As to Kathleen Kennedy Townsend's article. The Church is not a popularity contest. It doesn't matter what percentage of poorly taught American Catholics take positions that are contrary to Church doctrine.
Doctrine cannot and will not change. If the Pope speaks infallibly ("we believe...") (also known as ex cathedra) or the ordinary magestrium (the teaching authority of the Church handed down from the apostles) states some aspect of doctrine the Catholics are to believe then to be a Catholic in good standing one must believe.
What are some things in doctrine:
- the real presence of Jesus in communion (the Eucharist)
- the Trinity
- artificial contraception as wrong
- abortion as wrong
- the priesthood is reserved to men
- the seven sacraments as instituted by Jesus
- the correct "matter' for the sacraments
- sexual relations outside of marriage are a sin
- as there cannot be marriage between two people of the same sex homosexual relations are always sinful
Repeat - these are doctrine and CAN NOT be changed as the Church teaches they were passed down from the apostles.
As a challenge I've had people who don't want to believe in these to read the actual documents of the early Church. They will find that the Church was teaching these very things from the beginning. I've had lukewarm Catholics leave because of this, lukewarm Catholics accept what the Church teaches (and are now on fire for Jesus) and protestants come to the Church. If someone won't take this challenge then they are not being intellectually honest with themselves.
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Without a Doubt
Why Barack Obama represents American Catholics better than the pope does.
Jul 9, 2009
Member Comments
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Posted By: jazzmanjim @ 07/10/2009 2:18:53 PM
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Posted By: winner4U @ 07/11/2009 2:45:36 PM
Excuse me...where does it say in New Testament that 1) artifical contraception is wrong;
2) priesthood is reserved to men
& 3) homosexual union is sinful?-
Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/11/2009 3:04:09 PM
Those were done through 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 is the latest one, but there all over. I got from Wikipedia. Don't ask questions that have obvious answers. The first three are traditional and councilor.
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Posted By: Far Left is So Right @ 07/31/2009 1:45:00 PM
1Cor.6:9-10 makes reference only to your third point, but there are questions about how that was translated. Ancient societies had specific terms for various kinds of sexual actiivities and would not be so broadly interpreted as "homosexuals" in today's language.
BTW, if you're using Wikipedia as a source, your scholarship is sorely lacking. -
Posted By: winner4U @ 07/11/2009 6:46:41 PM
Dear Bugsy, Don't just throw it off and say it's obvious and all over the place. Study your scripture...it's not there. Sorry to shake your foundations.
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Posted By: Far Left is So Right @ 07/10/2009 3:38:16 PM
Your listing of RC "doctrine" is inaccurate. Some of those things listed are traditional practices, defined over time as the institutional church attempted to assert power and control over the lives of its followers. That may well explain why the Church has been losing ground during the past 50 years. A better-educated laity, many with more (theological) training and education than their pastors, finds little comfort in oppressive power mongering.
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/10/2009 4:17:10 PM
Practices and beliefs that were made official through historical councils and Popes. You have to be more exact. The point is they always practiced and believed it.
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/10/2009 4:29:04 PM
It's like the stories of Jesus were always around (Oral tradition), yet after awhile they cofified them writing them into the Gospels of today. The Koran wasn't written in Muhammed's lifetime as much as some belief so. It is progress to make practices, beliefs, stories official to prevent the substance from being diluted or lost. If you don't believe me on the gravity of the issue, than you should take-up Heresiology as a hobby as I have. Some of the things they did would make you cringe. I'd recommend the Carpocratians, myself.
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Posted By: Far Left is So Right @ 07/28/2009 9:20:40 AM
If Scripture is a collection of oral traditions that are the result of humans--in concert--creating the canons, then how can you believe that Scripture is anything but a human creation? Because, as you mentioned, councils and popes (all humans and MEN) made such determinations "official," they are human creations.
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Posted By: Far Left is So Right @ 07/11/2009 12:14:52 PM
Practices and tradtions are NOT doctrine, and no, they have not always been practiced and believed. If that were the case, there would be no debate in this forum.
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/11/2009 3:22:11 PM
Look it up, no one's hiding the 3 centuries of the Chrsitian era. There's debate on this forum, because there's something an individual wanted to emphasize in 1516, it's called freedom. You should check how the Adventist movement came about in this country with teh Jehovah's Witnesses and the Mormons. You'd be shocked at what they believe. If it wasn't true, I wouldn't believe as a skeptic, but I love reserach so I did.
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Posted By: tanarg @ 07/09/2009 11:48:33 PM
Another pseudo-Catholic bites the dust.
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Posted By: gradymaples @ 07/11/2009 7:58:28 PM
Kennedy's are on the side of Satan. Big Joe made deal with him and they use the Catholic church as a cover. She is an idiot wanna be. All the Kennedy's, every one of them is a loser. They are criminals, liars, cheaters, thiefs.
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Posted By: Far Left is So Right @ 07/28/2009 9:17:01 AM
How Christian of you to make a sweeping indictment against a whole family, most of whom you do not know because they don't all lead lives in the public eye. Your comment shows the limit of your views.
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Posted By: WOODPIT @ 07/12/2009 7:49:31 PM
GIVE ME SUBSTANCE ON PALIN OR SAY NOTHING AT ALL.....NO MORE "DUMB ,BIMBO, STUPID, HICK" GIVE ME POLICIES OR DECISIONS SHE HAS MADE
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Posted By: Far Left is So Right @ 07/28/2009 9:03:16 AM
How about leaving office when she couldn't take the heat? That probably qualifies merely as whiny and not up to the task of completing her term despite diversity.
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Posted By: WOODPIT @ 07/12/2009 7:54:13 PM
HOW DID REPUBLICANS DESTROY THIS ECONOMY? ONCE AGAIN, GIVE ME SUBSTANCIAL POLICIES OR NOTHING AT ALL. REPUBLICANS DIDN'T THREATEN BANKS WITH LEGAL ACTION IF THEY DIDNT GIVE MINORITIES AND POOR PEOPLE MORTGAGES. GIVE ME SOME FACTS, SPECIFICALLY WHAT GEORGE BUSH OR ANY REPUBLICAN DID TO WRECK THE ECONOMY. NO ONE IS INTERESTED IN YOUR TALKING POINTS ANYMORE. FACTS ONLY PLEASE
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Posted By: Far Left is So Right @ 07/28/2009 9:01:37 AM
Well, if you want to gripe about the stimulus $$$, please keep in mind that Bush signed the first bailout bill ($700 billion to financial institutions) in October, 2008. So you can't have it both ways: Bush bailout good; Obama stimulus bad. It's all part of the same response.
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Posted By: mike2012 @ 07/28/2009 12:57:04 AM
I'm so glad that this writer and obama somehow know more about the catholic church than the pope. I apologize for the sarcasm, but I feel that this article is that ridiculous. Right and wrong is not something that is based on the whims of the public or on what is convenient. If it were, you would be able to justify virtually anything that you desired. It isn't a case of empathy but rather morality. There's a profound lack of understanding of catholic theology to think that the church is just out of touch with the times when it comes to the issues of contraception and homosexuality. I don't mean to come across as condemning, but when it comes to morality there are some absolutes and some gray areas. This is no gray area.
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Posted By: sail1993 @ 07/24/2009 9:46:20 AM
Why is this site replacing my apostrophe's with three question marks? Bad font perhaps.
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Posted By: sail1993 @ 07/24/2009 9:43:28 AM
Like most Kennedy???s, Townsend is a CINO (Catholic in Name Only) and does not speak for American Catholics. She distorts the meaning of the Church???s moral teaching and it views on the sanctity of life, the true meaning of the priesthood, and it???s views on the equality of women. She invents intrigue within the Church where there is none. She uses corrupted polls to support her anti-Catholic views. These poll results do not reflect the views of Catholics who attend Mass regularly but rather the views of other CINO???s. Her actions and those of the entire Kennedy clan have excommunicated them from the Church years ago. This family is comprised of adulterers, fornicators, drunks, liars, socialists, traitors, rapists, child molesters, parasites, drug addicts, and in Brave Sir Teddy???s case, we can probably add murderers to the list. They have prospered in only two professions, bootlegging and politics. They add nothing to society. Anything they say or do is weighed by how much they will profit, or by how it aids their pursuit of political power. If someone could guarantee that the corrupt and amoral Kennedy clan would be the first group euthanized under Obama???s new Health Care Bill I might actually support it.
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Posted By: mascmen8 @ 07/12/2009 1:13:21 PM
Kennedys are not Catholics as they were excommunicated decades ago due to their pro-abortion advocacy. Do not vote for a Kennedy as they are anti-Christian and love to kill babies.
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Posted By: Far Left is So Right @ 07/12/2009 2:55:43 PM
How ridiculous! Being pro-choice is not the same as being pro-abortion. The concepts are not equivalent.
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Posted By: reykng @ 07/12/2009 3:11:14 PM
No, "pro-choice" means you're okay with killing babies, although you might not advocate it. You know, tomato tomato.
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Posted By: Far Left is So Right @ 07/22/2009 11:17:47 AM
Pro-choice means you support a woman's right to make decisions about what happens in/to her body. Most of the right-wingers here are not pro-life, but anti-abortion. Pro-life would mean that they cannot support the death penalty or other means by which lives are unnaturally taken.
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Posted By: llth @ 07/12/2009 3:09:28 PM
But doesn't Barack Obama support killing babies since he supports late term abortions?
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Posted By: emirene @ 07/12/2009 4:19:30 PM
Catholicism is full of tradition, traditional beliefs and traditional morals, so it should not come as a surprise to anyone, ESPECIALLY Catholics, that the use of condoms, and the Church's stance on abortion and gay relationships will not change! God's word is eternal and unchanging, and our standards should not fail just because the morality of those around us has. And by the way, obama is not catholic, and by some people's standards, is Muslim! So please spare my eyes the atrocity of reading that Obama is more Catholic than the pope, that is absurd!
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Posted By: Far Left is So Right @ 07/22/2009 11:15:00 AM
Therein lies the problem--you have cited TRADITIONS, which are not the same as doctrine, nor are they necessary or immutable. It just happens that the RC Church chooses to support their power and the status quo.
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Posted By: Amy in MI @ 07/12/2009 10:27:33 PM
Once again, a totally ridiculous article written by the left-wing media with their undying love for their "Messiah." As a Cathoic, I am so sick of the joke always being at our expense while nobody would dare insult any other religion. Comparing Obama to the Pope makes as much sense as comaring Bill Clinton to Mother Theresa. Look at the polls - many people who voted for B. Hussein Obama are now wishing they hadn't. Shame on them for not educating themselves as to who this man really is BEFORE the election and shame on so-called Catholics who voted for him but have no respect for life itself.
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Posted By: Far Left is So Right @ 07/22/2009 11:11:10 AM
Other religious groups are also frequently the butt of jokes and criticism, but be honest, the RC Church reaps what it sows. Pedophiles and abusers have been among and/or sheltered by the holy and pious elitists.
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Posted By: IL Girl @ 07/10/2009 7:35:23 AM
To Dennis Byron and all you so-called far right Republicans who profess to reprsent Catholics, We who voted for Obama ARE CATHOLICS. WE represent Catholics, NOT YOU and your extreme views. WE DON"T follow your Chauvanistic, blind following of doctrine that is centuries old that represses people. We don't think that saving a mother's life by aborting a fetus is murder. We don't think that using birth control to limit having 10 babies is a sin. MORE of us Catholics voted for Obama than not, so face it, YOU CANNOT speak for Catholics. You are a religious cult extremist.
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Posted By: chrislachance @ 07/10/2009 1:44:37 PM
You cannot possibly be serious. The one fact that all the pro-choice, "practicing" Cathlics seem to not grasp is that if you don't believe in Catholic doctrine, then you ARE NOT CATHOLIC. Not any more than I would be considered a Muslim, as I do not believe in the Muslim faith or the Jewish faith, or any other faith. What absolutely kills me here is the soooo many "Catholics" that feel great claiming the name while at the same time preaching against the Church's beliefs. It's like a Satanist preaching the Gospel.
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/10/2009 1:54:16 PM
I beg to differ, like Judaism, if you have received the 3 Sacraments of Initiation, you are Catholic. No, we don't re-baptize converts. Sacraments cannot be undone, kind of like being a priest forever in Order of Melchizedek. So, we have ethnic Jews and we have lapsed/non-practicing Catholics, but they are still Jews and still Catholics, unfortunately for some. It's not just about faith with Catholics, it is about the Sacraments (Works) as well. Just need to reflect on the definition of the Catholic Sacrament a little more. The Lord makes it rain on both good and bad alike, whether some like it or not.
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Posted By: student1776 @ 07/10/2009 10:50:54 PM
The point of the rights of initiation are confirming you in the faith. If you do not believe in the faith the initiations are false in your mind, false in the eyes of God and meaningless. I hate to tell you but the faith is about what you believe in your heart. It is not about getting your ticket punched in a ceremony. If you have stopped believing you have stopped being a Catholic. Catholicism is not a social club, it is not an ethnic identity, it is a religion, a system of beliefs, values and ideas.
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Posted By: ChrisOhio @ 07/11/2009 12:36:34 AM
When we receive the Eucharist and say "Amen," we are not only saying we believe in the Real Presence--Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ--we also say "Amen" to all the Church teaches. I agree with your statement.
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/11/2009 10:04:47 AM
Yes, and if we change our mind? If I marry Sacramentally and change my mind with "I don't love her anymore;" does that null and void my marriage? The Church is inclusive, not exclusive, we oppose elitism as it goes against love and is more Gnostic than anything. If Catholics change their mind, they are still Catholic, they're just not in the State of grace Catholic. That's why we pray.
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Posted By: Far Left is So Right @ 07/11/2009 1:33:30 PM
The RC Church is an incredibily elitist, paternalistic, and hierarchical institution. In my diocesan paper, they even list priests' and deacons' obituaries BEFORE those of vowed religious women. You don't think that smacks of elitism to make that distinction even in death?
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/11/2009 3:18:24 PM
Wow, aren't we picking and choosing. No, we don't believe in Freemasonry with its elitism, because we are universalists trying to bring everyone under one umbrella, not saying we're better than everybody, or that we know a secret ritual no one esle knows. That's Catholic. What we do, we do publicly in our faith.
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Posted By: Far Left is So Right @ 07/12/2009 7:31:01 AM
Elections of popes...not too public. Elitism of the RC clergy, we've got a whole lot of it, which is not to say that other groups (Freemasons) might not have the same, but we are NOT a transparent organization. Church rules even require that we maintain secret records. Check that out in researching the clergy abuse scandals.
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/13/2009 8:44:28 AM
Touche FLisSR, good argument, I would simply say, that authority within the Church, is not a Democratic process, and you mistake that for elitist. What is a secret and to protect, individuals in participation. For instance in another example, who would go to Confession, knowing that the Seal of Confession is not Absolute. Nobody! Ok, perhaps I'm exaggerating, let's just say, not as many.
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Posted By: Far Left is So Right @ 07/22/2009 11:03:36 AM
There is a difference between private matters (Reconciliation) and public matters (the election of a pope. And isn't that odd--it's an ELECTION, but we keep saying the RC Church isn't a democracy. Well, certainly it isn't for the average person in the pew, but how is it that only the Cardinal Club gets to vote? They use a democratic process that is restricted to an elite group. Odd logic, isn't it?
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/11/2009 8:39:43 AM
They are saying Amen ( I believe) to that particular Sacrament, not to the whole Catechism. And using Common Sense as the Church does, we know people change their and are free to anytime they want. They once believed, but no longer, makes that Sacrament still valid. The Church is universal and forever and will not close her arms to those who need Her loving embrace and seek Her forgiveness from thier pride, even if some of those already in Her arms wish it to be contrary. The Church's love, like Our Lord's is greater than human understanding and beyond or rancors towards our brothers. We must seek imitate Her.
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Posted By: ChrisOhio @ 07/11/2009 10:17:03 AM
The sacramental meaning of the Eucharist is both a sign of communion with Christ and communion with the Catholic Church. So we say "Amen" after Communion.
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/11/2009 10:43:14 AM
I agree, in that if you don't beleive in the same moral faith of the Church, for example, you are not in communion with Her, but you are still Catholic.
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Posted By: Wondering Aloud @ 07/12/2009 12:29:08 PM
BugsyParis, I am sorry to say that while you sound educated it appears that you have indeed failed Catholic Theology 101. Being in communion with the Church is what makes one a Catholic. It is the meaning of the word. You may have been raised Catholic you may have had some Catholic sacraments but whether or not you are Catholic is not that simple.
It's OK, fortunately the Lord is forgiving, we all have our times and attitudes that lead us in the wrong direction. Mine may be worse than yours. But, here and above your statements are promoting error in terms of the teaching of the Church. If you think you are Catholic you should investigate.-
Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/13/2009 8:40:25 AM
I have, and perhaps I have mistated and so I will simply say then that those Catholics are not in a State of Grace. There Happy? : ) What I meant by communion, was that they were not united in belief, not as an actual status in the Church. There you go, that's what I meant.
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Posted By: phenrikson @ 07/11/2009 1:12:31 PM
Huh?
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Posted By: Myfirst Namehere @ 07/11/2009 7:47:35 PM
You place culture above Christ. The Church places Christ above us all.
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Posted By: joebucks @ 07/11/2009 10:26:06 AM
maybe i should say practicing catholic as opposed to misguided catholic, deluded catholic..i still like fake catholic.
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/11/2009 10:50:13 AM
joebucks, you're funny
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Posted By: jackiem78 @ 07/11/2009 7:16:35 AM
Chris, you sound like a protestant,man. It isn't faith alone....
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Posted By: Myfirst Namehere @ 07/11/2009 7:50:20 PM
Actually, Chris makes an excellent observation. Because people like the author of this piece as with so many other Leftwingers who claim to be "Catholic" and yet continue daily to misrepresent the theology of the Catholic Church, are the real evil today affecting the U.S., along with so many more like them who really don't believe in Christianity, they have replaced Christ with the state. Which is exactly what the Church continues to instruct against, as does the Bible, as does God. "The angel of Light" said you, too, can be like God. Look what happened to him.
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Posted By: Tivis @ 07/11/2009 10:52:37 AM
Obama is your Pope and the State is your God.
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/10/2009 1:51:55 PM
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Posted By: mergentr @ 07/12/2009 8:05:58 PM
American Catholics are rotten Catholics. It doesn't matter what an American Catholic thinks Catholicism is supposed to stand for because the vast majority of them have never even bothered to read the Catechism. If I was the pope, I would excommunicate about 80% of the American Catholics.
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Posted By: Far Left is So Right @ 07/12/2009 11:10:55 PM
But where would the Chruch rake in the $$$$ it is so fond of keeping if it excommunicated 80% of American Catholics? I encourage those "bad Catholics" to sit in the pews, but write out their checks to those institutions and agencies that serve the poor and less fortunate. No sense paying for fine robes and the creature comforts of an elitist clergy when so many are in need. Actually no sense in paying for an elitist clergy in any case.
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/13/2009 9:17:13 AM
The Churches are no where near as wealthy as you're painted them. They closed down mine. Do some reserach on recent Catholic Church closings.
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Posted By: Far Left is So Right @ 07/13/2009 2:01:43 PM
Have you noticed they close the churches--and schools--in economically depressed areas? I haven't seen them closing any wealthy, suburban churches. It's a matter of where the big $$$ come from.
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Posted By: mcnhastings @ 07/18/2009 3:11:32 AM
I've seen them close 2 schools and churches in wealthy suburban areas.
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Posted By: Far Left is So Right @ 07/19/2009 10:13:14 PM
Very odd, that is.In my diocese, the only churches--AND SCHOOLS--that have been closed are in the inner city or in rural areas. The wealthy, income-producing parishes in the 'burbs just get more resources.
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Posted By: HowsObamaThingWorkingForYou @ 07/13/2009 2:35:33 PM
Mr/Mrs Left... You obviously aren't educated as to how much the Catholic church actually helps poor, hungry and homeless. The clergy pay for robes from their own salary -which is low by any standard, or their family and friends give them robes as a gift. I'd like to see you spend a day with the "elitist" clergy and see what their comforts really are. I'd rather pay for their "comforts" than the comforts of elitists like the Obamas, Kennedys, Kerrys and all those that take wealth and redistribute vs. the Catholic church receiving VOLUNTARY contributions to give to poor and needy. You're a perfect example of how the Far Left is So Wrong and uneducated.
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Posted By: Far Left is So Right @ 07/15/2009 9:23:59 AM
My knowledge of the creature comforts of the Catholic clergy comes from the considerable time I have spent with them. I speak from a GREAT deal of experience on this matter, as well as an EXTENSIVE, formal, CATHOLIC education. Havng first hand experience and knowledge allows me to crticize accurately and intelligently. You are certainly free to choose which elitists (clergy v. secular) you support, but don't make assumptions about the background, education, and experience from which I speak.
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Posted By: mcnhastings @ 07/18/2009 3:08:06 AM
You are so beyond confused about the reality of the financial situation within the Catholic Church that it is laughable. Please do your research appropriately.
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Posted By: Far Left is So Right @ 07/19/2009 9:28:38 PM
And your response is based on what authority? How do you know the finances of the RC Church and where did you get that information? Saying so doesn???t make it so.
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Posted By: Far Left is So Right @ 07/19/2009 9:27:48 PM
And your response is based on what authority? How do you know the finances of the RC Church and where did you get that information? Saying so doesn???t make it so.
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Posted By: Vanderwyk @ 07/10/2009 1:59:37 PM
I'm sorry, but just because a majority of Catholics voted for Obama, it doesn't mean that they agree with ALL his policies. It would be terribly misleading to make that claim. It would be spurious to say even that a majority of all the people who voted with him agreed with him 100%.
There are plenty of Catholics who just though, across all issues, Obama would be a better President - that doesn't represent an endorsement of all his views. IL Girl, I should point out that the Church's position on "abortion to save the mother's life" is a little more nuanced than that, but too nuanced for this forum. Catholic Encyclopedia has a good write up on it.
The fact is, if all American Catholics believed everything that the Church teaches, we would still never be able to say that either party represents all our views. Democrats are pro-choice (mostly), but Republicans are pro-capital punishment (mostly). On issues of social justice and poverty and such, we may disagree, like the parties, on what the best -methods- are for addressing those problems. We will just have to accept that and vote for whomever we think will be best.-
Posted By: bobert432 @ 07/12/2009 3:17:50 PM
In general, there's nothing here I disagree with, but the fact that Republicans are no better than Democrats doesn't justify a Catholic vote for Obama. Your example of the death penalty is often cited by Catholics who compare the two parties. But ending the death penalty is not a moral imperative like abortion - for one, the death penalty is not considered an intrinsic evil by the church - its contingent. Sometimes and in some ages, some places or certain extreme circumstances it can be justifiable. Second, there is a massive disparity between the effects of the death penalty and the effects of abortion. I'm guessing we execute less than one hundred people per year in the US (if that) - and likely none are innocent humans being robbed in life for no good reason. We abort over 2 million per year - more than 60 million since Roe; more than half are women getting their 2nd abortion (meaning its generally used as birth control, not a life saving procedure); the most cited reasons are that the mother is not ready for children, too young, the father left, she doesn't have enough money, etc (less than 1/3 of 1% are for rape victims or to save the life of the mother). Its not just one of many issues; and even if you considered it that, its a pretty big one at the very least. Think about it, lets say you had the greatest candidate for president of all time who you agreed with on everything, but you know, from time to time he likes to lob missles at random countries. I mean, its just one issue. Well, for some of us that's abortion: its a holocaust, not just one issue. And Obama has already begun expanding funding and access to abortion despite his all his talk.
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/13/2009 9:27:17 AM
I'm just gonna say it. Catholics are NOT single-issue voters and we are not called to be them. What I mean is you can be a Catholic Republican and you can be a Catholic Democrat. Just because you register to a party, doesn't mean we subscribe blindly to EVERYTHING they believe. As Catholics, we follow Mother Church and that's simple and clear cut. Humane Vitae, Evangelium Vitae and Rerum Novorum with its successors like Quadragesimo Anno and Caritas in Veritate. WIKI those.
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Posted By: mcnhastings @ 07/18/2009 3:23:05 AM
Humanae Vitae? You're referencing Humanae Vitae in defense of those who stand in support of abortion and contraceptives? REALLY?
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Posted By: Russian55 @ 07/10/2009 2:10:46 PM
"It would be spurious to say even that a majority of all the people who voted with him agreed with him 100%."
This is a problem with ALL elected officials.
When I vote, it is rare that I agree with a candidate on most issues, let alone all. I have to choose the candidate on the basis of agreeing on key issues of interest. Sadly, most elected officials seem to want to believe their victory means the people are 100% behind them on every thing.
I once asked a State Representative if he had a 100% assurance that his personal belief was the opposite of the will of his constituents would he vote their will or his own. He said he would vote his way, because it was him in the office, not them.
THAT is the arrogence of power.-
Posted By: ChrisOhio @ 07/11/2009 12:14:36 AM
The Magisterium (teaching office) of the Catholic Church has never taught that Capital punishment is intrinsically evil. In fact, the history of our beloved Church???s treatment of this difficult issue reveals that capital punishment has, at times, been recognized as falling within the prerogative and jurisdiction of the State. Of course the exercise of this most heinous and frightening punishment was to be exercised only as a means to protect society and serve the common good.
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Posted By: Vanderwyk @ 07/10/2009 2:45:13 PM
Yes, of course, I meant that about all elected officials, not just Obama.
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Posted By: Bettyblue @ 07/11/2009 12:45:12 AM
I am a democrat and I found her views offensive. By the way, many who voted for him in November, would not vote for him today.
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Posted By: AKAChip @ 07/11/2009 1:21:20 AM
And many more would still vote for him. Obama is exactly what AMERICA needs right now. Get over yourself and support the future of our country.
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Posted By: Trinity3 @ 07/11/2009 6:35:49 AM
No, I wouldn't vote for him now. It's the one and only political vote I've ever wanted back. Obama is spending money that our great grandkids will still be paying off. He's destroying everything good while maintaining everything bad (funny how we're still in Iraq!). Although I am grateful Palin is now history. (and yes, I'm a girl).
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/11/2009 8:43:44 AM
I'm a populist Dem and one who voted for change. I would still at this point, not change my vote. The Bush Republicans detroyed this economy, I couldn't afford to have it continue. Yes, the President is continued spending, but at least its not giving rich tax breaks. That's a relief. things could be worse.
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Posted By: daveschauer @ 07/11/2009 8:45:19 AM
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Posted By: mom123of3 @ 07/13/2009 12:16:57 PM
You need a history lesson. Bush didn't give the rich tax breaks; he gave EVERYONE a tax break. And to you and the other poorly educated koolaid drinkers who bought the Democratic line that the Republicans only give breaks to the rich, check the tax code, which is already a progressive tax system; that means the rich pay more - a lot more. Do some research.
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/13/2009 12:47:44 PM
Well that tax break worked...Look We're Prospering already!
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Posted By: mcnhastings @ 07/18/2009 3:18:35 AM
Actually, Bill Clinton was the one to push through Fanny May and Freddie Mac. I'm not saying Bush did things perfectly, or even terribly well, but a huge portion of the blame for our current economic position goes to the Democratic party. And plenty of it to the Republicans. I'm just saying, let's all take credit where it's due.
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Posted By: HowsObamaThingWorkingForYou @ 07/13/2009 2:43:22 PM
Yeah - that Stimulus package is doing a knock out job on reviving this economy too isn't it. BHO promised the stim pkg would keep unemployment below 8.5%. 9.5% unemployment and climbing. GM - bankrupt, Chryler - bankrupt. BHO told us we can't let that happen. Bankrupt American Institions. Deficit spending in 6 mths far exceeding 4 yrs under Bush. Is that the Change you voted for? I didn't!
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/14/2009 1:16:23 PM
Man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. It is the change voted for, I would do the same economically. The difference from a year ago is that the money, instead of being spent on other countries, its being spent here at home; I definitely needed that and I was military last year. What I disgaree with is this violation of subsidiarity on Healthcare and Abortion Clinics. That was unnecessary, but I'm an independent thinker, I don't think just because Fox News says someone is evil, they are and I should be against everything they stand for. That would be dumb. I review the issues one by one.
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/14/2009 1:11:52 PM
You remember the President said this was going to take awhile and that things would get worse before they got alot better. People from his own party were asking him, not to be soo pessimistic, while he was being truly honest. But do you remember that?
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Posted By: KenTre @ 07/11/2009 9:06:17 AM
Hang in there, "worse" is on the way. And you voted for it, so you better not complain.
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/11/2009 9:48:38 AM
Understand the virtue of charity my friend. Private Property that includes money earned is NOT an absolute right. Every Catholic lives to serve society as the first Christians did. I have served this country in the Armed Forces, and if I would give my life to them to save them, what makes you think I would not give my money. They are more important than me. We had a defense crisis I'll be there. If we had a finance crisis, I'll be there too.
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Posted By: tflehto @ 07/11/2009 10:12:03 AM
Unfortunately, I have to agree with this. There was a parable that Christ told his followers that underscored "Give unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar". At the same tiime that Christ taught us to be good citizens, to pay our taxes, and to give alms, he also taught us to question our government. What the government is doing now doesn't seem to have a direction, and when you REALLY listen to Obama, you start to hear uncertainty and almost a loss for words.
He is in trouble, and he knows it. The media is doing all that it can to prop him up - including claiming that his wisdom trumps that of the Pope. It really bothers a lot of us because it sounds like the beginnings of a personality cult (see North Korea), and the beginnings of an economic system that will put the crushing majority of the tax burden on the middle classes and above.
I don't have a problem paying my fair share, and I try to help the homeless, unfortunate, and the weak in our societies. But, I would like to do that on my own free will - not with prison enforceable coercion on the behalf of a government who is headed by a secularist whose only interest in religion is for his own political advancement, which is only driven by his desire to push what appears to be a Socialist agenda at the minimum, a Marxist agenda at the worst.
The media, while I was growing up, was the paper and the morning, 5pm, and 11pm news. "OpEd" was a little column in the newspaper. Now, we have a 24-hour news cycle with 22 hours of OpEd and maybe 2 hours of real news.
Whenever I sit down with ardent liberals who, despite their political allegance to talk of this, even they are starting to feel a little uneasy about our "Dear Leader" and all of the fanfare around them.
They think it's creepy. This article that places him over the Pope makes it just a bit worse.-
Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/11/2009 10:41:05 AM
I certainly agree, I do fear the cult of personality that may lead to a messiah like figure, but I will not throw the babay out with the bath water; the issues are what is important. I would like to think that the rich will be generous and help out the poor of their volition, but they haven't which has exacrebated this probelm. So if they won't before the economic collapse of this nation, I will and they will too; just temporarily; I''m anti-socialist, until this is over. This is a crisis and this does call for drastic measures. Governemnt can be a temporary solution to probelm that is unignorable, for example.
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Posted By: desertswo @ 07/13/2009 4:59:59 AM
How do you know the "rich" are not contributing? Do you know that Steven Jobs or Warren Buffet? Believe me, plenty of rich and not so rich give more than their fare share, in both blood and treasure to those less fortunate, so don???t presume to know the minds of those who have done well in their lives. Besides, what constitutes ???rich??? in this country is on a very slippery sliding scale in this country, and just as many of us warned to anyone who would listen during the presidential campaign, the Democratic Party has cast its net far and wide to ensure inclusion of any- and everyone who has ever made an honest dollar in the ???rich??? club.
I have no farther to look for proof than the mirror over my bathroom sink. I am a military retiree with 25-years of commissioned service as a naval officer. I also work three jobs; one full-time as a high school history teacher in a state that pays teachers worse than most, one as an adjunct Professor of International Relations at a Midwestern university, and a third as an independent contractor doing threat assessments for a government agency. With all four income streams I am only earning in the very low six, that is to say less than $200K per year, figures, and you know what? This administration considers me "rich." Would that it was so, not that the Democratic Congress or their pit bulls the IRS cares; they just want their money every month and each April 15th. (Continued)-
Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/13/2009 7:58:19 AM
Well since we're comparing. I earn a quarter of what you earn, am also a veteran of the USAF, and work as a contractor (not allowed to say what) and I consider you rich. Then again, I would say you are only as wealthy as your debt to income ratio, so I assume you have more debt than I do, and so the question becomes what are buying so much. I grew-up poor, so I'm used to not owning a whole alot and buying cheaply and yet I'm considered a pretty generous guy. If I were you, I wouldn't be complaining, but I would be trying to balance my budget better, than I would say the governemnt does in a non-economic crisis aswe have today. People why are we soo selfish?
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/14/2009 1:09:43 PM
Cause they've gotten richer and the poor have gotten poorer that's how I know. Now, does that prove they haven't given. No, that just proves they haven't given enough and also that capitalism has fed on the ignorance of their customers. Hmm, how do we balance a check book? Should I buy a house now? You get my drift.
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Posted By: HowsObamaThingWorkingForYou @ 07/13/2009 3:04:05 PM
You didn't answer his first, and most importan question:How do you know the "rich" are not contributing?
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Posted By: desertswo @ 07/13/2009 5:00:21 AM
How do you know the "rich" are not contributing? Do you know that Steven Jobs or Warren Buffet? Believe me, plenty of rich and not so rich give more than their fare share, in both blood and treasure to those less fortunate, so don???t presume to know the minds of those who have done well in their lives. Besides, what constitutes ???rich??? in this country is on a very slippery sliding scale in this country, and just as many of us warned to anyone who would listen during the presidential campaign, the Democratic Party has cast its net far and wide to ensure inclusion of any- and everyone who has ever made an honest dollar in the ???rich??? club.
I have no farther to look for proof than the mirror over my bathroom sink. I am a military retiree with 25-years of commissioned service as a naval officer. I also work three jobs; one full-time as a high school history teacher in a state that pays teachers worse than most, one as an adjunct Professor of International Relations at a Midwestern university, and a third as an independent contractor doing threat assessments for a government agency. With all four income streams I am only earning in the very low six, that is to say less than $200K per year, figures, and you know what? This administration considers me "rich." Would that it was so, not that the Democratic Congress or their pit bulls the IRS cares; they just want their money every month and each April 15th. (Continued) -
Posted By: Carolynr @ 07/11/2009 2:04:42 PM
Is there anything "temporary" about the government????
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/11/2009 3:08:22 PM
Yeah, a FEMA disaster. Anything else?
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Posted By: KenTre @ 07/11/2009 2:19:27 PM
It's not charity when it's government coerced. It's redistribution of wealth based on some vague notion of "fairness." The founding fathers didn't support confiscatory taxes and neither do most thinking Americans.
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/11/2009 3:46:26 PM
This is an economic crisis and He is doing what needs to be done for the moment, just till business gets back on the pump.
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Posted By: Lou Reed - Rock & Roll Animal @ 07/12/2009 4:50:18 PM
Care to go into detail on how it's all going to work?
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Posted By: DavidArnold @ 07/12/2009 7:00:19 PM
Of course BugsyParis can't explain it. How can someone with absolutely no concept of how economies work explain how Obama's massive money and power grab will do nothing but make matters worse.? How on earth will businesses create jobs when all they see are future taxes and regulations as far as the eye can see? There's absolutely no way that all of this spending can be paid for without MASSIVE tax increases for everyone...well, everyone who still pays them anyway.
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/13/2009 8:01:03 AM
Ya know I can explain it, but can a guy take a break from the comments for a few hours. I do have a life you know. In answer to the question, I would ask you to refer to Keynesian Economics, taught by people who know hoe economies work. Thank You.
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Posted By: HowsObamaThingWorkingForYou @ 07/13/2009 2:51:42 PM
Keynesian economics was tried and failed for 12 yrs under FDR. Do you support 12 more years of the same failed economic policies from the 30's and 40's. Go to Mises.org to be enlightened on the falisies of the New Deal and it's unreported failures, and the parallel to the present day New Deal of BHO that is and will fail
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/14/2009 1:06:52 PM
2 x a Charm. FDR's plan was working, it just wasn't working fast enough. I think it'll work with today's faster-aced economy with fatser technology. It's better than the risk of doing nothing.
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Posted By: Far Left is So Right @ 07/14/2009 8:35:18 AM
Many would say we are finally seeing the ultimate failure of Reaganomics--deregulation leading to this mess. Different times and different problems call for different solutions. Imagine what would have happened this administration not taken the path it did. Devastation seemed pretty likely. And note that Dubya's initiated the bailout plan.
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Posted By: jacorps @ 07/13/2009 10:58:49 AM
Calling a turd a rose doesn't make it smell any better.
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/13/2009 12:02:50 PM
Some truths, those not addressed by the Church as the Church does not deal with Theory, but fact, are relative and you can sell garbage. When's the last time you've been to a yard sale? It can smell alot better, you should see the look on my wife's face every Saturday morning "after shopping."
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Posted By: Bettyblue @ 07/11/2009 4:14:09 PM
He magnified the "crisis!" as an opportunity for government take over of major industries.
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Posted By: Bettyblue @ 07/11/2009 3:22:07 PM
It is redistribution of INCOME. It is not limited to the "rich".
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Posted By: 0 for me - 2 for nancy and harry @ 07/11/2009 12:37:04 PM
The creation (and the ability to keep it) of personal wealth is FREEDOM. And freedom is indeed an absolute right, as it is a God given right. In case you haven't noticed, we HAVE a financial crisis RIGHT NOW. You are free to send all your dollars and assets to the US government. They will gladly take it all without even a "thank you". When you have given your "widow's mite" to Uncle Sam, please let us know.
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/11/2009 3:11:24 PM
You're not Catholic are you. Read Quadragesimo Anno 114-115. It is NOT an absolute right.
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Posted By: Alferd Packer @ 07/11/2009 7:48:13 PM
Those Quadragesimo Anno passages do not address whether or not owning property is an absolute right. Pius XI addressed, in those passages, the misuse of property to control governmental authority. He certainly does not imply that government has a right to confiscate property and redistribute it. You ought to take a look at Caritas in Veritate and note particularly the principle of subsidiarity in government. It suggests that government has little or no right to confiscate and redistribute personal property/wealth.
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/13/2009 8:10:24 AM
Ok, here we go, let's refer to the CCC, where it is easier to access for others reading this the follwing paragraphs 2404 "In his use of things man should regard the external goods he legitimately owns NOTmerely as EXCLUSIVE TO HIMSELF BUT COMMON TO OTHERS also, in the sense that they can benefit others as well as himself."188 The ownership of any property makes its holder a steward of Providence, with the task of making it fruitful and communicating its benefits to others, first of all his family. Paragraph 2406 Political authority has the right and duty to regulate the legitimate exercise of the right to ownership for the sake of the common good. I have no desire to continue this Catechetical Lesson any further. But please read for its accessibility THE ENTIRE section on the Part 3: Life in Christ; Section 2: The Ten Commandments; Chapter 2: You Shall Love Your Neighbor as Yourself; Article 7: The Seventh Commandment. Man, am I the only Catechist here, or perhaps the only Catholic that actually reads it?!
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/13/2009 9:10:13 AM
Not redistributing wealth, but redistributing the means of production, kind of like a modern guild system or a mom and pop store. Employee owned companies; Chrysler's not a bad example, the workers, got 55% of the means of production of the company after Bankruptcy. Great! Cutting the middle men means getting rid of the CEO's, in this example, who don't even know how to build a car, let alone change their own tire. The CEO doesn't represent the company, they represent themselves or the Board of Investers, who've invested what precisly, ohh, their blood sweat and tears, no their money. The Board wasn't elected or selected by the workers who are actually supposed to own the machines(most likely on no where near the grand scale, but's OK. Small businesses employ most workers in this country, No? that's what the GOP keeps telling me. Back to the money; more like gambling if you ask me; if you have had a 401k, you may know what I mean. I'm not into gambling, even my future. Banks too, let's get rid of them; the proponents of this greed. For those wondering, Credit Unions will be Great. Perhaps we can get rid of usury once and for all; collateral's OK. Yeah, our economy won't be as booming as before, but perhaps we can get back our moral fiber of family; which is worth more. A new car really is a poor substitute for a real mother. No governemnt control; people control; quite literally. This is more utopia, but gradually and more importantly democratically possible. Chrysler is just the beginning and proof that it is happening albeit slowly; sooner or later people will see the failures of capitalism. It is its end result; so no scapegoating and blaming when that happens.
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Posted By: Myfirst Namehere @ 07/11/2009 7:45:14 PM
http://www.michaeljournal.org/poverty.htm
READ THAT, INSTEAD.
And, stopping your focus on what a Leftwing political perspective advocates -- simply condemning the worth and "right" of personal property (which the Church most decidedly does NOT condemn nor speak against -- in fact, the Church as recently as through Pope Benedict has DENOUNCED MARXISM), is simply the misguided political Left trying to represent the Catholic Church.
If all anyone ever reads is AP and other "news" media such as Newsweek and other LeftwingDemocrat-populated sites, one gets the wrong, misinformed idea that the Catholic Church is somehow an advocate of populism, collectivism, Socialism, and is ant-Capitalist. None of that is true. It is the condition of the individual's "heart" that the Church addresses: Capitalism by and for the sake of greed, etc., that the Church speaks against. The Leftwing never wants the public to know the truth and that is that Pope Benedict, the Catholic Church, speaks quite decidedly against Marxism.-
Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/13/2009 8:11:53 AM
IT'S CALLED DISTRIBUTISM, NOT SOCIALISM, which of course the Church condemns. THEY ARE NOT THE SAME THING.
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Posted By: mrboast1 @ 07/12/2009 9:50:43 AM
Ah, you too fell for the "tax cuts for the rich" talking point?? Poor soul, Bush dropped the tax rate for EVERYBODY, and dropped it to 0% for hundreds of thousands. Any across the board tax cut of course will have a higher $ affect if you make more. Please look at the IRS tax rate schedule and see how much more in taxes the higher income earners pay. Educate yourself.
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/13/2009 8:33:58 AM
Well, I hope that's temporary, You know, I don't believe Republicans are evil, perhaps if Liberals believed in evil; they would. The GOP will be back and everyone who isn't happy now will be happy later. Don't give in to this instant gratification. People get really sick sometimes, but they recover and get a lot better.
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Posted By: youmakeme want to vomit @ 07/11/2009 10:22:22 AM
You are an absolute idiot Obama has spent more in 6 months, than the congress has ever spent in the history of our congress. Bush didn't make this mess Obama owns it. Get over your obsession with hating the rich.
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/11/2009 10:36:24 AM
I don't hate the rich, they just haven't sought enough change within capitaism to towards Distributism. The system just needs to be fixed, but it will not be by revolutionary coercion.
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Posted By: Wondering Aloud @ 07/12/2009 12:18:07 PM
Who are the rich? Which party do they support? Take a look at the Senate in particular, which of them would you describe as the ricH? What party do the rich, in particular the "we didn't earn it ourself" type rich support? Yes capitalism has its problems but in voting for the Democratic party as it stands today you are supporting the agenda of the very people you appear to so dislike.
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/13/2009 8:30:26 AM
I can understand your passion, I have a personal rancor with both Socialism and Capitalism, its just that feel that Conservatives are too selfish for my taste. I obviously morally disagree with Liberals, but they are much more open to what I have to say (open-minded) and my reasonable proofs, without any malice towards me. We are both educated and seem to be able to discuss current events along philosphical lines agreeing to disagree on occasion. I've tried the same with Conservatives and find their attitude (not belief) have more in common with the uneducated disrespect of purging of Rush Limbaugh, which just makes me feel like I can't have a civil discussion with a Conservative without their desire use their 2nd Amendment Right on me and reminding me of it. Like that was necessary. Maybe one day, I'll find a respectful, open-minded educated Conservative, till then I'll be waiting. Why do people have to be soo angry all time. This doesn't make people want to get to know your arguamnt any better. That last part is not necessarily towards Wondering Aloud, it's more towards antone else who's posted against me. Wondering Aloud, I do agree with Congressional Reform, term limits, stop hiking salaries, etc. I'd say, for the reasons above, I'm picking the lesser of 2 evils.
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Posted By: Myfirst Namehere @ 07/11/2009 7:46:18 PM
http://www.michaeljournal.org/poverty.htm
READ THAT, INSTEAD.
And, stopping your focus on what a Leftwing political perspective advocates -- simply condemning the worth and "right" of personal property (which the Church most decidedly does NOT condemn nor speak against -- in fact, the Church as recently as through Pope Benedict has DENOUNCED MARXISM), is simply the misguided political Left trying to represent the Catholic Church.
If all anyone ever reads is AP and other "news" media such as Newsweek and other LeftwingDemocrat-populated sites, one gets the wrong, misinformed idea that the Catholic Church is somehow an advocate of populism, collectivism, Socialism, and is ant-Capitalist. None of that is true. It is the condition of the individual's "heart" that the Church addresses: Capitalism by and for the sake of greed, etc., that the Church speaks against. The Leftwing never wants the public to know the truth and that is that Pope Benedict, the Catholic Church, speaks quite decidedly against Marxism. -
Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/11/2009 10:53:38 AM
You're right, Bush didn't turn a surplus to a defecit and then sell us to China.
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Posted By: mel7190 @ 07/11/2009 10:29:06 AM
wrong. try again.
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Posted By: phenrikson @ 07/11/2009 1:18:33 PM
Bush was the President when the economy started to sink, but the Democrats were and are even more so now in the majority in Congress. BTW, it was Chris Dodd and Barney Frank, who pushed lending to people who can't afford it (and this also includes some of your supposed "wealthy." Also, during the Clinton administration the economy started to turn around when the Republicans took over the majority in Congress. Go figure, huh.
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Posted By: schmamebah @ 07/12/2009 9:07:22 AM
are you kidding me? things could get worse? they are worse! this guy in the White House is determined to push his BIG government into our faces. gov in private business? Did you even follow the illegal bankruptcy proceedings of GM? Ask those teachers that lost their pensions in lieu of the Unions being first in line in the bankruptcy... ask them about the legal contracts that were broken by the White House. Let's look closely into the bullying that has been coming out of this White House. I am sick and tired of the Governement preaching class warfare. America is unique... many thousands of people have givent their lives over the years so we can have these freedoms! I'm not rich, but I've never envied the Rich... I hope my children can become that someday. because, in America anyone, anyone can!!!! if you want a society where everything is equal go find another country to live in! I'm not rich but I'm always giving my money to help people, what do you do? I have given my time, my money, my heart! I'm teaching my kids that. do you know how many horrible rich people donate huge amounts of money to people less fortunate? this president is about change? but yet he has surrounded himself with all the clinton leftovers he could. he's about change? but yet he surrounded himself with how many tax evaders in his cabinet? why is that alright? why are the rich so bad but yet, no one cares that the "rich" in the White House cheat on their taxes? Why does this White House continue to support Acorn when it is so obvious that they are crooked and yet the gov. continues to give them millions of our tax dollars? why don't you look into the past head of Acorn and how his brother stole million dollars from them and covered it up for years? George Bush knew how to run the country. he wasn't perfect by any means. he also spent too much money. but before you go blaming who's at fault for this mess now, you better look into the Dem. run congress at the time and the fannie and freddie mess. Oh, by the way... Barney Frank now wants to push loans thru faster for people buying condos? he's going to try and practice the same methods that brought the housing market down to begin with! is he kidding me?! anyone to the populist Dem who wanted change, you're getting it alright. but you've forgetten, or maybe never even realized, what america was founded on... what our soliders from the beginning have fought for and what opportunites we all have here... how sad for you... how sad for America.
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/13/2009 8:21:12 AM
Yes, I believe, one of the things we were founded on was, We Hang Together or We Hang Separately. We're hanging togather incase you were wondering what this is. Now you can have it the hard way or the asy way. I'd call this the easy way.
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/11/2009 3:12:57 PM
Ohh, I don't believe in coincidences especially when we've had dictatorship for 6 of Bush's 8 years. I say that in that he had control of all three branches of Congress.
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Posted By: croberson @ 07/12/2009 7:29:15 PM
In case my previous comment does not post: If you believe the Bush administration is responsible for the present economic situation, you have not read the US House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform report of July 7, 2009 entitled ???The Role of Government Affordable Housing Policy in Creating the Global Financial Crisis of 2008???. I strongly suggest you read this bipartisan and insightfully in-depth report so you are better informed. This crisis did not develop overnight or over the past 2 terms. http://republicans.oversight.house.gov/media/pdfs/20090707HousingCrisisReport.pdf
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Posted By: Bill45 @ 07/12/2009 10:53:11 AM
Democrats controlled the Senate for four of Bush's eight years -- the first two and the last two. Another deranged Bush hater with the facts wrong.
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Posted By: phenrikson @ 07/11/2009 8:10:20 PM
Not really, buddy. The first four years had a slim majority of republicans, not enough to get anything of real consequence done. The second four years had a slim democratic majority.... now with both the presidency and the congress controlled by the democrats....well, we are seeing the consequences in the economy. It's time to wake up and smell the coffee.
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Posted By: HawaiiTaipan @ 07/11/2009 8:35:01 PM
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Posted By: Lover of Freedom @ 07/13/2009 5:20:13 AM
Yes, and they WILL get worse, once the ramifications of what Hussein Obama is doing to this country become noticed.
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Posted By: croberson @ 07/12/2009 7:26:19 PM
If you believe the Bush administration is responsible for the present economic situation, you have not read the US House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform report of July 7, 2009 entitled ???The Role of Government Affordable Housing Policy in Creating the Global Financial Crisis of 2008???. I strongly suggest you read this bipartisan and insightfully in-depth report so you are better informed. http://republicans.oversight.house.gov/media/pdfs/20090707HousingCrisisReport.pdf
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Posted By: Far Left is So Right @ 07/12/2009 11:13:58 PM
It appears that document is published by Republicans (looking at the URL). What would you expect?
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Posted By: Bettyblue @ 07/12/2009 11:39:07 PM
Borrowing Trillions of dollars in an amount the exceeds the total previously spent by all administrations combined - that will enslave working Americans for generations to come - will not improve our economic situation. Logic dictates that spending and taxing will destroy our economy and create a nation of poor enslaved people.
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Posted By: croberson @ 07/12/2009 7:24:24 PM
If you believe the Bush administration is responsible for the present economic situation, you have not read the US House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform report of July 7, 2009 entitled ???The Role of Government Affordable Housing Policy in Creating the Global Financial Crisis of 2008???. I strongly suggest you read this bipartisan and insightfully in-depth report so you are better informed.
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Posted By: DavidArnold @ 07/12/2009 6:53:19 PM
don't worry, by the time Obama sucks trillions out of the private sector and creates debts that we will be paying for decades to come, things WILL be worse. Much worse.I just hope that those who suffer the most are those who thought this man and his liberal agenda was actually a good idea
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Posted By: gdubya @ 07/11/2009 11:37:12 AM
I hope you understand that Populism is one of the formative political influences of Fascism. American populists and progressives were prominent among the early supporters of European Fascist movements, like the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazis).
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/11/2009 3:15:06 PM
Yes, I know, I do believe government, hopefully a Catholic one should eventually dictate the conomy through Distributism and the Social Morality of Humane Vitae. Governemnt Control. I did support the Patriot Act and still do. We're almost there, we just have to eliminate modern capitalism.
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Posted By: gdubya @ 07/11/2009 11:50:24 AM
Furthermore... you seem to be saying Chris Dodd and Barney Frank and their pet institutions Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were not instrumental in creating, by public policy mandates, the foolish expansion of credit for mortgages to people who were unequipped to pay them back. Is that true? Have have you been comatose for the last decade? The Messiah??? (AKA Obama, the thug from the Chicago Democratic Machine) even acted as legal counsel in a suit to force CitiBank to make bad loans to deadbeats under the ill advised Community Re-Investment Act. You need to do a little reading and stop sucking up all the propaganda you've been fed by the corrupt MSM.
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Posted By: schmamebah @ 07/12/2009 9:10:45 AM
I would never support what this man is doing. There is no place in this country for big governement of the likes of this administration... why don't you brush up on the constitution and what the founders intended... you obviously have no clue...
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/13/2009 8:36:52 AM
The Civil War was a crisis, the Great Depression was a crisis, and this is a crisis. What would and what did Abraham Lincoln do in his? Actually much worse than the President Obama is doing now; can't complain much; at least not yet.
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Posted By: Anti Clinton Criminal INC @ 07/12/2009 7:24:00 PM
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=103707
Obamas Science CZAR wants forced Abortions to save the Planet, only whites fit in the catagory of forced abortions not Blacks and Mexicans! By sept -25 rating on Obama the Muslim Islamic Ala loving rotten puke!! -
Posted By: rmmrmm @ 07/12/2009 6:11:21 PM
the future of our country as we know it is in doubt. get over your narrow views and think.
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Posted By: Bettyblue @ 07/11/2009 2:02:23 PM
You obviously have not been watching his ratings tank. Be open minded enough to notice the disconnect between what he says and what he does. He is a wolf in sheep's clothing that is able to deceive those who are unable or unwilling to see - or who are in agreement with his distruction of our country.
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Posted By: Far Left is So Right @ 07/12/2009 5:30:44 PM
Could you support the difference between what Obama says and does with some specific, cognet examples? I'm curious about your judgment on this one.
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Posted By: mistermcfrugal @ 07/11/2009 11:29:30 AM
Obama represents the devil, not goodness
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Posted By: gigitty @ 07/11/2009 5:11:16 AM
You mean ACORN dug up some more voters...er.. I mean dead people.
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Posted By: DaddyB @ 07/11/2009 4:44:08 AM
Yes, comrade!
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Posted By: Anti Clinton Criminal INC @ 07/12/2009 7:43:51 PM
I guess you love forced abortions and infantaside, your are not a catholic your are a Obama c--m swollowing imposter who has the brains of Obamas Black LSD laced kollaide! read this article about US forced Abortions coming soon!!
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=103707 -
Posted By: Dencal26 @ 07/12/2009 10:12:07 AM
The vast majority of Abortions have zero to do with saving the life of a mother and you know it. Your dishonest spin is why you are not a real Catholic. I am sure you attend church on Easter and Christmas to show off your new outfit. You probably spend more time at the gym than actually helping people. When you get engaged ot be married to suddenly begin sending weekly envelopes to church a priest may actually know your name and might marry you. The vast majority of Catholics do not practice their relgion and yes they voted Obama. Makes perfect sense. See you Christmas eve at midnight mass Betty.
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Posted By: StuartJ54 @ 07/15/2009 8:48:30 AM
Sorry IL girl, if you don't accept the Church's teachings you are outside of it. Take a look at the creed sometime when you attend Mass next. Do you really believe the words you're saying??
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Posted By: judyo @ 07/13/2009 5:48:17 AM
Far right? We are Catholics. We believe in everything you say is "far right" because that is what Jesus taught us. You can call yourself Catholic all youwant. But you are not.
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Posted By: pacrat007 @ 07/12/2009 8:12:10 PM
You are not Catholic. The Catholic Church thinks contraception is a mortal sin. There are no extreme views only Church Teaching and Doctrine. They are not to be picked and chosen, only to be obeyed. If you don't obey the Bishop in communion with the Pope, you are not a Catholic. It doesn't matter what you call yourself. If you insist you are Catholic and make the statements that you make I must insist on calling you DELUSIONAL.
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Posted By: DavidArnold @ 07/12/2009 6:50:23 PM
it doesn't matter what you " think " a Catholic is or what you would like it to be.....a Catholic is a Catholic and the views are what they are.......you need to admit that you and your ilk are not Catholics and just find something else to call yourselves.....the church doesn't exist to serve you, you are supposed to serve the church...if you can't do that, leave.
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Posted By: Lou Reed - Rock & Roll Animal @ 07/12/2009 5:12:34 PM
"and all you so-called far right Republicans"
So, IL Girl, you're implying they aren't far right Republicans? Might, want to choose your wording a little better next time. -
Posted By: newsweekisajoke @ 07/12/2009 11:54:05 AM
Oh, pleeez......
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Posted By: supercaat @ 07/11/2009 12:37:48 AM
IL Girl:
Often times we type in all CAPs because we are raising our voices; notice that my letters are of proper case.
We also fall into the trap of "politicking" religious followers as "left" wing or "right wing" Just as a generalization such as "all black males are criminals" is entirely baseless and reprehensibly stupid, so too is this author's premise and your own generalizations.
Now...
That said ...
yes people who claim Catholicism as their faith in America voted for Obama, no one is denying that. I would submit, however, that this fact does not justify your - and others like you - moral triangulation of your Faith. You cannot support an argument that says 1. I believe in God 2. God created the Universe and all life in it 3. All things created by God are sacred 4. All things created by God are sacred except unborn children because one chooses to not recognize their sanctity.
Christ's message is all or nothing, truly to its core.
If I may, did you notice the author's duplicity in that she appluaded the Pope for giving "moral" backing the President's environmental policies but then criticized the Pope for continuing to not see the genius in moral "flexibility" when it comes to abortion. When I read that I pause and then ask myself if the author is really saying that Mother Earth is more sacred than a human life? Who is truly extreme? Those who denounce violence and oppression (the Church of today, not the Church of the Spanish Inquisition)? Or those who say whatever is convenient enough to allow them to maintain power?-
Posted By: AKAChip @ 07/11/2009 1:24:05 AM
And the death penalty??? Convieniently forgot to mention that elephant in the room.
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Posted By: MFS2116 @ 07/11/2009 8:49:13 AM
AKA: I don't know if you are a practicing Catholic or not, but you've provided an excellent teaching opportunity. Here's some highlights from Avery Cardinal Dulles:
"The Catholic magisterium does not, and never has, advocated unqualified abolition of the death penalty. I know of no official statement from popes or bishops, whether in the past or in the present, that denies the right of the State to execute offenders at least in certain extreme cases. The United States bishops, in their majority statement on capital punishment, conceded that ???Catholic teaching has accepted the principle that the State has the right to take the life of a person guilty of an extremely serious crime.???
and
"[I]t seems safe to conclude that the death penalty is not in itself a violation of the right to life. The real issue for Catholics is to determine the circumstances under which that penalty ought to be applied. It is appropriate, I contend, when it is necessary to achieve the purposes of punishment and when it does not have disproportionate evil effects. I say ???necessary??? because I am of the opinion that killing should be avoided if the purposes of punishment can be obtained by bloodless means."
They are, after serious thought and prayer, not on the same plane and I think that this is correct.-
Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/11/2009 9:42:10 AM
And of course, in this country therefore, We poose the Death Penalty as it jumps straight to that final option.
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Posted By: MFS2116 @ 07/12/2009 10:37:53 AM
As a citizen, I think Bugsy exaggerates. But, as Catholics we could work to end these kind of injustices joyfully and arm-in-arm. My point in posting was to underscore that abortion is a mortal sin. There is no nuance here. It is not some doctrinaire point like female clergy or even the use or abuse of the death penalty. It is deeply insulting to have such issues used as a stick to beat up the pious. Add transparent to this insulting attempt to introduce doubt where none exists.
Idle talk yoking the Holy Church to an American political group should make any reader smirk. To argue further all the ways the Church should comport itself to ease this sham marriage reads like satire. But, to choose as its author an unsuccessful politician from a dubious family of lapsed Catholics is a true side-splitter.
Except that Newsweek took up the task??? For shame, really.
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Posted By: supercaat @ 07/11/2009 7:21:48 PM
Implied, AKAChip, is my point that the Catholic Church preaches aversion to all violence and oppression. Catholic laity and members of the clergy have a long history of upholding the sanctity of life. Do you need a specific list or can you discern my beliefs from those statements. The ommission of the "death penalty" in my earlier comment is not grounds for you to assume that I purposefully, or as you put it, "conveniently" forgot to mention that one. I believe that the Son of Man was executed by the State ... what do you infer from that statement, AKAChip?
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Posted By: Verum7 @ 07/11/2009 2:30:24 AM
WE represent ourselves...The Church is not represented by Kathleen the writer or our own individual views. The Church is infaliable in matters of faith and morals and often uses our Holy Father to convey these truths. Don't fall into the writer's trap of dividing up Catholic's by our politics in an effort to tear asunder the cloak of Christ.
The article suggests the Pope is getting involved in politics when in this case it is about political journalist trying to schism or sway the Church. This article is not about Obama. Rather, it is trying to wedge a divide between Catholics, not good Catholics and bad Catholics or politically right or left Catholics just Catholics. Pope Benedict is the Vicar of Christ and holds a position none other can hold. To even ask if a non Catholic is more Catholic than a Catholic is obviously absurd.
Please understand too that the Church has spoken with an authority we acknowledge in the Nicene Creed every Sunday when we say we believe in one holy Catholic and apostolic Church. For your own sake IL Girl please take some time to understand the 2000 plus year tradition of the Catholic Church rooted in the Bible, Church Doctor's, and natural law. While the church laity and even church hierarchy can be wrong and corrupt the Church and it's dogma on matters of faith and morals are to be accepted in full as from the Holy Spirit and as the Word of God.-
Posted By: Tony145 @ 07/11/2009 2:44:44 AM
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Posted By: Orthodox Roman Catholic @ 07/12/2009 7:59:06 AM
Your a bad Catholic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Posted By: AlexPuig @ 07/12/2009 8:51:21 AM
Brainwashed by the left....this country has no hope. We are doomed.
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Posted By: lbjack @ 07/12/2009 3:32:53 AM
Listen, IL(L) Girl, no one is against abortion to save a mother's life. That's therapeutic abortion. The debate is about ELECTIVE abortion. You typify the dishonesty of the pro-abortion side, and you certainly don't represent Catholics. At least I hope not. By the way, I voted for Obama.
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Posted By: rosemanx @ 07/11/2009 10:01:57 PM
You should be ashamed of yourself, calling yourself a Catholic. You are what us Catholics call a cafeteria Catholic. You pick and chose your sins. Last time I checked the Pope was not put on this earth to justify your sins. Also, the Pope does not take a poll to see if you liberal whacko agree with the bible. You cannot pick and chose what parts of the bible and ten commandments that you deem worthy of obeying. How dare Newsweek declare that Obama represents Catholics better than the Pope. Are you kidding me???? Are you liberals really that thick headed that you would listen to someone who has not been at church since taking office. He certainly does represent me politically or religiously. PS have you heard how quickly and easily he quotes the Koran. Does he represent the Muslims in this country better that the Caliph' s in Iran? I bet Newsweek would never say that. By the way this blog is about religion not Bush or the past 8 years. Obama is the president and is personally responsible for the way the country is heading, down that Socialist road at light speed. I hope you go to confession often because you have a great to confess. Good luck with your salvation. I will pray for you in church tomorrow just as I pray everyday for the end to abortion. Good Bless. Catholic in Indiana.
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Posted By: vancelogan@gmail.com @ 07/11/2009 5:54:14 PM
You my dear need to crack open the Catechism of the Catholic Church and do some in depth reading about abortion, and religious doctrine. If you "Claim" to be catholic, then you know it is we who conform our lives to the doctrine, and not vice versa. I would put your age in the 18 to 25 realm from the tone of your writing. You fell that you need to change 2000 years of religion to fit your needs because the current doctrine makes you uncomfortable, it holds you accountable, it sets limits and holds punishments for your actions. With the new attitude of entitlement, and empowerment these things are uncomfortable to you......funny sounds like someone from the bible..you may know him as the Angel of Light..he took issue with these same things and well...we all know how that ended. But you just keep on thinking your right as we'll pray for you. (ok now let the religious bashing begin hahahahaha...it always does)
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Posted By: allan096 @ 07/11/2009 2:27:21 PM
You may call yourself a Catholic you may've even been given a Catholic baptism, but you Bettyblue are no Catholic
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Posted By: allan096 @ 07/11/2009 2:31:29 PM
My apologies Bettyblue I meant it for ILL Girl
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Posted By: allan096 @ 07/11/2009 2:30:12 PM
ILL Girl you may say you are a Catholic, you may've been given a Catholic baptism but you are no Catholic
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Posted By: Carolynr @ 07/11/2009 1:59:08 PM
"He Without Sin..Cast the First Stone". Is Jesus Outdated also? Yet, we have now allowed our government into the business of endorsing abortion through Planned Parenthood. I do believe that the life of a mother should be saved, but I do not believe that a man that condones the "convenience" of abortion should be in the same sentence as the Catholic Church. Those Catholics that voted for this person will rue the day that they have.
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Posted By: mre1299 @ 07/11/2009 1:28:08 PM
Spoken just like a typical liberal, no time for any position other than their own, as shown by the dismissive and blunt nature of the argument, if you can call it that.
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Posted By: bobert432 @ 07/11/2009 4:52:00 AM
If 99.99% of American Catholics were as irrational and confused as you, you still wouldn't represent the Catholic Church, Church teachings, or any of that repressive, chauvinistic cult doctrine we're supposedly all blindly following.... unlike you Enlightened post-doctrinal, post-moral-preachiness Catholics.......... (I mean...... are you joking or smoking here?)
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Posted By: mistermcfrugal @ 07/11/2009 12:26:26 PM
This comment goes to the heart of the issue. Just because many decide to celebrate their sins, their sins remain just that, sins. It is better to follow the teaching of our Church, even if we are in the minority for having done so. This Kennedy woman had much given to her, so much is expected from her. Instead, we get this drivel that her messiah is really Obama, not Jesus!
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Posted By: kbuck88 @ 07/11/2009 11:32:34 AM
If you truly believe that, then you should reconsider your membership in the Catholic Church. You can't claim to be Catholic and the refuse to follow the teachings of the church. It just doesn't work that way.
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Posted By: phenrikson @ 07/11/2009 11:26:03 AM
Golly, you sound angry.
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Posted By: OrlandoRican @ 07/11/2009 11:30:21 AM
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Posted By: CatholicGirl04 @ 07/11/2009 7:06:46 AM
the Bible is centuries old. Are you throwing that out too?
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Posted By: Yukiko @ 07/11/2009 11:20:45 AM
But the bible doesn't mention the savior obama.
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Posted By: gdubya @ 07/11/2009 11:23:12 AM
Oh yes it does... The Anti-Christ.
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Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/11/2009 8:40:46 AM
No, read my previous responses, I've quoted non-stop from Sacred Scripture, to refute some of the ignorance present.
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Posted By: tflehto @ 07/10/2009 10:41:18 PM
Your mistake is in calling a baby, a human with a soul, brain and a heartbeat, a "fetus". This is the medical term your ilk use to dehumanize the human being that is growing inside of a pregnant woman. You are NOT a Catholic. We believe that life begins at conception.
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Posted By: fw1952 @ 07/10/2009 10:56:45 PM
Il Girl, your post suggests an incredible ignorance of Catholic teachings. Catholic teachings are not governed by pols, but rather the teachings of Christ through his chosen apostles. Ms. Townsend conveniently forgets the high esteem the Catholic Church has for Mary, the incredibly important role mothers have for the betterment of mankind, and the fact that the Church teaches the importance of all human life. You, on the other hand, call yourself pro-woman yet support the murder of over 700,000 little girls every year. You call yourself pro-civil rights but support abortion of which 35% percent of the victims are black children but blacks represent only 12% of the population. If stats are accurate, 25,000 of abortion victims could grow up to be homosexual, The Church teaches that these lives should be protected while you support their death.
Townsend couldn't care less about the salvation of women who feel abortion is their only option. Pope Benedict couldn't care more.-
Posted By: tflehto @ 07/11/2009 10:00:00 AM
SPOT ON MATE!!!!! :)
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Posted By: Tony145 @ 07/11/2009 2:48:46 AM
Honey, its no surprise that you're from Illinois. If you are to call yourself Catholic, you need to learn what the church stands for! You are in error on many issues. I would recommend reading the "Catechism of The Catholic Church," as well as Pope Paul VI's encyclical, "Humanae Vitae"
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Posted By: Verum7 @ 07/11/2009 2:29:18 AM
WE represent ourselves...The Church is not represented by Kathleen the writer or our own individual views. The Church is infaliable in matters of faith and morals and often uses our Holy Father to convey these truths. Don't fall into the writer's trap of dividing up Catholic's by our politics in an effort to tear asunder the cloak of Christ.
The article suggests the Pope is getting involved in politics when in this case it is about political journalist trying to schism or sway the Church. This article is not about Obama. Rather, it is trying to wedge a divide between Catholics, not good Catholics and bad Catholics or politically right or left Catholics just Catholics. Pope Benedict is the Vicar of Christ and holds a position none other can hold. To even ask if a non Catholic is more Catholic than a Catholic is obviously absurd.
Please understand too that the Church has spoken with an authority we acknowledge in the Nicene Creed every Sunday when we say we believe in one holy Catholic and apostolic Church. For your own sake IL Girl please take some time to understand the 2000 plus year tradition of the Catholic Church rooted in the Bible, Church Doctor's, and natural law. While the church laity and even church hierarchy can be wrong and corrupt the Church and it's dogma on matters of faith and morals are to be accepted in full as from the Holy Spirit and as the Word of God. -
Posted By: todd.drain @ 07/11/2009 1:20:36 AM
Man... you really are angry. That kind of anger comes from experience. What happened to you, or someone you know, that made you so angry with the Church? Calling people like me an extremist may make you feel better, but you are definitely not Catholic, any more than the morally and philosophically bankrupt Kennedy clan are Catholic. KKT is one of the WORST... right up, or should I say down, there with Speaker Pelosi -- another paragon of Catholic virtue. No matter how loud you yell, and no matter how angry you get, you have put several "ISMS" before Catholicism -- liberalism, feminism, socialism, and post-modernism. Those are your beliefs, those are your faith. Catholicism asks that you reject those other ISMs, and you angrily say NO.
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Posted By: cergren @ 07/11/2009 12:44:34 AM
"What is any man who has been in the real outer world, for instance, to make of the everlasting cry that Catholic traditions are condemned by the Bible? It indicates a jumble of topsy-turvy tests and tail-foremost arguments, of which I never could at any time make sense. The ordinary sensible sceptic or pagan is standing in the street... and he sees a procession go by of the priests of some strange cult, carrying their object of worship under a canopy... I can understand the spectator saying, 'this is all hocus-pocus'; I can even understand him, in moments of irritation, breaking up the procession, throwing down the images... dancing on the priests and anything else that might express his general view... But in what conceivable frame of mind does he rush in to select one particular scroll of the scriptures of this one particular group (a scroll which had alway belonged to them and been a part of their hocus-pocus, if it was hocus-pocus);why in the world should the man in the street say that one particular scroll was not bash, but was the one and only truth by which all the other things were to be condemned?... To say to the priests, 'Your statues and scrolls are condemned by our common sense,' is sensible. To say, 'Your statues are condemned by your scrolls, and we are going to worship one part of your procession and wreck the rest,' is not sensible from any standpoint..." -G. K. Chesteron, Catholic Church and Conversion
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Posted By: grahamd @ 07/11/2009 12:20:18 AM
And when she say's "we", she means her. And some people she knows. Thank you for your comments, self-appointed spokesperson for all Catholics.
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Posted By: RightStuff @ 07/10/2009 10:21:32 PM
You are obviously a very twisted person. Conservatives represent nothing that you say they do. Believe me, I'm as conservative as you can get, and I have always been very fond of the Catholic church. I am not Catholic, but I have lost friends because I have defended to Pope in heated debates about religion. Long live the Pope, and down with the secular humanists.
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Posted By: ChrisOhio @ 07/11/2009 12:11:54 AM
Thank you for your courageous statement. God bless you!
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Posted By: ChrisOhio @ 07/11/2009 12:10:43 AM
You can call yourself anything...including Catholic.
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Posted By: octavioj @ 07/10/2009 10:39:38 PM
I am a Catholic and I did not vote for president Obama. One of the reasons? Bioethics. Embryonic stem cell research and abortions are not moral in my views. The truth is the truth is the truth.
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Posted By: a99carey @ 07/10/2009 9:06:10 PM
and you my dear girl are a protest-ant
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Posted By: jazzmanjim @ 07/10/2009 1:54:21 PM
You might be catholic (notice the little "c") in a cultural sense. However, you are not Catholic in the true sense if you don't follow and believe what the the Church teaches as doctrine 2000 years.
Il Girl - what is your definition of Catholic? Do you believe that these are (as the early Church did) that these are baptised followers of Jesus who believe what the Church teaches? If not - what makes one Catholic? -
Posted By: BugsyParis @ 07/10/2009 9:31:42 AM
I hope you don't receive communion with that mouth (1 Corinthians 11:27-29). The Church is One in all belief, (Ephesians 4:3-6) and while you may be Catholic, you are not in communion with Her. I pray for your repentance. The Sacrament of Confession or even your local priest as his office open at all hours. You will need to rethink your definition on life first.
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Posted By: bjsassy @ 07/10/2009 9:01:45 AM
IL Girl. I am a Catholic and you certainly do not speak for me. You certainly do not represent Catholics anymore than Dennis Byron does. Yes, 56% of Catholics voted for Obama. Many of them are beginning to see the consequences.
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Posted By: Coffinsurfer @ 07/21/2009 8:02:25 AM
Are you totally ignorant or what? First, there is NO, let me repeat that for your brain to understand...NO reproductive freedom rights in the US Constitution. There are NO rights to Privacy in the US Constitution nor the amendments nor does that phrase even come into being in either document. Therefor ANY so-called right based on a mythical clause is according to the same US Constitution, NOT LEGALLY BINDING NOR ENFORCEABLE! IN fact your beloved Abortion rights law is unconstitutional in and of itself as the ONLY way ANYTHING can be made a law or carry the weight of law is for it to be passed INTO law by the US Congress. US Constitution Article 1 Sections 2-5. So when the Supreme Court suddenly "made" a right out of a supposed mythical section of the Constitution and it was law, they intentionally VIOLATED Article 1 Sections 1-5 of the US Constitution and as such made the law unconstitutional and unenforceable. I have $10,000. Cash for you Kathleen if you can show me or post where and what section your "right to an abortion" or "right to privacy" exists in the US Constitution and uses the exact wording. So come on Kathleen, put your abilities where your mouth is...prove it. or shut it and admit that you are a liar and a fraud with no idea what the hell you are babbling about. The challenge is made and I am awaiting your answer. If you refuse to reply...I win. If you cant prove what you claim...I win. The ONLY way you can win this is to show the US Constitution allows your claims for abortion. The clock is ticking...
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Posted By: Far Left is So Right @ 07/22/2009 10:56:56 AM
Where did you receive your law degree? Your angry tirade appears to be only your opinion, rather than to have a basis in jurisprudence.
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Posted By: JimFinfera @ 07/22/2009 3:30:40 AM
Regretability Ms. Townsend feels public opinion measure morality, principles or laws of human interaction. This a very dangerous practice and can lead to serious erroneous assumptions like those made by Ms. Townsend. The author of the laws of physics as well as laws of morality, principles or human interaction must always be our central focus. This is the correct path towards common good which is so clearly stated by our Good Pope most recently.
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Posted By: Jane E @ 07/21/2009 8:59:32 PM
Ms. Kennedy:
Do not be so arrogant as to presume to speak for the rest of the Catholics in America. We do not share your brand of Cafeteria Catholicism, picking and choosing what you will and will not believe. We Catholics, real Catholics, who honor and follow the rules of our Faith share no common ground with you and the rest of your family members who dare to tell the Holy Father what to do. Christ founded His Church on the rock of Peter, not on the Kennedys. When you look to criticize the excesses of capitalism, look first to your own house and kin. How many spoiled brats have been spawned by your uncles who disregard all laws, whether man-made or Divine, and then pay off with your family's millions to hid your crimes? Ms. Kennedy, if you don't like the club, then leave and start your own. But how dare you attempt to change the rules of the Church of Jesus Christ? That is true Kennedy arrogance.
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Posted By: maryelizabethanne @ 07/21/2009 11:41:14 AM
This writer says: "Catholics back home won't care, because they know Obama's on their side." I could not disagree more. Any President who forces Catholics to pay for abortions is not on the side of Catholics.
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Posted By: shopmom @ 07/21/2009 11:19:18 AM
Obama better than the Pope! I am constantly amazed by what comes out of the minds and mouths of Liberals, and the fact that they are so enamored with our current President is frightening. If anyone took the time to research and not just listen to people such as Ms. Townsend, they would know that the separation of church and state is not technically in the Constitution. It was somewhat of a letter of addendum. In addition, I think we all know, whether we choose to accept it or not, that our Founding Fathers intention was that America not dictate what religion its people practice. The intention was NOT to allow every religion and belief to take the fore front EXCEPT Christianity, and remove God from all things American. By the way, it was mentioned that Christians (or Catholics) were blurring the lines between Religion and politics, which apparently is a problem for Liberals. Yet I do remember that the church our President attended for some 20 years, did nothing but spout political, racial and social hatred and had little if nothing to do with God's grace, love and commandments. In addition, Ms. Townsend claimed that Pres. Obama was more christian than the Pope in his works, beliefs, etc. I don???t see how a man who promotes withholding life-saving medical treatment from a baby born due to a botched abortion, or approves of the killing of viable full term babies for convenience sake by birthing their lower extremities and then shoving a sharp tool in their brains to kill them before the head is birthed, is very Christian. Sorry for the graphic details, but I think it???s important for all the Pro-Abortion people to know what they???re approving of. In fact, I???m allows saddened by people who claim to be Christians and support abortion on demand and other things clearly against God???s teachings. I guess that???s why the Lord said, ???Not everyone who calls on my name will be saved???. And ???Depart from me. I never knew you.??? Mr. Obama is my President and I plan on treating him with respect for the position he holds. I also no doubt think he's a good husband and father, and great Orator, but that doesn't mean I have to agree with his political, moral and religious beliefs, as he obviously disagrees with mine. The Church, not the Government, should be helping the sick, poor, orphaned, and widowed. In that respect we have fallen down. However, the Government should be enabling people to live free and prosper. That means promoting small business, allowing States to have a say in things, supporting and building our Military, and not bankrupting and taxing us beyond what we can ever recover from, weakening our Military, taking over our Businesses and suppressing and criticizing the real Church. Wake up Americans before it's too late and people like Ms. Townsend are making ALL the decisions for you and me.
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Posted By: harrymac @ 07/21/2009 11:18:45 AM
Wow, another Kennedy who is a moron; Patches, John-John, Carolyn, Joe and now Kathleen, where's it stop? If old Joe hadn't made millions as a gangster, these people would be bus drivers, patrolmen, and nannies in Boston. They may have inherited money and used JFK's popularity to their advantage but when they open their mouths it's very clear they also inherited the 'Teddy gene'!
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Posted By: ranwrite @ 07/21/2009 8:38:19 AM
Mrs. Townsend may be expressing a popular viewpoint, but that does not make it right. I am a Catholic that does not agree with her.
Why should we give credence to Mrs. Towsend? Is it because she has retained the name Kennedy? Why has she retained that name? Could it possibly mean that she wants to capitalize on the images of her uncle and father?
I have read some of what Mrs. Townsend has written previously and have detected a certain bitterness towards men. Maybe she did not have the proper male role models when she was growing up? Maybe she was unable to experience fidelity? Maybe she is unable to see the truth when it is expressed.
The viewpoint of Mrs. Townsend, which supports the abortion programs of President Obama is simply wrong. It does not matter what her statistics say - the intentional killing of unborn children is developing a culture that denies fidelity and enhances disdain for our fellow man.
I do not expect my expressions to have any effect upon Mrs. Townsend or anyone else. If we live long enough we will become witnesses to the results of the culture of death.
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Posted By: Catl8dy @ 07/21/2009 7:39:20 AM
hmmm, if I remember correctly my leader is Jesus Christ and the Pope is His vicar on earth. The Kennedy's seem to have very high opinions of themselves to be able to speak on so many issues for everyone. Having the Kennedy name doesent mean you're an authority on everything. Why does anyone with a "name" put words in the mouths of the American people and why aren't we speaking back?! The country will be unrecognizable very soon. Tired, ticked and T.E.A.'d (btw...where's the birth certificate?)
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Posted By: josephanne @ 07/20/2009 11:22:18 PM
Newsweek would like people to believe that what Kennedy says is happening.
Don't believe it for a minute. The church is stronger then ever. "o' is never going to
take the place of the POPE...
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