Musings of a Catholic Convert

Washington DC, March 27 (CNA).-Supporters of all major party candidates for the United States presidency are angling to discover how to best appeal to Catholic voters, who could be a key swing vote in the November presidential election. According to Robert Reilly, a successful McCain campaign must win over Catholics to win the White House. 

Robert R. Reilly, who was President Ronald Reagan's liaison to Catholics between 1983 and 1985, wrote in an article published on Wednesday that Senator John McCain could not win the presidential election without the Catholic vote, which makes up about 25 percent of the electorate.  "The worst thing he could assume is that [the Catholic vote] is going to fall into his lap because Catholics will have nowhere else to go," he said.

Reilly argued that McCain could emulate Ronald Reagan's successful appeal to the Catholic vote during his 1984 presidential campaign.  Reagan's campaign ran advertisements in Catholic newspapers featuring a photo of Reagan and Pope John Paul II smiling together.  The photo, Reilly claimed, was effective because Reagan shared positions "completely congruent with those of the Catholic Church" on issues like the family, the sanctity of human life, pornography, and school prayer.

Senator McCain, Reilly said, "cannot simply claim that point of view; he needs to promote it."  Reilly noted that Reagan held a White House screening of Bernard Nathanson's film of an abortion, titled "The Silent Scream."  Reagan also published a noteworthy essay, "Abortion and the Conscience of the Nation," in the Human Life Review.  The essay helped convince Catholic pro-lifers of Reagan's sincerity, Reilly said.  

Reilly suggested McCain ask his Democratic opponent to watch "The Silent Scream" or an equivalent film with him.  He said McCain should write a pro-life essay similar to Reagan's for publication in a prominent Catholic-friendly journal.

Senator McCain could also make the upcoming U.S. visit of Pope Benedict XVI an opportunity to display his understanding of the Pope's thought on the family, the sanctity of human life, and the nature of radical Islam.

McCain needed to take risks to show his conviction in order to appeal to Catholics, Reilly claimed.

"If he throws as much conviction and energy into these issues as he did into his backing of the surge, Catholics and others will flock to his banner — and he can win. If he tries to coast on the moral issues, he will not," said Reilly.

The Democrats, too, are debating how to capture the Catholic vote in the presidential primary contest between Illinois Senator Barack Obama and New York Senator Hillary Clinton.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the Clinton campaign has argued that its strength among Catholics in the Democratic presidential primaries could mean their candidate would be stronger than Senator Barack Obama against Republican candidate Senator John McCain.

Clinton won 63 percent of the Democratic Catholic vote in Ohio and 65 percent in Texas.  Even in states where she lost to Obama, Clinton in some cases still won the Catholic vote in those states. 

Catholics are also poised to play a large role in the Democratic primaries since a recent survey of 19 states that have held presidential primaries this year shows  63 percent of Catholics identified themselves as Democrats, while 37 percent identified themselves as Republican.  In 2005, Edison/Mitofsky polls claimed that only 42 percent of Catholics identified themselves as Democrats.

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My 2 Cents:  I know for a fact that if McCain wanted to write a strong pro life article, CatholicDestination.com would publish it for him.  PLEASE spread the word. 

Mr. McCain, CatholicDestination.com is not a tax free non-profit.  They are not limited by the threat of losing their tax free status because they are not tax free.  This is a great freedom and platform if you choose to use it.  

Mr. McCain, if you are truly conservative, and truly pro-life, let's make it undeniably clear.  Don't alienate conservative voters and assume they will vote a party line.  They will vote elsewhere (or not vote at all) if they are not convinced you are the candidate whose ideals match their own.         

So who do you vote for this year?  I read an article about Pennsylvania "Catholic voters" that may vote for Clinton in the Democratic primaries.  You need to read this article provided to CatholicDestination.com by Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life.

Ten Easy Steps to Voting With a Clear Conscience

It still baffles me that Catholics would vote for abortion "rights".  Actually it baffles me that ANYONE would vote for this.  The right to choose to kill your baby?  Are you serious?  

This reminds me of what I told my Catholic Social Teaching class last night.  We cannot address properly the moral problems of our age by merely treating symptoms.  We must go to the source - page one, if you will - and re-inform the consciences of entire generations of people.  Morality has never been the product of popular opinion, a book club, or even a democracy.  Morality has its root in the Divine Creator.  God is the source and standard of morality and He is unchanging.  Not only that, but God is alone worthy of our worship.  We must obey Him before all others.  People must unlearn all the garbage they have accumulated and internalize this truth.  Then they must internalize the Dignity of the Human Person and the love of neighbor as one's self.  If  we can love God as we ought and love our neighbors as God loves us and as we love ourselves, we can overcome sins like abortion and contraception.  From the basic principles of human existence as beings created in the image and likeness of God stem all our other beliefs, including the proper view of human sexuality.  

The answer is not condoms, it is not the pill, it is not abortion rights.  Go to page one.  What has God revealed about Himself and humankind?  How do they relate one to another?  How is humankind to relate to itself?

Looking for a good primer on the subject?  The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace has a Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church.  Every Catholic should read it.

Hey, we got a new plugin for the community, courtesy of our good friend, Pistos. CRE is available through your plugins menu. I’m learning how to use it myself so we’ll see how it goes.

I’m seeing new “faces” on our catholic blogging community. The word is spreading!

While I’m thinking about it, please take some time to browse the content at CatholicDestination.com, particularly the Life Issues and Politics sections of “News & Culture”. With Super Tuesday coming up we all need to be as informed as possible.

We have a moral obligation to vote. It is one way we inform the conscience of the state. It is also an opportunity for us to stand up for the lives of the innocent and against abortion. Don’t vote for pro-abortion candidates! Do not support the abortion industry of this country. Put abortion mills out of business and save the lives of THOUSANDS of babies. Support adoption and counseling programs. Teach your children about chastity and the dignity of the human person.