When push comes to shove, I think the majority of Catholics will vote for McCain; I hope!
Posted on 04/28/2008 6:05:51 PM PDT by Coleus
Rep. Dale E. Kildee (D-Mich.), a Catholic congressman who endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) for president, told Cybercast News Service Wednesday that despite Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) failure to capture Catholic voters in the Pennsylvania primary, the majority of Catholics will vote for the Democratic candidate in the general election, whether it's Obama or Clinton. According to the exit poll of the Pennsylvania primary, church-going Democrats picked Clinton over Obama on Tuesday, with Catholic voters especially lining up behind Clinton.
Among all Democratic primary voters who said they attend church weekly, Clinton beat Obama 61 percent to 39 percent. Among Catholics who attend church weekly, she beat him 74 percent to 26 percent. This represents a dramatic shift from the Feb. 19 Democratic primary in Wisconsin, where Obama defeated Clinton 58 percent to 41 percent. In that state, Obama defeated Clinton 55 percent to 44 percent among Democratic voters who attend church weekly.
Clinton did win in Wisconsin among Catholic voters who attend church weekly, but by a much smaller margin (53 percent) than the 74 percent she took in Pennsylvania. The shift is significant because Catholic Democrats in northern states have been a key swing vote in recent presidential elections. In 2004, President Bush defeated Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) 52 percent to 47 percent among Catholic voters nationwide even though Kerry is a Catholic. In Ohio, widely viewed as the state that tipped the Electoral College to the Republicans, Bush beat Kerry 65 percent to 35 percent among Catholics who attend church weekly.
"I will vote, come November, for the Democratic candidate, whoever that may be," Kildee told Cybercast News Service. "I predict the majority of Catholics will choose the Democratic ticket come November. "The Catholic vote is split," he said. "There is no question about it. There are various issues that split the Catholic vote, but the one thing that does pull it together is what I call the social gospel: treatment of the working people, and treatment of the poor. That tends to pull the Catholic vote together.
"Whichever candidate can show they care about these things will garner the Catholic vote," Kildee added. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), who has also endorsed Clinton, expressed a similar sentiment. "I didn't see any of the numbers," he told Cybercast News Service. "But that shift seems to show the great ability Hillary Clinton has to talk to average folks about their concerns. They came out and voted for her last night."
Kildee said he could not speculate on why church-going voters may have shifted their support from Obama to Clinton. "Pennsylvania is an older state. Its political involvement is different than Wisconsin," he said. "When you get to the Midwest, there are probably other issues. It could be an interesting analysis, but it might also take a PhD. It's more analysis then I can give right now." Kildee said he stayed up until midnight Tuesday watching the results come in.
How can Catholics (that claim to be pro-life) keep their pro-life credibility and vote for a candidate that is pro-abortion like Hillary or Obama?
The RCC is pro-life. And this isn’t just the opinion of the Pope - like concerning the war in Iraq - this is doctrine.
Social gospel??? Why does that sound an awful lot like the Rev. Wright? Oh, because they mean socialist gospel, I guess. They mean they are union voters who vote the union ticket, no matter what.
The way dimocRATS bash the Catholics I can’t understand why they vote for them. Then again I don’t understand the Jewish vote either.
Not this Catholic. Ever.
You are so right GSC but you and I live with this mind disease here. It’s all about abortion.
My “Catholic” siblings and relatives bow to the Democrats
They have no idea why, they just do it.
I haven’t been able to take myself to Church in 14 months,
I live my religion, I don’t attend it.
Between the Boston Arch Diocese and all of the dead friends and relatives I have.. I cannot support a Church that surreptitiously supports Child Predators, Abortionists, and Illegal Immigrants.
Benedict gave me some hope with his visit.
I’ll leave it at that.
Catholics who darken the door of a church only at weddings, funerals, Christmas and Palm Sunday tend to vote Democrat.
Of the many Catholics I know and have worked with (and I am not Catholic by the way) two are writing in Ron Paul and one is voting for McCain.
The others are unsure depending on who gets the Dem nod. If it is Clinton, though, most of them have said they will likely vote for her.
Blame the Conferemce of Bishops. The most despicable politicians in the country are Catholic. All pro abotion, and anti-American. Kennedy, Kerry, Pelosi, etc. The two most Catholic states Massachusetts and California. These for the most part are liberal pro abortion states.
This has been going on for years. Until the church deals with the most prominant Catholics that are really not Catholic, the Democrat party will prevail.
Blame the Conferemce of Bishops. The most despicable politicians in the country are Catholic. All pro abotion, and anti-American. Kennedy, Kerry, Pelosi, etc. The two most Catholic states Massachusetts and California. These for the most part are liberal pro abortion states.
This has been going on for years. Until the church deals with the most prominant Catholics that are really not Catholic, the Democrat party will prevail.
My brothers and sister and their children’s families are Catholics who won’t be voting for HRC or BHO.
This is one of the main reasons I left the catholic church.
I was a small child in favor of Goldwater back in 1964. I was so outnumbered, it was embarrassing. Until they stop their involvement in politics, I will remain NON CATHOLIC.
I have a big family. I am the patriarch. Any vote for a democrat results in immediate removal from the will. :-}
You’ve committed what St. Francis de Sales called spiritual suicide.
If I find a prolife democrat, maybe I would vote for him/her.
Otherwise, it’s not gonna happen.
Sadly, too many American Roman Catholics are very much the “salad bar” sort and are reliably Democrat in their voting. A series of Popes maintaining, effectively, that war is never justified by condemning any military action, even when it liberates millions from oppresion only makes things harder for us.
Perhaps.
I am truly Conflicted.
You can call me anything that you want.
It’s just another notch in my belt .
I love my God and my faith in Catholicism but I haven’t the least amount of faith in the Human Beings who are the current harbingers.
Thanks for helping me to see the negatives so well.
So Catholics will vote for the militantly PRO-ABORTION Party???
When push comes to shove, I think the majority of Catholics will vote for McCain; I hope!”
So you agree they will vote democrat?
Catholics that vote for the beast ain’t...
The Majority will not. The cafeteria Catholics who select what rules fit on their plates will. They are also their own individual Popes as they make their own rules as they go along in their life. Just ask the congressman
This means anyone who thinks they're voting in their own best interest. To heck with what's right and what's wrong.
Sadly, there are quite a few who don't take it seriously enough.
Don't fool yourself that voting for a pro-life Democrat will advance a prolife agenda, because it won't. If RATS are in control, it's guaranteed that no pro-life legislation will ever see the light of day.
Oh, I’m not fooled. I watch them very closely.
My Congressman said he was prolife, but he has walked the line for Nancy, and has not done one thing to defend human life.
I voted for the opponent, who had a prolife record, but was ousted because of the RINO’s acting like dems.
I am in a similar quandry. Yesterday after mass the pastor and an illegal immigration 'activist' had a little symposium on how most of the negative stuff we have been hearing over the last couple of years is simple the 'unchristian' ravings of xenophobes. Surprisingly, when I asked about Jesus' teaching to 'render unto Caesar what is Caesars, and unto God what is God's', he had no answer. Just 'compassion, justice, etc. etc. blah blah blah'...I have 'retired' from Catholicism in the past for these same reasons (their defense of illegals and pedophile priests, their refusal to take doctrine seriously)...when I got married again in 2006 we resolved to resume going. But how (and why) should I continue when the American Catholic church is so out of touch with my beliefs? Any suggestions?
So how did that work out for those who voted Democrat because they thought they would be more conservtive? Stupid, stupid, stupid.
I left a church that was contrary to my political views. Couldn’t be happier that I left.
I don’t think that the unions necessarily have the best interests of their members at heart. Union party line voting means blind obedience to corrupt union leaders. I can speak as one who has had family members on both sides of the aisle, that is union and management.
Ping to follow the comments - I’ve posted threads re this phenomenon many times.
Same here.
God Bless you .
It’s a quandry.
So far, my one and only baby has been Parochial School boy.
I have spent much money and many hours volunteering to be a help for the other children.
My personal ministrations have been well recieved by the children ( we just did artsy crafty stuff/ not available in a Public School, lunch Mom, Yard Mom etc.)
but the Nut who ran the School Hated me just cause she’s a Nut.
The Pastor was too afraid to take her on and drank his way to Old Age, and the Church did SQUAT to support the School!
After a bit..
YOU JUST GIVE UP!
Our particular faith happens to be made up of some of the Biggest Human Losers in History .
Live it. Love it Always.. then leave it .
Only way to Sanity that I have found.
I find relief by attending a Traditional Latin Mass when I can. (too far away to go every Sunday). There's no "social justice" type garbage....just the congregation giving its full attention to Jesus. Unfortunately, I have to suck it up and go to the ordinary form mass in between, though I usually walk out in tears.
This Catholic votes for Protestants who select good Catholic Supreme Court justices like Scalia, Roberts, Alito and Catholic-educated Thomas. Kennedy has disappointed sometimes and been on the mark on others.
And shame on them for doing so.
notdownwidems (Shellback, pollywogs! 1980)
oo-rah
You’ve placed your faith in men when you should have been placing it in God and in the process have separated yourself from the Sacraments which are the physical manifestations of God’s grace. Too bad. That’s the point St. Francis de Sales tried to convey so many centuries ago.
Yes, but I find that the democrats, for some reason, don’t pay close attention to it all. They pretty much believe what they are told.
Cannot vote Democratic as long as that party embraces the murder of the unborn. Nor will I vote for any Republican that does the same. It is the FIRST issue for me and then I go from there. When we cannot protect the most innocent lives of all, then we cannot be trusted to come through on the other issues either.
This Catholic will NOT be voting for either Obama or Clinton. I just don’t understand how any Christian of any background can vote for anyone that is so pro abortion as these two are.
Hey notdownwidems, I’ve been subjected to all manner of crappola as well. Crappola seems to be thick and heavy in many areas of the country. The worst part of this crappola in my opinion is the lack of teaching (or bad teaching) from bishops. But as a Catholic, I’ve found that seperating yourself from the Sacraments as a form of protest is pointless, as it really is just playing into the hands of the enemy who is ultimately behind all the crappola.
Every time I see crappola in my church (which is often), I try to look at the Crucifix (or imagine the crucifix if the damn church doesn’t have one). Then all the crappola doesn’t seem so bad, and I can concentrate on the Sacrament. It works a lotta the time for me.
Freegards
“How can Catholics (that claim to be pro-life) keep their pro-life credibility and vote for a candidate that is pro-abortion like Hillary or Obama?”
When one looks at how hard the “moderate” Republicans tried to throw us pro-lifers under the bus this year, it comes as no surprise that Catholics who otherwise prefer Democrat policies might look at the Republican Party's claim to be pro-life as little more than a ruse.
When many damned posters here told me that I HAD to vote for Mr. Giuliani if he was the candidate, that sort of confirmed for me that there is a very large part of the Republican Party that is merely giving lip service to us pro-lifers, but that when push comes to shove, they expect us to vote against our conscience should the nomination be a damned pro-murderer, like Mr. Giuliani.
Thus, many Catholics conclude that the Republican Party really isn't pro-life, that they're going through the motions to get our votes, but aren't really serious about the issues of life. If NEITHER party is truly pro-life, what is one's Catholic obligation when voting?
sitetest
Your response is a perfect example of why Catholicism drives me away. Christianity in general is more forgiving. There is a stark difference between right and wrong, Catholics don’t seem to get that. It’s more about ritual and less about how you live your life. I know that God loves me in spite of your disapproval.
Of course, I then voted for GW Bush in the general ...
;'}
Oh, really?
Dianne Feinstein is a Catholic? Bill Clinton? Hillary Clinton? Barak Hussein Obama? Charles Schumer? Barney Frank? Al Gore? Robert Byrd? Carl Levin? Jerrold Nadler?
Don't overplay your hand.
Kennedy, Kerry and Pelosi are scum ... but they're hardly unique.
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