Catholic Church and abortio


"Abortion Issue Again Dividing Catholic Votes"

David D. Kirkpatrick

New York Times Online

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/17/us/politics/17catholics.html?_r=1&bl&ex=1221883200&en=1e3acb5115249581&ei=5087%0A&oref=slogin

Published on September 17th,2008

Date accessed: September 19th, 2008

 

This issue of abortion is dividing Catholic voters in the upcoming 2008 election. It appeared as if the Catholic vote was going to be a toss-up until recently, when many more Catholics began favoring John McCain due to his anti-abortion stance. Many Catholic followers feel that abortion is a nonnegotiable issue which is why many Catholic churches and parishes across the nation have started to shun Obama’s stance on abortion and Joe Biden’s recent remarks on Catholic teachings. Other Catholics, specifically progressive Catholics, claim that their votes will go to Obama due to his stances on immigration, poverty and war. Instead of focusing solely on abortion, progressive Catholics feel that is equally as crucial to focus on issues such as poverty and healthcare, since the Catholic doctrines also stress charity, peace and helping those less fortunate. In any case, the Catholic vote is of huge importance to both parties. Because there are major Catholic influences in swing-states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio and Florida, their vote typically determines whether a state will “turn” blue or red. The candidate to obtain the most swing-states generally wins the nation.- Gabriella Sosnowski

 

 

 

"Palin Boosts McCain with Devout Catholic Voters."

 Tim Collie

Newsmax.com

http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/palin_mccain_catholics/2008/09/18/132268.html

Publlished on September 18th, 2008

Date accessed: September 20th, 2008

 

 

 

Researchers feel that McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate will prove to be a very savvy decision in reigning in the Catholic vote. Before the pick, McCain already had a 16-percentage point lead over Obama among devout Catholics. Researchers say that the Palin pick has increased his lead among devout Catholics due to her anti-abortion and anti-gay marriage stances. McCain is predicted to continue to win back some Catholic votes for Republican Party (Catholics typically used to associate themselves with the Democratic Party). Despite this lead, researchers still cannot be certain who will win the “Catholic vote” for the vote is known to be one of the most “swingable” votes in an election.  Though the votes of devout Catholic are more or less predictable, it is the votes of rest of the Catholic population, including Hispanic and less-observant Catholics, which typically swing. Because over 40% of Catholics (typically non-devout) don't affiliate themselves with either political party, they make up a large number of independent votes. Researchers feel that whoever can win these votes will typically win an election. - Gabriella Sosnowski

 

 

"KUHNER: Quo Vadis, Catholic Vote?"

Jeffery T. Kuhner

 The Washington Times online

http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/sep/21/quo-vadis-catholic-vote/

Published on September 21st, 2008

Date accessed: September21st, 2008

 

 

Both John McCain and Barack Obama are after the Catholic vote, for it is almost a third of the electorate vote. However, many Catholics remain divided in this election, especially on issues regarding abortion and the Iraq war. Devout, conservative Catholics support McCain and Palin for their stance against abortion, for they feel human life the most crucial of all issues. However, less-devout Catholics are supporting Obama for his stances on health care, war, immigration, the environment and the Iraq war. Many Catholics feel these issues are more important than the sole issue abortion. At the same time, some Catholics feel that McCain's stances on healthcare, war, immigration and the environment might more religiously sound than Obama's. For instance, many Catholics admit the Iraq war was a mistake to begin with but do not agree with Obama's decision to withdraw troops by 2010 without ensuring any sort of government in Iraq. If Iraq is left unstable, many Catholics feel that many would have lost their lives in vain. Instead, many Catholics agree with McCain's approach: withdraw troops by 2012 and set up some sort of democracy in Iraq. At least in this regard, they feel, lives would not have been lost "for nothing." Accordingly, Catholics at odds are waiting to see more progression from the candidates before making any political commitments. - Gabriella Sosnowski

 

"McCain to make full-throttle push for Catholic Vote"

Dennis Coday

 National Catholic Reporter online

http://ncronline3.org/drupal/?q=node/1754

Published on September 3, 2008

Date accessed: September 21st, 2008

 

 

John McCain will do whatever it takes to seize the Catholic vote from Barack Obama in this year's election. Many feel that McCain, who was recently down in Catholic polls due to his support of stem-cell research, chose his running mate, Sarah Palin, to ensure himself the Catholic vote. Many Catholics support Sarah Palin because of her anti-abortion, anti-stem-cell research stance. At any rate, researches do not feel that abortion will be a crucial issue for Catholic voters this year. Instead, researches feel that most Catholics (especially non-devout Catholics) will be voting on issues such as the Iraq war, the economy and healthcare. This will be the true issues that decide whether McCain or Obama will be the next president of the United States within the Catholic community. -Gabriella Sosnowski

 

 

"Can Biden help Obama woo the Catholic vote?"

Edd Stoddard

Reuters online (www.reuters.com)

http://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed2/idUSN2541546720080825?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=10112

Published on August 25th, 2008

Date accessed: September 23rd, 2008

 

Barack Obama may win more support from Catholic voters with Joe Biden as his running mate. Joe Biden is a Catholic from Pennsylvania, an important swing state populated by many Catholics.  Catholics tend to vote Republican because of their religious feelings against abortion, however it is predicted that many more might vote Democrat in this election because of Biden’s religious affiliation to Catholicism and opposition to late-term abortions. Although Biden is opposed to late-term abortions, he also supports abortion rights, which could help win him votes with more liberal Catholics.These votes are critical to the election and Biden’s views might help draw in voters that Obama would not have received had he chosen another candidate. - Gabriella Sosnowski

 

"Catholics debate abortion in presidential election."

Gary Soulsman

Delaware Online

http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080920/NEWS02/809200354

Published on September 20th, 2008

Date accessed: September 23rd, 2008

 

Much controversy is surrounding the Democratic vice presidential pick, Joe Biden, in regards to his Catholic affiliation and stance on abortion. Biden believes in pro-life teaching but feels it is wrong to push these beliefs on society. Biden was criticized by a number of Catholic institutions, notably the Knights of Columbus, having suggested that Catholics still debate over when a fetus is considered a person. The Knights of Columbus felt that this statement was insulting as well as incorrect. Devout Catholics truly want the public to understand the sanctity of human life and thus support Senator John McCain and Sarah Palin for their anti-abortion stances. On the other hand, groups such as Catholics United, a group devoted to “social justice,” assert that more important “life” issues are at stake during this election, such as war and healthcare. These Catholic groups support Senator Barack Obama and his efforts to end the war and improve healthcare in America.- Gabriella Sosnowski

 

 

Churchgoing Catholics returning to GOP fold

"Gov. Sarah Palin has outsized impact on an important bloc in key battleground states."

Ben Arnoldy

 The Chrisitan Science Monitor Online

http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2008/09/18/churchgoing-catholics-returning-to-gop-fold/

Published on September 18th, 2008

Date accessed: September 23rd, 2008

 

 

Deciding who will win the “Catholic vote” in this year’s election is a close-call. Winning the Catholic vote is a crucial to victory, but it is far from easy accomplishment. This is primarily because Catholics are extremely divided. Ethnicities (such as Hispanic vs. European) and frequency of church attendance are variables that exist within the Catholic community. Furthermore, 40% of Catholic voters do not affiliate themselves with either party, thus constitute a large portion of the independent vote. While it may be true that a majority of Catholics used to associate themselves with the Democratic Party due to ties with labor unions and immigration laws, researchers feel that McCain will snatch Catholic votes in the upcoming election and coax many Catholics into becoming members of the Republican party. Researchers feel that McCain has won the support of many observant white and Hispanic Catholics because his vice-presidential pick of Sarah Palin. Many of these Catholics admire her anti-abortion and anti-gay marriage stance, as well as her strong love for her family. Even though the “devout Catholic vote” may be lost for Obama, researches still feel he will appeal more to liberal, less-vigilant and progressive Catholics who stress the importance of a range of social issues, such as economic aid to poor areas and families and increased employment (issues Senator Barack Obama has also stressed), instead of the sole issue of abortion.-Gabriella Sosnowski

 

 

"Obama vs. The Right to Life."

No author stated

NCRegister.com (Catholic newsweekly)

http://www.ncregistr.com/site/article/14928

Published on May 13th, 2008

Date accessed: October 2nd, 2008

 

Catholics feel that the topic of abortion should concern all Americans, for the "the right to life" is one of the most basic rights an American can have. Because Catholics believe this issue is so fundamental, they are shunning Barack Obama’s stance on key life issues. Catholics argue that is crucial for voters to be aware of three of Obama’s positions which reject life to the unborn, those who continue to live after an attempted abortion and the “adult unfit.”             First, Barack Obama supports Roe vs. Wade and also partial-birth abortions (the fetus is killed after right after it is born.)  As for the “accidentally born”, Barack Obama voted against the Induced Liability Act, which would have protected the babies who were not killed after attempts to abort them. Finally, Barack Obama recently claimed that he regretted his vote to save Terry Schiavo’s life. This affirms that Barack Obama does not support the lives of the adult “unfit.” Catholics deem these stances unacceptable. They consider all humans to be “created equal,” thus Catholics defend the basic right of life for all people, no matter how young.-Gabriella Sosnowski

 

Western Ohio’s Catholic voters have clout.’

Alan Johnson

The Columbus Dispatch online

http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/09/30/OHWEST.ART_ART_09-30-08_B1_USBFGQD.html?sid=101

Published on September 30th, 2008

Date accessed: October 2nd, 2008

 

Catholics will have a tremendous influence in this year’s election, especially in swing-states such as Ohio, where there are more than two million Catholics.  In Dayton and thirteen counties close to Dayton, approximately one in four voters are Catholic. Because Catholics are typically more committed to voting than the average American, Rev. John Putka, a priest and political-science professor at the University of Dayton, feels that “the Catholic vote is going to be decide to the election.” Putka also feels that there are three different types of Catholic voters who will influence the Catholic vote. First, Putka says there are “Observants.” These Catholics attend church regularly and typically vote Republican (most voted Bush over Kerry in 2004) because of their conservative views on abortion and gay marriage. Putka feels that Sarah Palin will win their votes for the Republican Party this year. Next, there are “Modernists”, Catholics who do not attend church as regularly and vote based on a range of social issues. “Modernists” are the true swing voters, though most also tend to vote Republican. Finally, there are “Secularists”, Catholics who rarely ever attend church and do not always associate themselves with Catholic beliefs. “Secularists” typically vote Democrat.-Gabriella Sosnowski