The following comes from an August 22 story on the Catholic News Agency website.
The Catholic Hispanic Leadership Alliance has applied Catholic social teaching to issues that will shape the upcoming presidential election in a new voter’s guide.
“We invite U.S. Catholics to reflect on this document and use it as an aid to decision-making before entering the voting booth in November,” president Robert Aguirre said Aug. 21.
The San Antonio-based group has gathered candidate opinions with related media reports and compiled them into a 21-page document to summarize where the presumptive nominees of the Democratic and Republican parties stand on particular issues.
“Opinions from candidates and the media related to these issues may be debated, but Catholic social teaching is clear,” Aguirre said.
Available on the Catholic Hispanic Leadership Alliance’s website, the document evaluates President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney on 23 key issues such as “gay marriage”, the contraception mandate and immigration reform and assigns them a score signifying how closely their policies and opinions line up with that of Catholic social teaching.
According to the group’s analysis, President Obama achieved a score of 17.4 percent while Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney had a rating of 52.2 percent.
Aguirre said that the report’s data indicates that “the difference between the two major party candidates is very clear.”
With a population of 50.5 million people in the United States, 42.7 percent of Latinos are currently eligible to vote.
In the 2008 presidential election, 49.9 percent of those eligible voted, with 67 percent of them voting for Obama and 31 percent for McCain, according to the Pew Hispanic Center.
Aguirre said that his organization’s report draws from the U.S. bishops statement “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility,” which describes “responsible citizenship” as a “virtue” and political participation “a moral obligation.”
“Let there be no mistake about it, this is a national call for Catholics to exercise their faith in the voting booth,” Aguirre said.
Catholics have a responsibility to vote with “an informed conscience, formed by the Gospel,” rather than from “habit or tradition,” the report said.
To that end, the document is “an effort to assist thoughtful voters” in making their decisions for the upcoming presidential election.
To read entire story, click here.
Let us pray that our fellow Catholics pay more attention to this obviously carefully prepared analysis than they do to Church teachings on birth control, abortion, etc., etc. This election is more important to Catholics than any I can think of in my long lifetime, including the presidential contest John Kennedy won, during which anti-Catholicism was a serious concern for his party. The present election is clearly absolutely critical to the economic well-being of our nation and the future protection of Catholic social teaching and religious freedom itself. Every Catholic adult should vote, and every voter should study the issues carefully before voting, bearing in mind dearly held Catholic values and not racial identities of any candidate. This document is a true gift to Catholics and should be taken to heart as such.
If I were a rich man, I would pay for every Latino who can vote in the coming election to see “For the Greater Glory”. The comparison between Presidente Plutarco Calles, the butcher of many Mexican priests, nuns, and citizens, and Obama is too glaring to ignore.
Viva Cristo Rey!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
God bless you Mr, Fisher, you are very kind.
Its time to educate everyone what the Democrats are really doing to our country and our faith. Democrats are definitely anti-Christian values.
Instead of splitting the voters into ethnic groups, why are they so opposed to forming a Catholic voting block, which would easily get rid of the sworn enemies of God, namely the Democrats?
Let us hope and pray Latinos and all Catholics in general vote with our Catholic faith first and foremost. God is not going to care what our ethnicity or nationality was.
I was thinking the other day that I’ll bet it will be Arbsp Gomez that gives the ‘benediction’ at the Dema convention. Any takers?
There is much more to being a Catholic than being anti-abortion, anti-contraception and anti – gay marriage. The Church has a tradition and a long history of promoting justice, respect and charity. Like many other “thoughtful voters” I may sit this one out. I don’t care for Obama but i don’t trust Romney. He has been less than transparent and has flipped-flopped on so many issues. Plus, he has been strangely silent on his Mormon faith; undoubtedly a turn off for many evangelical voters.
“Strangely silent on his Mormon faith”? “Strangely”??? Don’t you know any Mormons, GHS? Mormons are not going to bother you with their religion unless you invite them to do so. Maybe you’re thinking that Mormons continue the neighborhood canvasing way of life when they’ve moved beyond that two year mission … But in reality, they live normal and moral lives. My sister and all those inlaws have been Mormons for many decades … way back they tried to interest me; since then it hardly ever comes up. My BIL served as a bishop for a while; they’re devout and highly active Mormons. But they do not hound me with it at all. So, I wouldn’t expect the Romney family to be any different in this regard whether in their private lives or political lives. Take him for what he is, and not for some theory that paints him the way you don’t like. “Flip flop on issues”? Sounds like nonsense to me. Have you ever changed your position on anything, or were you born perfect with all the right positions? My own view of Mormon theology is that it is a sort of Christianized form of classic paganism; but most Christians are pretty much in the same boat … they present Christian religion but act like Christianized pagans. What is it about the Romneys that you find immoral or foolish or stupid? Nothing? Contrast that with the Obamas … Everything? Now, GHS, we may be getting somewhere in our analysis.
GHS. The supreme mission of the Church is the salvation of souls and souls are being lost by the millions because abortion is legal. “The souls of those who depart in actual in mortal sin or in original sin only, descend immediately into hell but to undergo punishments of different kinds”. Council of Florence. While outlawing abortion isn’t your prime effort, please don’t speak of lesser things.
every vote not for republican values is essentially a vote for democratic principles. you can not sit out this election. I don’t like.either candidate but I have to show I expect a turn towards better than to allow this nation to continue to crumble.
To ghs, are you aware that Obama is holding a two hour islamic prayer (jumah)to start the dnc convention, it is sponsored by a radical islamic group, do mormons kill at will to achieve their goal of domination, is this a turn off for evangelical voters or do you condone Obama’s choice, he did turn down a Catholic Cardinals offer for an opening prayer. Hispanics and Catholics in particular better wake up real fast. Most Catholic Church fail to lead leaders are strangely silent this year as you claim Romney is ,even though Obama delights in baby killing, gay marriage and anti Christain agenda’s, if you watched Raymont Arroyo on EWTN he hit Romney with direct no punches pulled on his Mormon faith, if you watched the pathetric Gloria berger on CNN try to do her hit job on Romney and his Mormon faith it was disgusting, this is the same CNN that tried everything to cover the rev Wrights anti Americal radical rants while Obama sat in his rews for 20 years, are youb really an “informed voter”????? MGB
So Papa, if I understand your comment correctly, anyone who is a Mormon, Muslim, Hindu, or Athiest would not be acceptable as a candidate for President. I suggest that you read the Constitution where it says that a candidate must be native born and at least 35 years old. No one has to explain their religious beliefs if they don’t want to. This is a country based on the great thinking of the age of enlightenment/age of reason. If you want to know what America is about read Locke, Jefferson, and the Federalist Papers.
The voters guide from Catholic Hispanic Leadership Alliance is clear and concise, and should be distributed in every US diocese and promoted in every parish. The video clearly shows which candidate is most in line with Catholic teachings on necessary Catholic beliefs. “Thoughtful voters” especially take note. A vote FOR the presidential candidate who defends life and marriage between one man and one woman only; is a vote AGAINST the candidate who does not defend these ‘non-negotables’.
Another aspect of this voting issue: If Obama were to suddenly die, then Biden would be sworn in … His first act would maybe be to pardon Jerry Sandusky. Now, if Romney were prez and were whacked, then Ryan would be sworn in. Can you see any difference between Biden and Ryan? One suffers dementia perhaps brought on by his defiance of God, and the other is a bright and faithful Catholic.
This voter guide compares the candidate’s positions with Catholic Social Teaching. It is done well. It lays it all there. Good job.
I actually use the LA times for my voter guide. I look up what they say and then vote the opposite. They are usually spot on.
Maybe we can have another civil war and split the USA, where we can be free to practice our faith without all this government agenda’s. Those who are liberal can move to the liberal side and those of faith with morals can have the other side. Our own country, to live our faith freely without all this persecution and imposed agendas that this current administration is forcing down our throats! NO more indoctrination of evils!~
Or simply relocate from California to one of the rational states.
JLS are there any rational states?
Yes, and the people in those states are really tired of the people from California and New York (the media centers) bringing the whole country down to their level.
Abeca,
Yes, sweet sister in Christ. It is called being in the state of grace.
Yes, Abeca, your idea is terrific. Let me be sure I understand you. We should just start another American Civil War, break away from the United States of America just like the South tried to do 150 years ago or so, is that your proposal? And once we win, of course, we could set up boundaries, a new government, armies, schools, hospitals, etc. We can call it the Catholic Third Reich and set up a 21st Century Inquisition to make sure everyone is in lockstep with us. I like it. Shall we burn all places of worship that now serve Protestants, Jews, Muslims, and others of a suspicious nature? Such a holy new nation should not have to tolerate the existence of any such heretical people. Let’s weed out the riffraff and burn them at the stake, together with all atheists and agnostics. I think you’ve successfully shown us the true spirit of American ideals and are articulating the teachings of Jesus Christ perfectly.
What Abeca seems to be advocating is the same as what the Church is commanded to do which is be holy, preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and teach the will of God … and I would add, carry a big stick. After all, our religion is one of shepherding the world, and thus we need to carry shepherd sticks with us and use them … spiritually of course, but also literally as wisdom and charity would have it.
JLS I don’t know if Maryanne was being sarcastic with me or what? I refuse to reply…let her think what she wants, after all she seems to think she knows in detail what I meant…let her have her day I suppose, her post didn’t seem so positive and added malice to it, if I’m wrong I apologize.
maybe she was thinking like the liberals want us to think…who knows
There are secessionist movements in some states-the strongest ones are in SC and TX.
After all, Maryanne’s implied idea is that the USA will last forever, and is the perfect society of all time, past present and future, in fact it is, one can infer from her post, Heaven.
That’s true JLS…,maybe she can re-read my post from August 28, 2012 at 6:26 pm. I just wish she would stop adding more to my post, all that malice stuff needs to be out.
Abeca…There may come a day when you get your wish. We have to be among the weeds and it is getting harder all the time……we need some weed killer, and hopefully that won’t be civil war, but in my heart I am not so sure. How is all this baby murder going to go away? By a miracle vote of the Supreme Court……I don’t think so. The churches are not closed yet, there is still Eucharistic Adoration in many places. We are not in China, or North Korea, or so many other horrid places. On second thought we are, in the eyes of God we are in a horrid place. We must be grateful, and savor every precious moment, and just keep praying, especially to the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary. I have not seen the voter guide, I guess all that is necessary. My next door neighbors are weekly Mass goers, they voted for p Obama, I will never understand it in a million years. I will never understand how someone can vote for a pro-abort, and still call themselves Catholic…but they do. How does all this end? Is the Fatima message finished? Nations will be annihilated, Have we seen that yet? The blood of the innocent cries out, that is all I know.
Carolyn it’s not a wish….I don’t wish for a war, I only pray for the conversion of all sinners but one can’t help but have that thought of possibility if our religious freedoms are taken away, which are already happening little by little.
GHS…..don’t be a fool! Sit this one.out???? Well you get yourself right down to the voting booth in Nov. You can help the church with that justice, respect and charity and vote for at least some Christan principles that will come from the Romney/Ryan ticket, because with p Obama it is madness. Please I am begging you, for the sake of our country. Could Paul Ryan sway your mind? He seems like a good guy, and a true Catholic. The leader of a country can only do so much, but to have a leader with moral principles and at this point a business mind also is more than anything we have now. Even the AFLAC duck or little Geico gecko? would be better….think about it.
Abeca, no malice intended, just trying to help you think through some of the effects of your proposal. I was being facetious and trying to prove that we cannot run the world your way – most unfortunately. To propose starting a civil war is stunning, and the results of your proposed nation, containing only like-minded people, would be even more disastrous than a civil war. Such a totalitarian state would be worse than the Third Reich and more difficult to manage than was Europe in the days of the Inquisition. Frankly, the ideas your are promoting are actually revoluntary, unAmerican and even anti-American. To enforce them would be to means test everyone for their goodness, ability to comprehend, live up to, recite and prove their adherence to the faith. In that case, what would we do with our mentally retarded, for example? I denounce these extremist ideas of yours but do not wish you any malice whatsoever personally. This is a forum for ideas, and I denounce all personal attacks as well as your call to war and totalitarianism, even when it means living with evil and misguidance of all varieties.
Maryanne it was you who noted what you thought I was proposing….you added the words protestants, atheist, other churches to burn etc amongst other things, you added more than what I added. I wonder if the Cristeros were accused of those things too? Maryanne if our Lord wanted or ordered his people to have a civil war, then no matter what your views are, they are not important because God would be the deciding factor. I don’t partake in how you have noted as what you thought I was implying by agreeing to have a just civil war. Our values are already under attack here in California…..there is already a war, a spiritual one……
” To propose starting a civil war is stunning”: Why so, Maryanne?
yea why stunning? See Maryanne the words you use…how can I even compete with that? Maryanne it’s your floor, your day…have a go at it…
Forget Catholic social teaching. Obama is enthusiastically pro-abortion and a public supporter of same-sex marriage. Catholics are morally bound to oppose public officials and laws that enable abortion or same-sex marriage.
A vote for Obama is a vote against true justice–justice for the unborn and justice for the sanctity of marriage.
Abeca, your point about our values already being under attack is well taken. Your calls for civil war, sedition, secession, and the establishment of a totalitarian state composed exclusively of people who believe as we do – not so much. I note that when you disagree with or fail to understand me, twice now you have accused me of being a liberal, my lifetime of dedication to conservative ideals notwithstanding. I forgive you. Will you please cease that unworthy practice? Notice that you were not called names, but your ideas were denounced. Better to engage in a contest of ideas than to cast false aspersions against me for daring to criticize your incendiary, ill-advised, inane, illegal and impossible ideas. I like you personally despite your false accusations; I believe your heart is usually in the right place. Nevertheless, some of your posts are mind-boggling, while others have sunk to merely false personal attacks. Let’s exchange ideas, sticking reasonably close to the subject, skipping false accusations, living up to the teachings of our faith, and living up to the laws and ideals of the United States of America while engaging in debate worthy of honorable Catholic women.
When did I call Maryanne a liberal? false accusations? I only repeated what she added to the tone of my original post….wow
JLS, if by questioning my calling Abeca’s call for civil war stunning, you are taking a pro-civil war position, and therefore your position and mine are sufficiently opposed to make any further serious discourse fruitless. I cannot support civil war based on her ridiculous proposals, and I hope you are not saber-rattling yourself. If the end goal is to set up a state in which the only people allowed in are people who think as we Catholics do, it is obvious an inquisition will have to be set up to determine who qualifies, assuming that indeed such a ridiculous proposal were to succeed, which of course it would not and could not. I actually have lots of worthwhile things to do other than to debate this kind of concept with those who are already in favor of a new civil war of “us against them.” Your question reminds me of that of Kenneth of a few weeks ago, who questioned my advocacy of following the law while participating in the prayer vigils we undertake at abortion clinics. What’s going on, JLS? Are you just having fun, or are you seriously questioning my position against a new American civil war? Have you lost your mind, or just getting some jollies here?
Maryanne to be honest, you seem to want to argue more rather than have reasonable dialogue. You even came off sarcastic when you said “Yes, Abeca, your idea is terrific. Let me be sure I understand you.”. You went on with adding malice when you suggested that my suggestion for a civil war meant burning churches, ending protestants etc. Those thoughts never crossed my mind. You later on added that I called you a liberal, I never did, I simply said “maybe she was thinking like the liberals want us to think…who knows”….but that meant that the liberals have wanted us to think a certain way and many of the faithful have come to embrace some of those ideologies. I still stand by what I originally stated because we are being persecuted as those with formed faith conscience, our religious freedoms are under attack and the gay agenda is indoctrinating our children, the media is already so liberal they attack what we hold dear often, the government is under socialism ideals that we may need to act and sometimes it may not be a pleasant thing but we have to protect our children’s rights to raise their children free from immoral agenda’s that are forced upon the faithful! This country use to hold common sense, decency and good common ground but now we are under attack and we have to protect what is dear to us with God….and in God always.
So Maryanne hope that helped ease your sensitive side to assume otherwise….
I was listening to the first ever Catholic Hispanic Governor for New Mexico, Susana Martinez, speak the RNC in Florida…..she is a Republican and she sounds good with values…Sounds refreshing….
“Catholics have a responsibility to vote with “an informed conscience, formed by the Gospel,” rather than from “habit or tradition,” the report said.” I agree.
BUT when Catholics are given confusing mixed messages from those who are suppose to lead, it’s no wonder we have division in the church. But how can we fault them when we are not willing to lift a finger to self reflect, it begins with one self. If one does not know their faith well enough to know the difference, we have many mislead. There is a spiritual war now, we need to have a holy war to pull us out and save the children who have been scandalized by the great evils promoted today! Sometimes we will have to act just the way our Lord would want us to and if God makes that known to his faithful, what he ordains must be done! Forget what theologies or ideals this secular world has adopted, we rebuke them but we must pray to have the courage to do what is truly in God’s plan…..for if we don’t, expect more scandal on souls, more lost souls, a punishment our sins have inherited for our disobedience and lack of ability to pray with humility. God have mercy on us all! God help us in those voting polls and may we forget the unimportant things but truly focus on what is important and that is our salvation in Christ!
I too believe that the idea of a civil war is ridiculous. I find it hard to believe that any intelligent person would be advocating such a thing. I believe that wars are inherently uncivil.
I have children and I am concerned for them, my sister is a PA for OBGYN, did you know that she can’t find a job that is strictly pro-life, most places only hire you if you refer to pro-choices agenda’s. If one is a pharmacist, they will not find a job so easily either if they choose not to prescribe contraceptives. If you are in the media, if you are a teacher etc etc….Look what they tried doing to chick fil A. Had not people chosen to stand up for them, they would of been out of business, I read reports that even one of their kid toy prizes, a vendor pulled their toys from them because they did not want to do business with them because of their conservative views. the list goes on…..so you in your views Ski Ven I am not intelligent, that fine. I don’t like wars either….but I can’t help consider the possibility if things get a lot worst, if Christians get imprisoned for their views etc… forget the idea that I commented to Maryanne L, lets just get persecuted…who cares, we have to die someone day at the hands of our enemies, let our kids suffer or worst, let out kids continue to be scandalized by man’s sins, after all ……Jesus will someday come again and he will rescue us, lets sit and do nothing….
Ski Ven my sister believes as you do too. Many do too, so don’t worry that my unintelligent self will not have her way but I do hope that USA lay faithful will stand up and defend our values. The reason we are losing this battle right now and losing our children to the secular and the gay agenda it is because of indifference, we are suffering with indifference and we are not intelligent enough to stop all the wicked politicians who are taking away our rights and freedoms!
My husband had a great solution, he said that we can still make a difference if we join up in a large network and boycott what affects our culture of life and morals but in order for that to work, we need a lot of people on the same frame of mind but I have tried that in the past and always found that many are not willing to give up their comforts etc.
There are so many Catholics in my life who are not practicing their faith. Indifference is very apparent. I remember boycotting the San Diego Zoo many years ago by cancelling my zoo passes when I discovered their gay pride support, they never warned parents that they had a gay pride day, Concerned Woman for America use to promote gatherings there to warn parents that were planning to go that day, of what to expect …I recall a devout pro-life Catholic who approached me and argued with me because I chose to cancel my zoo passes and have asked many to do so as well, if they felt moved to so do, she argued with me and said that I going over board with this and that I had no right to push that idea. It was ugly, she discouraged me so much…..I told her that because our Zoo was actually the larges and most visited Zoo in the USA that it was important to make that strong point. It was OK to visit if they wanted too but to buy passes, then we should try not too. Well long story short, she took me off her homeschooling support group because of my views. This broke my heart. There was no need for her to argue with me, I wasn’t forcing her, she could choose to stand with us or not.
Abeca, it was not my intent to say that you were not intelligent. I was talking about the contradictory paring of civility with warfare. That is all I was talking about. I just had an image in my mind of a war being fought in a battlefield that is blanketed with classical music by guys who are dressed as butlers and who speak with an elitist accent and who say things like: “Verily sir, your aim is true. You have managed to discomfit me with your excellent marksmanship. I commend you for being a worthy opponent. Would you like some tea, sir, to celebrate your victory. I am honored by the presence of such a distinguished sportsman.” Perhaps you should find a way to take a break and get away from all that is stressing you. God bless you.
Ski Ven your post makes no sense, and what is stressing me? Nothing sir….I think that you missed the boat and have abandoned ship, and I meant it when I said I was not intelligent…I’m not. I didn’t take your comments as insults. This conversation with what you just posted was a waste of my time and reading….wow….OKAY enjoy the free air time or post time….and a cup of tea…lol
Abeca accused me of saying that she is not intelligent, I responded to her accusation. Now she is saying that I have abandoned ship, my post does not make any sense and is a waste of her time. I did not even say anything to her to begin with and she came along and started saying that I said that she is not intelligent. As soon as I try to defend myself then she says that I am wasting her time. If I am a waste of her time, then maybe, just maybe she should not be starting a conversation with me to begin with. It is not hard to understand. It must be that time of the month thing. Typical woman. Staying away from women could save a guy a lot of trouble.
I was commenting on what you said about what you said in regards to you image….Ski Ven you posted “I find it hard to believe that any intelligent person would be advocating such a thing.”….I didn’t say you called me that. But I did agree that I wasn’t as intelligent when it comes to war but I see that if things get worst I see nothing wrong with the possibility of a civil war should we need to protect our freedoms. Yes wasting my time because of what you kept on commenting here…this has nothing to do with whether I am a woman or man…but whether you can carry on dialogue well and apparently not, that is why I used the abandoned ship comment, you added deeper sentiments when you misread me as being stressed but apparently you blame it on the fact that I am a woman. No simply human, just like you sir! Maybe sir you and I do not understand one another..that is fine too!