Why Do Faithful Catholics Vote Liberal?

[Paladin D]

Majority of Liberals suppost abortion. I don't get it, it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. [url="http://www.catholic.com/library/voters_guide.asp"]http://www.catholic.com/library/voters_guide.asp[/url]

I would like to hear your reasons, because I honestly can't think of any for you.

[StColette]

Well, I don't vote liberal but I can give you some idea of why some Catholics vote Liberal is because they aren't actual practicing Catholics or they don't have enough knowledge about the Church and its position on certain things. They seem not to know any better then to vote for those that are Liberals.

[homeschoolmom]

2 words-- social justice...

[IcePrincessKRS]

I've also heard some "Catholics" say that they don't think the Church means that contraceptives or abortion are immoral, but that we should use our own judgement to decide. For some reason they don't get the hint that when the Church says "contraceptives and abortion are sinful" that if they use/support the use of them its actually a sin.

Edited June 29, 2004 by IcePrincessKRS

[Aloysius]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' date='Jun 29 2004, 04:32 PM'] 2 words-- social justice... [/quote]
yeah but it is debatable whether social justice is best attained by the democrat's economic policies or by republican economic policies, PLUS life/death issues take precedence over economic issues

[Ellenita]

[quote]2 words-- social justice... [/quote]

Exactly!

I have always voted on the basis of which of the main parties I think will do the most to empower the most vulnerable people in society and create a sense of community - I could never have voted for Margaret Thatcher for example! I know the political system is very different in the UK to the US though....

I don't think there is an official 'party line' on abortion here in the main political parties and I confess I've never considered abortion as a political issue before I started to find out the reality of it through debates here at Phatmass! It would certainly make me reconsider who I might 'naturally' vote for if there was an official party line.

[Aloysius]

In the United States of America the Republican Party is against abortion and same-sex marriage, the Democratic Party is for those.

not to mention, again, that I believe the Democratic Party's economic policies are doomed to fail and social justice can best be acheived by small government and big charity, the little guy that makes the most out of his future and helps those in need. don't forget Ironmonk's favorite scripture: 2 Thess 3:10 "if any man will not work, neither let him eat."

[popestpiusx]

I think the answer to your question is: they don't. No faithful Catholic votes liberal. If he votes liberal (if you mean by that the same thing I do) he is not a faithful Catholic.

[IcePrincessKRS]

haha I was re-reading the thread title and thinking the same thing PSPX....

[Iacobus]

Social Justice. Respect for ALL life. Being pro life is much more than being anti abortion. Think about it. And Bush fails 2 of the 5 non-negs on the "Voter guide" and many key points on the USCCB voters guide (even under the all important "Protecting Human Life" section. So yeh. Why do Faithful Catholic's vote GOP?

[Iacobus]

[quote name='popestpiusx' date='Jun 29 2004, 04:55 PM'] I think the answer to your question is: they don't. No faithful Catholic votes liberal. If he votes liberal (if you mean by that the same thing I do) he is not a faithful Catholic. [/quote]
But a vote for Bush or most GOPers isn't a vote for pro life either. THe GOP is anti abortion, not pro life. The Dems are anti DP not pro life. So seeing as that is true you can't be faithful Catholics and vote for GOP or Dems.

[popestpiusx]

Iacobus,
I agree that Bush is not 100% pro-life. But it has nothing to do with his stance on the death penalty. The USCCB voters guide (as do many of the bishops) exaggerates the death penalty issue (WHICH IS NOT FORBIDDEN BY CATHOLIC TEACHING). Bush allows exceptions for rape/incest/life of the mother (without the necessary qualifications on that last one). It is for that reason that he is not 100% pro-life. Being for the death penalty does not make one cease to be pro-life, so long as it is with the proper qualifications.

[PedroX]

Ah, sweeping generalizations. Strange how my confessor/spiritual director seems to feel that I'm a faithful Catholic, but the posters on the thread would condemm me off hand.

peace...

[Aloysius]

I'm a faithful Catholic who is pro-DP. pAx

[IcePrincessKRS]

I hope you didn't mean anything I said Pedro. I know that there are Catholics out there who are very pro-life but would be considered Liberal because of their other political views. I read Paladin's question as asking why "faithful" Catholics vote pro-abortion. Any comments I made were in reference to those Liberal "Catholics" who do not accept Church teaching. If there are pro-life Liberal political candidates more power to them, but I do find it disturbing that there are those who claim to be Catholic and insist on supporting pro-abortion/pro-gay marriage/pro-euthanasia candidates (whether they be Democrat, Liberal, Independant, Conservative, Republican, or what-have-you).

[IcePrincessKRS]

[quote name='Aloysius' date='Jun 29 2004, 06:39 PM'] I'm a faithful Catholic who is pro-DP. pAx [/quote]
lol Me, too, Al. I remember having a long discussion with Jason about this in Open Mic once...

[PedroX]

Princess Bling, Bling

I am almost always in agreement with you, and when I'm not I find that I'm forced to stop and reconsider. Such is my respect for you, and your formidable mother!

I realize that what you said was in regards to pro-death "liberals" and not to pro-union liberals (such as myself and a precious few others here). However, too often we leap to conclusions regarding ones orthodoxy based on the term "liberal". Strangely, we do the same based on the term "traditional", but I digress.

There is a wideness in God's mercy, and so to in the prudential judgement of the voting Catholic. A precious few things are non-negotiable (abortion, stem cells, etc.) but so much more is up for debate. I just encourage everyone to realize that my view on property taxes or welfare funding is not at all tied to my salvation or faithfulness to Church teaching on issues of life.

peace...

[IcePrincessKRS]

I can't argue with you there, Pedro. God Bless!

(I'm honored and even a little embarassed that you think so highly of my opinion. I am glad that we agree so often, because I wouldn't want to argue with you, you are a formidable opponent to those that debate with you.)

[Paladin D]

[quote name='Iacobus' date='Jun 29 2004, 06:06 PM'] Social Justice. Respect for ALL life. Being pro life is much more than being anti abortion. Think about it. And Bush fails 2 of the 5 non-negs on the "Voter guide" and many key points on the USCCB voters guide (even under the all important "Protecting Human Life" section. So yeh. Why do Faithful Catholic's vote GOP? [/quote]
Isn't John Kerry for abortion and homosexual marriage?



[b]Pedro[/b], I'm not against liberals in general. I'm against liberals who try to justify the 5 non-negotiables, it makes me very frusterated.

[Iacobus]

[quote name='Paladin D' date='Jun 29 2004, 06:42 PM'] Isn't John Kerry for abortion and homosexual marriage?



[b]Pedro[/b], I'm not against liberals in general. I'm against liberals who try to justify the 5 non-negotiables, it makes me very frusterated. [/quote]
LOL! Did I imply Kerry passed? LOL! If I did I was nuts. But my point is Bush doesn't pass either.