[Dialogue] Intrusion of Catholic bishops into the election

[jim rippey]

Call to Action and the Catholic Action Network for Social Justice have
combined to compile a 2004 Voter Guide for people of faith.  In one section,
it deals directly with Roger Alexander's concern, stating:  "As debate
ensues over communion-witholding from pro-choice political candiates, many
quieter issues relating to the dignity of the human person remain
unaddressed."  The introduction to the guide says "A national election calls
for us to make informed choices.  In many way, the United States is at a
watershed moment and millions of lives will be influenced by who wins the
presidential election.  The US. Catholic Bishops have reminded us in The
Challenge of Faithful Citizenship (2004) that 'Believers are called to
become informed, active, and responsible participants in the political
process.... We hope that voters will examine candidates on the full range of
issues and on their personal integrity, philosophy, and performance.'"  The
introduction to the guide also states:   "... (we) believe citizens should
make political decisions based on their informed consciences, considering
issues that affect both born and unborn.... this guide covers a diverse
range of political issues...

 I, Jim Rippey, am not a Catholic but I support this group modestly because
our society desperately needs people who will question and lobby against
dogma.  I stumbled on to it and was impressed with its strong criticism of
the church's poor handling of the pedophile issue.  CTA lobbies for more
laity influence in church affairs, for women priests, opposes compulsory
celibacy in the clergy, supports peace efforts and is concerned with other
"reform" issues.

The guide devotes a page to each of seven "Catholic Social Teaching
Principles."  They are:  Work and the Rights of Workers, Dignity of the
Human Person, Rights and Responsibilities, Promotion of Peace and
Disarmament, Preferential Option for the Poor, Stewardship of God's
Creation, and Global Solidarity and Development.  These Social Teaching
Prinsiples are elaborated briefly on each page and then the bulk of the
pages compare Bush and Kerry positions on related issues.  You can download
the guide from www.cta-usa.org (you have to register) or you can call
733-404-0004.  It's thoughtfully impressive.  I got a half dozen copies to
deliver to some Catholics I know.   --Jim Rippey


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Roger Alexander" <ralexan934 at sbcglobal.net>
To: "ICA dialogue" <Dialogue at wedgeblade.net>
Sent: Monday, October 18, 2004 8:47 AM
Subject: [Dialogue] Intrusion of Catholic bishops into the election


Has there been any conversation on the Dialog about the intrusion of
Catholic bishops into the election?  If not, I would like to hear some
learned comments about this quote from Maureen Dowd's column:

     In an interview with The Times's David Kirkpatrick,
 Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver said a knowing vote for a candidate
like Mr. Kerry who supports abortion rights or embryonic stem cell research
would be a sin that would have to be confessed before receiving communion.
"If you vote this way, are you cooperating in evil?" the archbishop asked.
"Now, if you know you are cooperating in evil, should you go to confession?
The answer is yes."

Is this not what the fear was when Jack Kennedy was running for election?

Darrell Walker
_______________________________________________
Dialogue mailing list
Dialogue at wedgeblade.net
http://wedgeblade.net/mailman/listinfo/dialogue_wedgeblade.net