Practicing Catholic Democrats?

[MoniqueU]

This has been bothering me most of my adult life. How do you go to chruch on Sundays 52 weeks a year and follow the teachings of the pope yet still vote democrat with so many of them if not all being pro abortion? I mean either you beliee in the teachings of your church and follow their doctrine or why show up?
I was rasied catholic, don't go to church for a variety of reasons yet still consider myself a catholic and my children as well. However I do not devote the time and energy into the church enough for it to reflect on my politcal views.However some do and should yet they are in my mind hypocrites once they hit that polling booth.
Could someone explain the hypocrisy of it to me?

This also might apply to other religions though I am not sure as I have only spent time in the Catholic and Episocalian churches.

 

[tessiemez]

I suppose because abortion isn't (by far) the only issue of importance--perhaps those people are voting Democratic in spite of the fact that Democrats are "pro-choice" because other matters (e.g. economic policy, welfare, the war) are also important to them. I know many people of deep religious conviction who are against legalized abortion, but (as abortion is currently legalized) think we need to be careful about how America should begin to address the problem of abortion; or, maybe the Catholic voter can't justify voting for a candidate who they don't feel is suited for/capable of running this country simply because they are "pro-life". Other issues may weigh on their heart, but that doesn't mean they don't care about the issue or are actively voting "pro-choice" because they think one candidate can do a better job.

Not necessarily my views here--just trying to be objective and honest.

I would be careful, by the way, about using the word "Catholic" in place of the much broader "Christianity" ... Catholicism is a facet of a very large, diverse group of people who, for the most part, share the same convictions about abortion (among many other issues). Most Catholics I know who shared for whom they were voting were for the Republican ticket; and, most of the Christians I knew who ended up voting for the Democratic ticket were actually Protestant Christians, not Catholic Christians. Not that it makes a difference ...

... Maybe that makes them hypocritical. Or maybe it just makes them multi-dimensional. Let's not judge people by what issues affect them more deeply on a spiritual level.

ETA: I tried to be intentionally vague because I am not endorsing or dismissing either candidate, party, etc.--there are so few absolutes in this world. This is my opinion, and I hope is doesn't offend, but feel free to call m out if it does!

 

[JB111107]

Catholicism and Christianity are two different sets of beliefs. Many aspects are similar or "related" but they are not one and the same.

 

[MAKmom]

This has been bothering me most of my adult life. How do you go to chruch on Sundays 52 weeks a year and follow the teachings of the pop yet still vote democrat with so many of them if not all being pro abortion? I mean either you beliee in the teachings of your church and follow their doctirne or why show up?
I was rasied catholic, don't go to church for a variety of reasons yet still consider myself a catholic and my children as well. However I do not devote the time and energy into the church enough for it to reflect on my politcal views.However some do and should yet they are in my mind hypocrites once they hit that polling booth.
Could someone explain the hypocrisy of it to me?

This also might apply to other religions though I am not sure as I have only spent time in the Catholic and Episocalian churches.

Nothing is black & white. The Church is far from perfect & changes it's mind at the Popes whim. Many Catholics know if they wait things will change.



Nobody is Pro Abortion.

I don't think I could ever have an abortion.

But if I'm honest I'm not sure if I was raped I could have the rapist baby.

There are always shades of gray.IMO

 

[shortbun]

They know that God created us with a brain for a reason and they are using theirs to think for themselves. No right or wrong here, simply personal, private choice. It's between them and their God, just as you make your choices. This is not for the government to decide. It's personal and private.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

Catholicism and Christianity are two different sets of beliefs. Many aspects are similar or "related" but they are not one and the same.

No, Catholics believe in Christ and follow the same bible (old and new testament) that other Christians do. It's no less a form of Christianity than, say, Southern Baptist. However, there are differences in how the teachings of Christ are interpreted...

I also agree with the above posters...nothing is black and white in the real world, and being "pro-life" isn't the only issue. Besides, any Catholic (or other Christian) that has voted Republican over the pro-life issue hasn't really gotten anywhere in the last thirty years, have they?

 

[Nennie]

Being a Democrat is about a lot more than the pro-choice issue (and yes, the term "pro-abortion" is extremely offensive).

But yes, I am catholic and am also pro-choice (as are MANY catholics).

In 2006, I was 5 months pregnant, when I learned that my son didn't have a brain and would not survive outside the womb. If I carried the pregnancy full term, I would have needed a C-section, and my son still would have passed away during the birthing process. Doctors encouraged me to either have a D&C or induce labor. I chose to induce labor so that my son could be born in the most dignified way possible.

It was the hardest thing I've ever been through. The only thing harder would have been to have been forced to carry the pregnancy another 4 months, walking around with a big pregnant belly, enduring "happy pregnancy" comments from well-meaning strangers, etc, all the time knowing I was carrying a child who was destined to die before every taking his first breath. If I didn't have a "choice" to induce labor, I probably would have been committed to a psych ward, as I was that distraught.

Oh yeah, I did all of this with the blessing of my priest, who also came to the hospital to baptise my son after he was born, as well as to console my husband and I.

The pro-choice issue isn't always black and white. I hope you'll withdraw your statement that Catholics who vote Democrat are "hypocrites."

 

[pyr8freak87]

I wouldn't consider it a hypocrisy...I am a catholic and a democrat and don't believe that I am a hypocrite at all. But my belief is a little different from the church. I believe in God and Jesus Christ his son, and go to mass to celebrate all that Jesus gave up for us, but I also believe that God gave us a choice for a reason. He made us in his image but gave us freedom and independence. In my opinion, God loves us for who we are and how much good we do in this world. He takes in mind and considers all our thoughts, but to me what's more important is what we do and actions we take ourselves, not the votes we place or the freedom we give to others. What others do with what they are given is their choice. As the choices we are given by God himself, we do with it what we please. It's not our job to sit here and say "no no no, no you can't do this, you can't do that, you're going to hell" or "God doesn't love you anymore cause you do this or that," when the time comes it's his judgement. And the God I love and I follow, is a loving God who wants us all to love him, follow him, love others, and be happy. No person is ours to judge, but only his. That's just my opinion on the subject.

 

[clarabelle]

I am not a Catholic but there are many other leanings of the democrat party that are in line with the church.
Feeding the poor, taking care of the sick things like that.

 

[MzDiz]

Nobody is "pro-abortion", what a horrible thing to say.

Since the republicans are the party that, for the most part, supports the death penalty, are they the "pro-murder" party?

 

[MidgeD79]

Nennie In 1986 I found out at 23 weeks gestation that the dd I was carrying had no brain, minimal lungs from a diaphragmatic hernia and spina bifida. This was my 4th pregnancy. The girls were 7 & 5 and Michael was 19 months. Michael also had spina bifida (he died in 2003). I was encouraged to terminate the pregnancy and as the doctor was explaining this, Rebekah was kicking up a storm. I told him no thanks and continued the pregnancy. Yes I got a lot of well wishes from strangers, family that didn't want to talk about and other "uncomfortable
issues. I delivered Rebekah at 38 weeks and she weighed 6.5 pounds. She lived for 14 hours on life support and 10 minutes off. The health insurance covered the hospital bills, but the life insurance didn't cover babies until they had passed their 15th day of life (most insurances have this policy). We had help from friends and family to cover the burial expenses, but there were other costs for us (head stone etc). I would never make someone continue a pregnancy like mine and shame on the op. Who's the hypicrite?

 

[chrisw127]

Being a Democrat is about a lot more than the pro-choice issue (and yes, the term "pro-abortion" is extremely offensive).

But yes, I am catholic and am also pro-choice (as are MANY catholics).

In 2006, I was 5 months pregnant, when I learned that my son didn't have a brain and would not survive outside the womb. If I carried the pregnancy full term, I would have needed a C-section, and my son still would have passed away during the birthing process. Doctors encouraged me to either have a D&C or induce labor. I chose to induce labor so that my son could be born in the most dignified way possible.

It was the hardest thing I've ever been through. The only thing harder would have been to have been forced to carry the pregnancy another 4 months, walking around with a big pregnant belly, enduring "happy pregnancy" comments from well-meaning strangers, etc, all the time knowing I was carrying a child who was destined to die before every taking his first breath. If I didn't have a "choice" to induce labor, I probably would have been committed to a psych ward, as I was that distraught.

Oh yeah, I did all of this with the blessing of my priest, who also came to the hospital to baptise my son after he was born, as well as to console my husband and I.

The pro-choice issue isn't always black and white. I hope you'll withdraw your statement that Catholics who vote Democrat are "hypocrites."

I'm sorry you had to go through that, but thank you for posting your story.

 

[chrisw127]

Nennie In 1986 I found out at 23 weeks gestation that the dd I was carrying had no brain, minimal lungs from a diaphragmatic hernia and spina bifida. This was my 4th pregnancy. The girls were 7 & 5 and Michael was 19 months. Michael also had spina bifida (he died in 2003). I was encouraged to terminate the pregnancy and as the doctor was explaining this, Rebekah was kicking up a storm. I told him no thanks and continued the pregnancy. Yes I got a lot of well wishes from strangers, family that didn't want to talk about and other "uncomfortable
issues. I delivered Rebekah at 38 weeks and she weighed 6.5 pounds. She lived for 14 hours on life support and 10 minutes off. The health insurance covered the hospital bills, but the life insurance didn't cover babies until they had passed their 15th day of life (most insurances have this policy). We had help from friends and family to cover the burial expenses, but there were other costs for us (head stone etc). I would never make someone continue a pregnancy like mine and shame on the op. Who's the hypicrite?

Hugs to you and all the moms who shared their stories here.

 

[Teacher03]

Nobody is "pro-abortion", what a horrible thing to say.

Since the republicans are the party that, for the most part, supports the death penalty, are they the "pro-murder" party?

I am Catholic and voted democrat, and this is also my opinion. Pro-life means all life, not just babies. I am certainly against abortion, but if you are going to say you are prolife, you have to look at both sides, republican and democrat. Young men and women are being killled in Iraq, sent by a Republican. It was a difficult decision for me, and I talked to my principal (who happens to be a nun, I teach in a Catholic school) about it. I had to look at all the issues, not just abortion.

 

[beattyfamily]

Catholicism and Christianity are two different sets of beliefs. Many aspects are similar or "related" but they are not one and the same.

No they are not two different sets of beliefs. Catholics are also Christians, just as mormons, Baptists, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, etc....are Christians.

 

[Jennasis]

I think it's very kind and gracious of the many posters who have offered up their own stories and explanations, but truthfully, OP.

Nobody owes you an explanation. It's none of your business why people vote the way they do.

This is just another attempt to stir the pot by a sore loser Republican.

 

[beattyfamily]

Just as Democratic Catholics vote on more than one issue so feel fine voting for liberal candidate who is for (partial birth) abortions, I, as a Republican Catholic vote on more than one issue so feel perfectly fine voting for a Republican candidate even if he/she is for guns etc...we pick what our issues are when we vote.

We don't vote on one issue. We pick what issues are most important to us. For me it's to vote for a candidate that is against abortion and stem cell research.

Neither side is a perfect 'Catholic' candidate.

 

[smartestnumber5]

I mean either you beliee in the teachings of your church and follow their doctirne or why show up?

As I said on another thread about this recently, if the standard for "being a *real* Catholic" is believing/following (or at least intending to follow) the church's doctrine, then then there are almost no real Catholics in the U.S.

Have you ever used birth control other than nfp? The VAST majority of Catholics have. My very large extended Italian family is Catholic and not a darn one of them has ever considered not using artificial birth control. Tons of Catholics have sex before they are married or get remarried without having gotten annulments. Lucky for me, my immediate family strongly disagrees with the Catholic doctrine that says my relationship is less than theirs and not deserving of any legal protection.

Some of my family simply disagrees with the Catholic doctrine that says that life begins at conception just like they disagree about homosexuality and birth control. Some of them also disagree about the death penalty.

My mom was just telling me a story about one of my older relatives (in her 70s) who has been Catholic all her life. She was supporting Obama and told a story about her sister (also supporting Obama) was told she is voting for a baby-killer by a fellow Catholic who basically cut off their friendship altogether when she found out about her support of Obama. This almost 80 year old aunt of mine explained to my mom that "I don't think abortion is a good thing and I hope that people make responsible choices about it. But making it illegal is not going to stop it. And who am I to tell anybody else what to do about their pregnancy?"

I think the two bolded sentences are the important ones. Why should *I* have to live by the church's doctrine when I am not Catholic and I think the idea that "life begins at conception" is absolutely ridiculous? What gives the Catholic church the right to make their religious belief the law for everyone? Those are the questions that a lot of Catholics I know get hung up on. They live in a pluralistic society and they know that there are plenty of good people who hold the reasonable view that abortion should be legal and is an acceptable choice in many circumstances. So even if they hold 100% to the Catholic doctrine, who are they to force that doctrine on anyone else--that is the real question I think.

 

[CRB#33]

This has been bothering me most of my adult life. How do you go to chruch on Sundays 52 weeks a year and follow the teachings of the pop yet still vote democrat with so many of them if not all being pro abortion? I mean either you beliee in the teachings of your church and follow their doctirne or why show up?

Because I believe that my feelings are a religious matter and not a political one. I vote for the person I feel will be the best for our country in ALL matters.

My personal, moral convictions should not necessarily be the same as our presidents.

That's not what the USA is about.

Suppose the person we choose as president does everything right....leads our country out of war, improves the economy, lifestyle of every American, etc......just suppose.....

I'm supposed to not choose him/her because he doesn't have the same moral value as me? The same religious beliefs?

That's judging him or her.

And that's up to God, not me.

 

[MossMan]

If anyone is interested in reading this long post, let me preface it by saying I am pro-life. But I think abortion is a land mine for Republicans.

For thirty years now, Republican candidates for office have had to proclaim that they are pro-life. You can't become a Republican candidate unless you publicly announce your strong support of the pro-life position.

Then once in office, these pro-life politicians do nothing. Part of it is because nothing can be done. Rightly or wrongly (wrongly I believe) this is a constitutional issue. But these politicians keep promising to put in supreme court judges to reverse Roe vs Wade. Since 1970 we've had 26 years of Republican Presidents, but still no reversal in the decision.

Repealing Roe vs Wade would be very difficult for Republicans. If Bush could some how magically make abortions illegal tomorrow, the backlash would be enormous. The protests would be something we've never seen in this country before. Abortion would instantly become the only issue for all politicians - no other issue would matter. The country would be fractured in two over one issue. The problem for Republicans is the side that is pro-choice is larger. Thus it would instantly become very difficult for any pro-life politician to become elected.

In other words, Democrats would come to control every aspect of government in this scenario. So the moment abortion became illegal, Democrats would get into power and make abortion legal. This scenario is widely talked about and believed in Republican circles. And that's the main reason why so many Republicans talk about abortion but do nothing about it when in power.

The truth is, many Republican politicians are pro-choice. But they have to pretend to be pro-life to run for the Republican party. The same is true of the Democrats by the way. Many are staunchly pro-life. But to be a Democrat they have to come out as pro-choice.

Pro-life forces need stop putting trust into politicians who aren't going to do anything about the issue. In other words, abortion shouldn't be a political issue. Instead of expending all this energy on attempting to make the government do something about abortion, pro-lifers need to find another way to make their case.

I suggest changing people from the inside instead of trying to get the government to control people from the outside. I know it would be very difficult to change the attitudes of those who would have abortions. But it would still be far more effective than trying to come up with a political solution.