Posted on 06/25/2008 1:38:23 PM PDT by NYer
.- A new survey from Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) indicates that Catholics may lean towards voting for the Democratic candidate for president in the 2008 election.
The CARA polling shows that only 21 percent of all Catholics are either strongly or weakly affiliated with the Republican Party in 2008, compared to 31 percent in 2004. Fewer Catholics identify themselves as Republicans than in any year since 2000.
Among all adult Catholics, 38 percent identify as a weak or strong Democrat, while 22 percent lean Democratic.
Republicans are found to be more numerous among the general electorate Catholic population, with 28 percent identifying themselves as Republicans and 17 percent saying they lean Republican. However, Catholics who attend Mass weekly are still more likely to be Democrats, with 37 percent self-identifying with the party and another 18 percent saying they lean Democrat.
“Overall, these shifting Catholic attitude trends, less support for the use of U.S. military force, more support for higher taxes for wealthy Americans, and increasing acceptance of immigration, may favor the Democrats and Obama,” said Mark Gray, the director of CARA Catholic polls.
Gray said that Democrats still must mobilize well to take advantage of their edge among Catholic voters. “In the past two presidential elections the Republicans have been noted to be more effective at mobilizing voters using religion and religious organizations—often using the issue of abortion,” Gray said.
The CARA poll results suggest a shift in Catholics’ views on several major issues. In 2002, before the Iraq war, 63 percent of adult Catholics agreed “somewhat” or “strongly” with the statement that “The U.S. should be willing to use military force to overthrow governments that support terrorism against the U.S., even if it mean losing lives of U.S. service members.” In 2006, only 43 percent agreed.
Catholic support for a tax on the wealthiest Americans has increased from 52 percent in 2002 to 65 percent in 2006. Catholics are also less likely to agree that the number of immigrants permitted entry into the U.S. should be decreased, with agreement down from 65 percent in 2002 to 54 percent in 2006.
According to the study, pro-abortion sentiment has slightly increased among adult Catholics. In 2002, 55 percent somewhat or strongly agreed with the statement “A woman should have the right to choose to abort an unwanted pregnancy.” In 2006, the percentage in agreement increased to 58 percent.
Can't contact Bishop, Can't contact Bishop, Can't contact Bishop.
Definition of an Obstructionist:
Won't contact Bishop,Won't contact Bishop,Won't contact Bishop.
I asked you very politely to contact our Bishop and get this straightened out, instead you threw out an anecdote that did not address the issue and a bunch of platitudes.
I asked if you would come down here and teach, you ignored.
I asked how these people should afford this when they can't make ends meet, you ignored the question.
I don't think you have any answers, I think you just enjoy the sound of your own typing.
Let me know exactly what the Bishop says after to speak directly to him either in person or over the phone.
I am really starting to think that you are a liberal. You offer all these grandiose schemes but have nothing concrete to offer.
E-mailing a bishop **is** contacting him.
By the way, I am **not** Catholic! The purpose of these boards is for the spread of new ideas. Good ideas win! Why? Because people are not stupid.
Well..., I happen to think that Catholics in Wichita are pretty darn SMART! By posting on these boards perhaps Catholics ( which I am not) will pick up on a good idea and start talking to their bishops.
Certainly it would be far more effective for Catholics to be contacting their bishops than it would be me ( who is **not** Catholic). However...I will send an e-mail and do all that I can to see that other Catholics know about the success of Catholic schools in Wichita.
As for me teaching in a Catholic school, that would be hypocritical. I could not in good faith teach some of their beliefs. It would be lying to the students. Although I respect them, I don't believe them.
As for teaching, I believe **you** are being very **judgmental** of me!
*I have **taught** 3 children from infancy through high school. Even when they were in college, I spent one year after work **teaching** my daughter biology major's biology. We read every word of a college level text aloud together, ( after my full day of work) and my husband reviewed with her **all** of her class lecture notes. I call that heavy duty **teaching**!
*My husband and I assist our children in some homeschooling expenses, and we have been very generous with our time as well. My oldest grand daughter can sew because I spent many, many hours at her side **teaching** her. All the grandchildren ( who are old enough) can sketch and paint because I **taught** them. ( We have 9 grandchildren and another due in 3 weeks.)
*My husband is **very** active in our church's scouting program, and for more than 25 years I have been active with the girls program, teen program, and scripture program for the youth. ( I call that **teaching**.)
*I have parents who are 95 years old right now to worry about, but when they pass on my husband and I fully plan to do several 1 to 2 year missions for our church.
*On our missions we will very likely be called to **teach** our professional skills to the young people here in the states or abroad, or we will be **teaching** English to people ( children and adults). We will also be **teaching** the gospel to people in desperate need of salvation.
* I have also worked in my profession ( taking time off to raise children) for 25 years! In these years I have improved the health and welfare of hundreds of children and youth! A large part of my time as a health professional is **teaching**!
How much can one person do in one lifetime? Tell me?
As for government schools, I absolutely will **not** teach in them. The concept was corrupt from the beginning. Also, I will not give CPR to a dead horse.
Amen to that. In communist countries the marxists had to work a lot harder to infiltrate and subvert, here, in the free west, we welcomed it!
And seemingly free reign, as often, well meaning people are chastised to be ‘obedient’ and not critical of clergy when abuses and dissent are practiced.Marinated in liberation theology, lol, noting that for future use~!
Liberation Theology, an oxymoron at best, and folly for sooo many. I attended a Catholic university as well, and while there was a small portion of 'traditional' faithful with services offered, the rest, clergy and faculty and students alike, were leftie. I'm not surprised they're still in place, they've been working hard to entrench themselves with this for some time. And it's funny to me how now, even with a resurgence of 'old' practices in some areas, 'traditional' is so often noted as a sneer.
YOU, need to contact him in person, just like we did down here, and tell us if you get a different response.
You don't have to be Catholic to teach Math, Science, Social Studies, etc.... in a Catholic school, so your answer is a cop out.
As far as me being judgmental of you, that is all that YOU have been of every educational professional, every public school, and every member of the Teachers union. Might want to get that log out of your own eye, before you think about the splinter in mine.
You need to get your story straight about the number of children you have home schooled, sometimes it three some times it four.
The Horse is no where near dead, No matter what you think, but if good people keep walking away then liberals like you will win.
You are playing the game “gotcha”.
The smart conservatives on this board can spot this manipulative, and distracting, debating technique in an instant! It's only purpose is to discredit the argument by personally smearing the debating opponent.
I have **absolutely** consistent . I have four children. Three were homeschooled.
( If you are curious about why the oldest was government schooled, please contact me by private mail.)
No, I don't.
An good **idea** is very powerful. As Catholics hear about the good idea of free tutiton in Wichita, Catholics themselves will petition their bishops all over America.
I can do plenty ( as a non-Catholic) by merely spreading the idea.
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