an accomplice in the sin of child-killing. Don’t be deceived. Consider this: Would you have voted for Herod?
- Posted by Nurse "For Life"It’s truly unbelievable how so many “intellectual’ humans do not see reality. An abortion is a means to do something; and that something is called MURDER, or infanticide, and that fact generally is recognized by any thinking person. No woman has a right to murder a child living in her womb, nor the right to murder it after it is born.
- Posted by Wilbur GoolkasianIn any intellectual understanding we must see that killing a living human, regardless if it is in the womb or already outside it’s , is MURDER since that killing is never justified as one might be in war, by police, or my me if I have to do it as the last resort to protect my life or my families life. The Catholic Church has made a big blunder over the years by not calling our position by the right name; We are “against murders”, while the other side is not pro-choice, but “pro-murders”. What we need today to stop this confusion over what is really taking place, is to have a renewed Catholic Church movement to focus on the correct terms in discussing these abortions; otherwise, all who now write as if they are acceptable will never see the light due to the cloud of satins smoke that has dulled their rational thinking. I’ve seen interviews of college women who never once thought of abortions as the actual killing of a unborn human; and once it was explained to them why it is “murder” it was like their eyes were opened. Today, when I see so many as have written here and other places, it is as though this is Germany in the 1940’s where the solders who assisted at those camps completely lost their moral understanding of what was actually taking place.
Obama’s NARAL rating = 100%
- Posted by pjoheaNARAL is a tool of SATAN