Joe Biden did a great job last night!  He quite effectively won this debate hands down.

Romney and Ryan only care about making life easier for the top 1% earners and their Presidency would kill the middle class!!  Their ideologies are based on selfishness and greed not morality!!

@Jillian, please tell me your comment was satirical.

You don’t mention Ryan’s stand that a Romney administration would make exceptions for abortion in cases of rape, incest, or danger to the life of the mother. I’m a pro-lifer too but that conflicts with the Catholic position also.

Wow, Jillian, I don’t think you could be more mis-guided in your analysis of the debate or of the mission of a Romney-Ryan Presidency.  It seems to me that the Obama-Biden presidency has done a doozy on the middle class and they promise to continue to take America down the road toward something that looks a lot more like socialism than democracy.  Though I did not vote for him, I wish that Obama had been good for America.  But the fact is that most of us a worse off than we were four years ago.  I shutter to think where we would be after four more years.  It feels like we are close to the point of no return…

  I think there is no greater injustice than a politician that promotes caring for the poor and protecting the middle class but is unwilling to protect the innocent lives of the unborn.  I know that priests are not suspose to involve politics from the pulpit, but it seems to me that it may be sinful to allow millions of catholics to believe their liberal leanings are consistent with the faith.  Yes, we are to help the poor, but this does not trump efforts to protect life.  Your religion is what you do what no one else is looking.  Its about time that the catholic priests clearly state that catholics support all life, marriage between a man and a women, and social responsibility to the poor.  These are non negotiable.  Voting for the Democratic platform is voting for gay marriage, abortions, and stealing monies from one class to redistribute to another.

I agree completely with Jillian. I think Joe Biden was passionate just as Romney appeared on the previous debate with President Obama. I guess it balances things out regarding behavior during the debate.

@Jillian and Chris: troll along and please do not Recieve the Body and Blood of Christ without Confession.  Supporting Obama & Biden is supporting a vicious culture of death.

Here again, a fine example of a self-righteous christian. I’m sorry you feel that way, may God forgive you .

No question about Biden’s passion; nor his arrogance and complete disrepect of Senator Ryan.  He seemed to think he was the only person in America who had witnessed these last 4 years. Jillian, if you honestly think that the top 1% of American income earners will be picking up the complete tab for the outrageous deficit this administration has wracked up, you’d better get out your calculator.  If you are collecting off the system right now, life will be good for you.  (You’re welcome.)  If you are working, paying your own way, and trying to take care of your family, get your checkbook out.  The top 1% income earners are paying 48% of their income in taxes.  It’s not enough! Your paycheck is next.  Oh, and how long do you suppose the small employer is going to work his tail off to pay half of his income into the system?  I think you should be sure of the candidate you vote for.  For those of you who think Obama’s got your best interest at heart, be sure to share that with your employer, paying 48% of his income in taxes. He should consider that when he has to cut jobs.

I guess, judging from some of the comments above, the Obama lovers need to feel that smiling Joe Biden ‘won’ the debate.  This comes from watching Obama humiliate the democratic party when ‘debating’ Romney.  For them (the democrats) substance does not matter.  They just need smiling Joe to’one up’ the Republicans. When the heat of the debate subsided, ‘Joe’ looks pretty pitiful and pretty deceptive.  The next day the Bishops accused him of lying about the HHS mandate.  Joe came off as snide, adolescent, and rude.  What can you expect from a party that murders children and is determined to keep God out of the decisions?

It pains me to see supporters of the Obama/ Biden administration’s support of Cathlic Social Teaching to defend their concern for the poor and middle class.  Catholic Social Teaching begins with the support for the dignity of the human person from conception to natural death.  This is a position from natural law.  If they cannot be trusted to to defend this most fundamental principle of the doctrine, how can we trust them on there promises for the poor and middle class?

Watching the debate between Ryan v. Biden, the one that got me….that there were no litmus test, on the part of this Administration, for Supreme Court Justice picks.  Hah!  I literally yelled…“You’re lying”!  There is no way that Mr. Biden can honestly say that the Obama Administration looks for a nominee without any agenda…..
That is just not true.  It can’t be!  I’m not buying it, Joe!  President Obama (and others ) are so firmly entrenched in the PP agenda and camp that he wouldn’t have the courage to nominate “open-minded”.  If President Obama is re-elected, he will most certainly have an opportunity to place at least one, perhaps two or three, new justices on Court.  Is there anyone out there who believes that he will not pick his nominees according to whether or not they are pro-abortion?  They will most certainly be closely aligned with this President’s pro-abortion agenda.  And I wouldn’t doubt it if Cecile Richards hasn’t already submitted her own list for Supreme Court Justices.  There is so much at stake in this election.  It’s time for all of us to wake up.

Mr Biden’s performance was ridiculous.I’m not wasting anymore of my evenings watching political debates.It’s just a circus.

I may be mistaken but I believe that there was only one Catholic in the debate, Mr. Ryan.  Mr. Biden has excommunicated himself by his actions as I understand it.  Surely he cannot be called a Catholic with any accuracy.  Lapsed Catholic, former Catholic,self proclaimed Catholic, false Catholic, excommunicated Catholic; there must be an appropriate term.

I have no problem with a debater’s style.  IMO, and that of the majority of Americans who watched the debate, Biden beat Ryan.  Joe Everyman Biden trounced Paul Adding Machine Ryan.

Mr. Laws, you are mistaken. There were TWO Catholics in the debate.  That is, if you put even a bare ounce of belief into how the Catholic Church defines a Catholic.

Mr. Olszewski, it appears that you are outside of the Catholic faith here.  I’d be most interested to hear your perception of definition of a Catholic.  Mr. Law is, in fact, correct.  Joe Biden is not permitted to receive communion in his church.

The Catholic Church does teach tolerance, Mr. Olszewski.  In the case of Mr. Biden’s position on abortion, however, there is no tolerance.  The Church’s position is quite clear.  It’s murder.  If you feel otherwise, you are not a Catholic.

Julie, YOU are not a Catholic if you reject the Catholic position on who is and who is not a Catholic.  BTW, it’s not MY definition of what constitutes being a Catholic.  Personal definition leads to a form of “protestantism.”  The Catechism is clear on defining a Catholic as one who is baptized into the Faith as a minimum.  Sin does not exclude you from being a Catholic.  Were I to have an affair with a woman not my wife, I haven’t relinquished my Faith on that account, but have SINNED.  I can go to Confession under the usual conditions for not remaining in that sin.  And, yes, I cannot receive the Eucharist until I have confessed and been absolved.

Biden is also a Catholic, albeit a publically sinning one, and he may be restored to where he should be vis-a-vis the Faith by confessing and receiving absolution.  You are correct about one thing - Biden may not receive the Eucharist in his current circumstances, not only “in his church,” but also not in any other Catholic church.

So like you, I assume from your ranting, Biden was baptized in the faith.  The pro-life position of the Catholic church is in and of itself at the very core of our faith.  If you truly do not believe that life begins at conception, and it’s okay to kill the unborn, you are not of the Catholic faith.  Baptism or not. 

By the way, Joe Biden isn’t “everyman.” His performance during the debate was embarrassing.  I don’t care which political party you are affiliated with.  At this point in time I’d gladly hand over the reigns of this country to almost anyone who has some experience, because the only experience Obama’s got is during the last 4 years. We cant afford him.

For those of you who are supporting this administration going forward - you can foot the bill .  I’ve paid my “fair share.”  I’d just as soon take my chances on the, what did you call him?  Adding machine?  Yes, the ones on the ballot who can add to zero.

Yes, Julie, Biden was baptized into the Faith and remains a Catholic per Catechism 897 unless he formally removes himself from the Faith.

The core of our faith is NOT the pro-life position of the Church.  Salvation through Jesus Christ is.

Sure, Biden was a jerk, but that doesn’t remove him from the Body of Christ.  He can go to Confession to be absolved of his sin and be made right with God.

Yes, but Biden is a politician constantly supporting beliefs that are contrary to our faith. If he was to go to confession, he would have to renounce those beliefs (firm purpose of amendment) which of course he hasn’t done. Yes I agree he is a Catholic. A heretical Catholic, which is even worse than not a Catholic at all.

Almost totally correct, Mr. Daniels.  Biden is not a heretic, however, as he does not disavow revealed truths.  Luther was a heretic, Calvin was a heretic, the man-on-the-street Protestant is not a heretic.  It takes a positive act of disavowal to be a heretic, and Biden has never publically claimed that the Catholic Church is wrong.  He simply disregards what the Church teaches about abortion, just as too many Catholics do, alas.

@Thomas Daniels how do you know that Joe Biden DOESN’T go to confession?  Do you have spies watching Joe’s every move. How do you know what Joe Biden has in his heart? What Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi believe or do is between them, their confessor and God. Whatsmore, President Obama is NOT a member of the Catholic faith, he is a Protestant Christian, so therefore he is not bound to follow the teachings of the Catholic faith and folks like it or not, they work for all of the people of the United States.  Chris is right that these boards are filled with hate filled, self righteous, holier than thou religious fanatics who remind me so much of the Pharisees in the Gospels.  Get a grip already!!

First, Ceci Castillo, Joe Biden may go to confession, but,in order for his confession to be valid and binding, he must make public restitution for the public scandal he has given.  He is a public figure representing the United States.  As such, his words, beliefs and actions are publicly scrutinized.  If he has sorrow for his sins against God’s Law of Life, he must remedy the scandal he has given through change in his policies, and state that change publicly.
Secondly, you claim that Obama and his ilk ‘work for all people of the United States’.  Does he work for unborn persons?  Does he work for a baby that is partially born?  His wife Michelle, recently stated that a baby half out of the womb being aborted is a ‘legitimate medical procedure’.  She doesn’t think it is murder of a child, evidently.
Finally, the whole tone of your comment is hate-filled, self- righteous,and contemptuous of those who believe differently from you.  Surely you give evidence of being a liberal fanatic with all the mindlessness that that implies.  YOU need to get a grip!

Barbara Ann, two points:  you are over the top with your accusations against Mr.Castillo; he said nothing of the sort of what you are accusing him of.  Secondly, where are your conditions for Mr. Biden’s valid confession found? Sounds like wishful thinking on your part.

Also, whether you like it or not and whether you like the President or not, he does work for all Americans. How well he does that is, of course, a matter of opinion.

If you are going to make accusations,it is more effective to be specific.  The conditions I expressed regarding a valid confession are from the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  According to Catholic doctrine, the most important element of a valid confession is a firm purpose of amendment—in other words, the choice and determination to change the sinful attitude or activity.  Public scandal—according to Catholic doctrine regarding Confession—needs to be amended publicly so that scandal can be avoided.  Ceci is wrong to think that what Joe Biden or Nancy Pelosi do or not do is only between God, their confessors and themselves. They are public figures giving public scandal and, if they confess, they need to amend by public statements and actions that they are no longer supporting acts against God’s Law of Life.
Anyone who supports abortion—especially as aggressively as the Obama administration—simply is not supporting human persons who are unborn.  This is a fact.  Your refusal to accept that fact does not change the reality of that fact.  The Obama administration does not work for ALL Americans because it does not protect unborn persons.  If you are Catholic, Mr. Olszewski, you need to read up on the teachings of your Faith.  I suggest you buy yourself a Catechism of the Catholic Church. 

Barbara Ann, thank you for your smarmy response.  I will consider your long response in that light.

As an afterthought, Barbara Ann, for your information, unborn children are not Americans as they are not yet citizens.

Thanks for your positive response, Richard Olszewski, but I’m a lady.  :)  Wow Barbara Ann how judgmental you are of people.  I was educated in Catholic Schools all my life so I’m very familiar with the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  It also teaches us that only God has the right to pass judgement on sinners, not you, not the clergy, not the hierarchy not even the Pope has that right. Whats more, my parents who were very devout Catholics always told us that we if can’t say anything nice about a person to keep our traps shut. You and others like on this blog would do well to take heed of that. And that’s all I have to say about the matter.

If you were as familiar with the Catechism of The Catholic Church as you attest, you would know that in the matter of judgments, it is MOTIVES that we may not judge.  We certainly can judge actions.  For example, if I see someone pull a gun and shoot someone, I can judge that that gun-puller shot a person. What I cannot judge is why he or she did so.  I am stating the doctrine of the Catholic Church; I am not judging Obama’s motives or Joe Biden’s reasons for not defending life in the womb.  If your parents told ‘if you cannot say something nice about someone,you should keep your trap shut’, why are you not doing so?  You began this conversation when you ‘not nicely’ accosted Thomas Daniels in your post above.  You and Mr. Olszewski give evidence of having a deep emotional reaction to my comments. I won’t judge why, but I will urge that you each go before our beautiful God and examine your conscience.  If you are Catholic, I urge you to kneel quietly before our Eucharistic King.  As a genuine Catholic, there is no way one can defend the killing of an unborn human person. Whether or not an unborn child is a citizen is beside the point; the unborn child is a human being created by God, and no one has a ‘right’ or ‘legal authority’ to override God’s law and kill him or her. God’s Law trumps man’s legalities, especially when those legalities are lethal to the innocent.

If you were as familiar with the Catechism of The Catholic Church as you attest, Ceci you would know that in the matter of judgments, it is MOTIVES that we may not judge.  We certainly can judge actions.  For example, if I see someone pull a gun and shoot someone, I can judge that that gun-puller shot a person. What I cannot judge is why he or she did so.  I am stating the doctrine of the Catholic Church; I am not judging Obama’s motives or Joe Biden’s reasons for not defending life in the womb.  If your parents told ‘if you cannot say something nice about someone,you should keep your trap shut’, why are you not doing so?  You began this conversation when you ‘not nicely’ accosted Thomas Daniels in your post above.  You and Mr. Olszewski give evidence of having a deep emotional reaction to my comments. I won’t judge why, but I will urge that you each go before our beautiful God and examine your conscience.  If you are Catholic, I urge you to kneel quietly before our Eucharistic King.  As a genuine Catholic, there is no way one can defend the killing of an unborn human person. Whether or not an unborn child is a citizen is beside the point; the unborn child is a human being created by God, and no one has a ‘right’ or ‘legal authority’ to override God’s law and kill him or her. God’s Law trumps man’s legalities, especially when those legalities are lethal to the innocent.

Barbara Ann, your holier-than-thou comments do not fit well with your alleged identity as a Catholic.

I have a negative reaction to your comments because of your lack of a charitable Catholic attitude towards others, in particular Ms. Castillo.  I suggest to YOU that you examine your own conscience and, if you are indeed a Catholic, confess to a priest your hubris, your excessive pride, in presuming to judge others.

Now who is judging, Mr. Olszewski?

Ah, I see.  I took you to the woodshed because of your holier-than-thou judgmentalism, and you accuse me of doing somewhat the same.  Well, perhaps.  If we claim to be Catholics, a bit more charity towards others might be in order for both of us.

If you were a person of prayer, Mr. Olszewski, you would not think my comment urging you to go before God was ‘judgmental’.  Charity and truth are one and the same.  It is before the living Christ in His Eucharistic Presence where the truth woven in one’s heart will be enlivened.  No one could sit quietly before the Eucharistic Christ and be peaceful about supporting abortion and its advocates. If this strikes you as judgmental, so be it.  I ask God to lead you to His Son.

I thought you might have been better than judgmental, but your hoiier-than-thou attitude proves me wrong.  You haven’t the damndest idea of how and how much I pray.  You just float from one place to another without your feet touching the ground because two angels are holding you up as you pass judgment on others.  If prayers are in order they shoud be from you begging God to teach you some humility.

Perhaps you are not listening to God.  Are you the one doing all the talking in your prayer?  You seem so disturbed by my beliefs.  Is there some kind of war going on within you?  Could that be the reason that my thoughts so upset you?  You are right; I do not know ‘how’ you pray, nor how much.  I do know that you do seem not to be at peace. If you were, my words would not upset you so.  I am not judging you, I am trying to figure out the source of so much viciousness in what you write.

Barbara Ann, you are upsetting because you show none of the traits that a humble Catholic ought to.  You judge this one and that one, and now me, all the while not seeing any faults in yourself.  The leopard does not see her own spots. Of course, you are judgmental; you set yourself above the rest of us mere mortals accusing us as you commune with the angels. 

I assume you are a young woman so there is still time for you to learn some humility.  If you can do that, there is hope for you.

Mr.Olszewski, how is it that MY faults bother you so much? The world is full of people who exhibit pride etc.  Do all of them bother you? Why do I upset you because I ‘show none of the traits that a humble Catholic ought to?’  What you are missing is the degree of upset that I evidently cause you.  Your disturbance with me says something about you, and it is on yourself that you need to focus.  It is often said, that what we see in others is actually mirroring to us traits in ourselves.  It disturbs you mightily that I speak forcefully and clearly for the unborn.  That ought to tell you something.

Barbara Ann Jensen, I know this is about a month late but I wanted to thank you on this Thanksgiving Day for witnessing to Christ and the teachings of His church with true charity in the face of persecution by Mr. Olszewski (even if he didn’t know it at the time). God bless!

Mr. Kenneth, this too is a late comment, but Ms. Jensen is not being persecuted.  Her lack of humility demonstrates that she has not an ounce of charity in her heart towards other Catholics who don’t accept her personal interpretations of our faith.  I would guess that her copy of the Catechism is used for no more than a door stop.

Barbara Ann, this is also late but I have to tell you this: I have seen the same Mr. Olszewski on certain other Catholic forums and as you see here, he truly has an obsession with being right & having the last word. You cannot win so you are better off ignoring him & people like him. I believe that such behavior indicates a great need for professional help, and I mean that seriously. I gave up participating on these forums because of people like him, and I only posted here because like Kenneth, I wanted to recognize your efforts.

As for Mr. Olszewski, I am sure that he will post a typically self-righteous reply but I will not afford him the satisfaction of countering ot even bothering to read it. He will get enough satisfaction from having the last word yet again. Sad.

Odd that you’ve seen me on other forums as I use a handle on those.  I assume that you are either a mental health professional or a mind reader to be able to diagnose my “need for professional help.”  I would say that Catholic charity is lacking in your statement, but, hey! you don’t claim to be a Catholic so that’s no problem.  Have a merry and a holy Christmas or, as I assume you prefer, have a happy holiday season!