WASHINGTON — With President Barack Obama securing another four years in the White House, Democrats retaining the Senate and Republicans still in control of the House, the 2012 election takes nothing off the table for Catholics.
They must continue their campaigns to overturn the Health and Human Services’ mandate, back the Defense of Marriage Act and block federal subsidies for abortion.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, wrote to Obama offering prayers “that you will exercise your office to pursue the common good, especially in care of the most vulnerable among us, including the unborn, the poor and the immigrant,” Cardinal Dolan wrote. “We will continue to stand in defense of life, marriage and our first, most cherished liberty, religious freedom.”
Meanwhile, Church leaders and pro-family advocates are still reeling from the defeat of four state efforts to bar a redefinition of marriage in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington.
Experts are still weighing data that will help explain how Obama overcame weak jobs numbers, public fears about an exploding national debt and a late surge by his GOP rival, Mitt Romney, to win re-election.
But part of that winning strategy was the advancement of a vision of society that framed the president’s social polices as a boon for key segments of the electorate: single women, Hispanics, voters favoring same-sex "marriage," and others who feared cuts in federal social entitlements.
Leveraging ‘Julia’
The 2012 election offered dueling visions of American society, symbolized by the candidates’ stances on religious freedom, contraception, "marriage equality," and reforming programs like Medicare. And when all the exit polls have been dissected, experts may conclude that the president offered a more compelling argument for his portrait of America than Romney.
Last May, the Obama-Biden campaign rolled out an online slideshow, “The Life of Julia,” that explained “how President Obama’s policies help one woman over her lifetime.”
The narrative does not feature a boyfriend, let alone a husband, but Julia benefits from free birth control, letting her “focus on her work rather than worry about her health.” But if Obama is defeated, Julia could be denied the same health-care benefits because “Romney supports the Blunt Amendment — which would place Julia’s health-care decisions in the hands of her employer.”
Ask Catholic scholars and commentators to distill the message of the Democratic presidential campaign, and they may well cite “The Life of Julia.” That’s in part because it presents the government as a reliable placeholder for spouses and families, but also because it elevates the right to free contraception over First Amendment conscience protections.
“There really are competing irreconcilable visions of society on offer in this election,” said Gerard Bradley, a constitutional scholar at the University of Notre Dame who has spoken out against the HHS mandate.
“The Obama campaign's ‘Julia’ ad sums up the president's vision” of the individual as “basically alone in society,” noted Bradley, editor of the newly released Challenges to Religious Liberty in the Twenty-First Century.
“Julia has no family and evidently no religious community to support her,” Bradley said. “She does have a set of aspirations and goals, and the government is her financial angel — Uncle Sam as Daddy Warbucks, if you will.”
“The HHS contraception and abortion mandate perfectly illustrates this vision,” he added. “Woman counts upon the Democrats to tax and spend to subsidize her most intimate choices.”
In contrast, he said, Romney had emerged from the campaign season as “the champion of civil society. His opposition to the mandate and support of the Blunt Amendment reflects [that], no doubt.”
Same-Sex ‘Marriage’
The president’s ability to both present, and implement his view of America's future path was on full display in the four state contests dealing with same-sex “marriage.”
“Obama’s endorsement of same-sex ‘marriage,’ along with support from Democratic leaders, the NAACP, public employees and many other organizations and businesses cut strongly” for same-sex “marriage,” said Maggie Gallagher, a marriage expert, author and the former chairwoman of the National Organization for Marriage.
“We were outspent by a factor of 8-1. There were no voices speaking out against it, except for a small band of people, yet it was still very close,” Gallagher told the Register.
On Nov. 7, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage, called on the faithful to counter efforts to impose a new vision of marriage: "No matter what policy, law or judicial decision is put into place, marriage is the only institution that unites a man and a woman to each other and to any children born of their union. It is either this, or it is nothing at all.”
The president’s support for the contraception mandate and for “marriage equality” have been tied to a strategy to draw together disparate segments of American society that may not identify with the social mainstream. But Gallagher noted that Obama’s speeches frequently offered a “communitarian vision: He talks about personal responsibility, but he blends it with government support.”
The president echoed the communitarian theme in his Nov. 6 victory speech in Chicago: “We believe in a generous America, a compassionate America, in a tolerant America….That’s the future we hope for. That’s the vision we share.”
‘Deeply Awry’
However, George Weigel and other critics of the president’s social and economic policies contend that the expansion of government under Obama’s watch is a stark departure from the signature American ethos of small government, entrepreneurship and civic engagement — themes sounded by the Romney campaign.
As government expands, the president’s critics fear that it will crowd out the array of civic institutions that have effectively shared responsibility for social needs.
“Given the choice between going down the path to boredom and insolvency pioneered by the European social-welfare state and charting a bold new approach that combines passion, justice and fiscal responsibility, America chose the former,” Weigel told the Register after the election. “Something is deeply awry in American culture.”
James Capretta, a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and an associate director at the White House Office of Management and Budget from 2001 to 2004, cautioned against hasty judgments about the election outcome.
“The election was quite close, and we have an evenly divided country with two visions of moving forward,” said Capretta.
“One thing is clear: If a democratic society goes down the road of too much dependence on government, it is very difficult to reverse course later. People come to expect that support.”
The two campaigns’ perspectives on human flourishing were on display throughout the campaign.
Romney attacked the president’s suggestion that business owners couldn’t take credit for their success —“You didn’t build that” — while Obama offered his social and economic policies as a powerful defense of the interests of women and working and middle-class Americans.
Debatable Differences
During the second presidential debate, Obama noted that his administration had mandated “contraceptive coverage to everybody who is insured. Because this is not just a health issue; it’s an economic issue for women.”
Obama then attacked his rival’s support for the Blunt Amendment: “Gov. Romney not only opposed it [the mandate], he suggested that in fact employers should be able to make the decision as to whether or not a woman gets contraception through her insurance coverage.”
Romney, for his part, reframed a question about gun control to stress the importance of two parents in the home: “Because if there’s a two-parent family, the prospect of living in poverty goes down dramatically.” But that was as far as it went, with the GOP candidate moving back to offense on Obama’s economic record.
“What happened on stage was that Obama would make an outrageous statement about the Blunt Amendment or Planned Parenthood, and then Romney would pivot to the economy. In his thinking, it would be deadly to address those issues; what turned out to be deadly was that he didn’t discuss it,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of the Susan B. Anthony List, which raised $11 million for pro-life candidates across the nation and celebrated the election victory of Deb Fischer, the new Republican senator from Nebraska.
“The questions about life and marriage were effectively sidelined by the Republican Party in the interests of making the election about stewardship,” agreed Rusty Reno, the editor of First Things.
With the election now decided, he said that “one of the most important things Catholics can do is set about reforming the Republican Party so that is a more effective vehicle for Catholic social teaching.”
Social Trends
Janet Smith, the pro-life author and speaker and a moral theologian at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, noted that Obama’s campaign talking points corresponded with broad social trends that chart the steady rise of single mothers, who now account for more than 40% of live births in the United States.
With families fracturing and jobs hard to find, the expansion of government programs has become increasingly necessary and reassuring for struggling Americans. Polls confirmed that single women were much more likely to vote for Obama than married women.
That said, Smith also viewed the dueling campaign themes as symbolic of the “divide between those who believe there are truths to be pondered and lived by and those who have given up on truth. Whether abortion or ‘gay marriage’ is right or wrong, some just don’t believe they have the tools to make a judgment, and they just let it happen.”
Smith argued that individualistic moral norms can be effectively challenged in political forums and in other avenues of public life, and that the campaign season signaled that many Americans remain committed to defending truths that secure the dignity of the human person.
“The underclass, the financial crisis and the moral crisis,” Smith concluded, “will make us dig down and ask, ‘Can we learn something from the fact that we now have single mothers responsible for 40% of live births?’”
Joan Frawley Desmond is the Register’s senior editor.
John Zmirak: Pro-Lifers Must Stop Being Pawns
Tim Drake: Election Night: Live Blogging
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With the election now decided, he said that “one of the most important things Catholics can do is set about reforming the Republican Party so that is a more effective vehicle for Catholic social teaching.”
This includes supporting humane, pro-family immigration reform.
White Catholics voted for Romney in overwhelming numbers. But Latino Catholics voted for Obama and immigration issues played a large role.
To a family caught in the nightmare of the US immigration system, the idea that gay marriage is the biggest threat to marriage and families is laughable.
I for one have turned off my TV, radio and rarely visit sites that offer political punditry. I have also unlisted my email addresses to every political organization that I joined including catholic ones. I am up to here with information, promises and causes. I am going to pray more and ask God to help the US. In the song “God Bless America” when it says “He shed His Grace on Thee…” I am afraid that with the move to the left, where, apparently we have gone, I’m hoping and praying that God does not cut off that Grace that we desperately need.
What did you think would happen after Catholic Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts decides for Obamacare in 2012 saying (to change Obamacare) “that is what elections are for,” and Cardinal Tim Dolan yucking it up with Obama at the Al Smith Dinner in NYC in Oct 2012 and then posts the great photo op of himself and Ronmey with Obama on Card Dolan’s FB page, and Catholic NJ Gov Chris Christie getting gaga over being in Marine 1 (“had to pinch (him)self”)and getting 6 phone calls from talk-is-cheap Obama in the days after Hurrincane Sandy then shoots his mouth off about how great a job Obama did, way before the job was done. BTW, just how good is FEMA doing in NY & NJ? They pulled out before the nor’easter yesterday. Thousands in the freezing cold, w/o power (ran out of poles) and very hungry. People cried when they got hot food from church groups. These 3 powerful Catholics are a shame.
This is respectfully submitted: President Obama secured the Catholic vote, again. I think we all know the reason why. This should be addressed in your newspaper. Changes need to be made in the Church. I know: practicing Catholics voted for Romney - there are too few of them to make the difference. Between the Evangelicals who stayed home, and Catholics who don’t know their faith, the election was secured for President Obama who has given us the flawed Affordable Care Act and the HHS Mandate; disrespect for traditional marriage and the sanctity of life… We will dust ourselves off and continue our prayers and the fight for Truth, but we do need to be honest with ourselves and make the changes that are necessary.
President Obama had far less voters supporting him this year than in 2008. He won the re-election because 2 million McCain voters stayed home.
As for the Catholic vote, overwhelming majority of 18 year old first time Catholic voters supported President Obama. The Bishops should have seen this coming. Even after the 2008 election, they had 4 years to educate the 14 year old Catholics. They could have replaced the awful Sadlier Catechism books. They could have mandated voter education in Catholic Schools. They could have reformed CCD materials. Instead they sat on their hands.
The pro-life Catholics in turn could have volunteered to be Catechists. They could have started their own youth groups. They could have participated in boycotts and email campaigns to have offensive TV programs taken off the air. Instead they stayed home and watched football.
Don’t blame the candidates. Don’t blame the Republican party. The American Church have nobody to blame but themselves.
This election offered dueling visions of Society while illuminating the dueling visions that have been allowed to exist within The Catholic Church, the “big tent” mentality, that continues to make the erroneous claim that one can be Catholic while denying that The Word of God Is The Word of God, simultaneously. (see Catholic Canon 750)
Let no one deceive you, The Charitable anathema exists for the sake of Christ, His Church, all who will come to believe, and all those prodigal sons and daughters who, hopefully, will return to His One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
Posted by waywardson on Thursday, Nov 8, 2012 7:11 PM (EST):
With the election now decided, he said that “one of the most important things Catholics can do is set about reforming the Republican Party so that is a more effective vehicle for Catholic social teaching.”
This includes supporting humane, pro-family immigration reform.
White Catholics voted for Romney in overwhelming numbers. But Latino Catholics voted for Obama and immigration issues played a large role.
To a family caught in the nightmare of the US immigration system, the idea that gay marriage is the biggest threat to marriage and families is laughable.
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Great logic that shows why Obama won. No wonder “Catholics” voted for him. It may be later than we think.
@kathleen
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George Weigel, one of my favorite Catholic thinkers, noted that the weekly Mass going Catholics voted 58% for Romney. He called the other Catholics “baptized pagans”.
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We need to stop wringing our hand over those that call themselves Catholic but do not fit the description. They are no different that the rest of the electorate in allegiance to Catholic teaching. To lump them together gives the impression that the Church has been a failure in preaching the Gospel. When the message is not rejected the vote will respond. The key is to perfect teaching methods and to widen the message.
Those who voted for Obama voted for the ‘counter-culture’ that first started to raise its ugly head in the 1960s.
Among other things, this includes, abortion on demand, guilt-free promiscuous sex, legitimizing the perversion of homosexuality, getting more people addicted to the dole, irresponsible personal behavior, dumbing down education, and a deliberate diminishing of America and be ashamed for her greatness.
There’s a rather ugly picture being painted about Catholics who voted for Obama, or for legal gay marriage, by those who consider themselves to be holier, more pure, and just all-round better Catholics than the rest of us.
When I was growing up, the Church stressed human rights, social justice, non-discrimination, and the primacy of conscience. Don’t blame us for living out the mission and goals of the Church that we were taught in our formative years.
Howard and others: Amen! to what Howard wrote! If I may add:
Now is the time to seek State Based solutions, and understand our Constitutional rights!!
Wyoming just announced that, with a 73% vote, the State has Nullified the Affordable Care Act. This is the Constitutional right of each state to simply say, “NO”, to the Federal Government.
The States give authority to the federal government, and they can take it away through Nullification! See: Tenth Amendment Center for if you do not take my word for it.
There are three Constitutional tools we have:
1. Nullification
2. Article V
3. Sheriff’s Interposition
Every Catholic should look into this! Please. ;-)
In addition to presenting the government as admirable replacement for spouses and families, and trumping First Amendment conscience protections over a self-prroclaimed “right” to free contraception, “The Life of Julia” also equates free access to birth control and abortion with ‘health care’ as if a healthy, functioning reproductive system is a system in need of medical attention.
Furthermore, “The Life of Julia” views it as the government’s job to provide these so-called ‘health services’ rather than their being the responsibility of the individual. When able-bodied working people such as “Julia” believe it is the government’s job to provide those things which most properly belong in the hands of free citizens, we abdicate self-determinism and will to no longer live in the Land of the Free.
It is laughable that immigration laws are a bigger threat than equating sexual perversion with Holy Matrimony.
As a Catholic I am not required to favor dismantling national borders. And, yes, my parents were penniless immigrants who came here legally> They also BUILT a family business. Yes, Catholic democrats, they BUILT it.
Shame on Catholic democrats for bringing such evil to us in exchange for 30 pieces (or more) of silver from their favorite pet social programs.
Latino voters supported Romney at slightly less numbers than Bush only because latinos that arrived here in the last ten years receive far more handouts than 20 years ago. That is the real reason they voted for Obama. If you look at the votes by county Romney won almost the whole country accept for the highest hand out cities.
I believe that several million illegals vote in the election and that is why Obama won. How the United States of America goes so goes the Catholic Church.
Godless Capitalism vs. Godless Hedonism. In this election, as in all elections since the 1970s, voters faced the choice between voting for the party of Godless Hedonists or the party of Godless Capitalists. Yes, I know that the Godless Capitalists give lip service to God and Pro-Life values. But they are deceivers. Mammon is their god. They want the struggle over abortion and gay marriage to endure forever, since that is the only way they can win elections and enact their Godless Capitalist Agenda. The vice-presidential candidate for the Godless Capitalist party in 2012 proclaimed in a video readily available on YouTube that the reason he went into politics was to bring into American government the values of the leading atheists of the 20th century, a Russian emigre named Ayn Rand. This same vice-presidential candidate said in any interview that his favor music bands are AC/DC and Led Zeppelin. For Heaven’s sake! Why doesn’t he just declare himself to be a pagan! The presidential candidate of that same party is a bishop in a New Age cult that says the universe is full of gods who are the equal of Jesus and Jesus’ father, and that all good Mormon men eventually become the god of their own world similar to the earth. He would have been our first polytheist president. For the other party, the Golden Calf of sexual license is their god. There is no party for godly Catholics. The Tea Party people have virtually started their own political party. Why can’t Catholics do the same? No one would have to be a Catholic to be in this party or support it, but all members and elected officials in this Catholic-based party would be required to be 100% faithful to Catholic Pro-Life Doctrine and Catholic Social Doctrine. Why not? Why keep having to choose between the lying Godless Capitalists and the seductive Godless Hedonists?
“Don’t blame us for living out the mission and goals of the Church that we were taught….”
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Tony K, were you not taught the 10 Commandments. Do you support social justice over killing unborn children? Were you not taught that God created marriage? If not, did you not read the bible, study the Fathers of the Church and the Saints?
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The teachings have not changed since you were born. You were just lazy.
To tony K,
Catholics - and anyone else—who voted for B. Hussein Obama are complicit in the murdering of unborn children.
That’s not an ugly portrait of you Tony; rather it’s an accurate picture.
@ Robert Walleston. You better start doing some research before you start bashing and slandering Latinos voters. Only Citizens of the United States can vote here in the United States. Not resident aliens and certainly NOT “ILLEGALS”. REPEAT: ONLY US CITIZENS CAN VOTE HERE IN THE USA. NOT RESIDENT ALIENS NOR ILLEGALS. Romney lost the election because he’s a liar and a fraud and could have cared less about the 47% that are constantly being bashed on this so called Catholic Website. Whats more, for your information most Latinos wouldn’t be caught dead living on the public dole even if they were starving. Who the hell do you think cleans, hotel rooms, toilets, buses your dishes or picks produce in the hot sun. Jobs that probably your kids think they are beneath them??? A lot of you people on these boards claim to be such good Catholics but turn your nose up at people less fortunate than you are.
Sir,
U.S.President Obama re-elected. Big Bird retains feathers. U.S. Catholic Hierarchy, Donald Trump, Clint Eastwood, et all against Pres.Obama lose theirs to People of God majority vote. U.S. Catholic Bishops poor judgement and strategy in politics only exacerbates a divided and wounded nation already in a crises of confidence and belief. Sadly E.W.T.N has positioned itself as the Republican Tea Party spouse and Fox News surrogate.
Americans go and read Romans 1. God has left your country to its own devices and it will self destruct sooner than later if a change is not made. Catholics have been lazy for too long. The war is against principalities. Don’t you get it? The devil is winning and we just sit down and accept what he throws at us. Where is your faith being lived on a daily basis? Is it all about going to church and then going back to the status quo or it is about living the faith. How do we bring up our children in the faith so they know how to make the right decision? They are the ones who will make or mar the future.
Many of Catholics including me, believe in marriage equality for all of America’s citizens. The Church need not be involved in the civil matter of marriage. The Church will never be asked to marry a same gender couple. So get on with life, the sky is not falling and permit others to live their lives as they see fit as long as they do not harm you. That is the central message Christ brought.
Yesterday, the State of Wisconsin announced the nullification of Obamacare! this means that they will not recognize and enforce the Affordable Care Act. this is within their constitutional right under the 10th amendment! States give authority to the federal govt. and they can take it away via nullification.
Let’s not criticize Catholics or any other american. Now that Obama has been re-elected, we are now hearing that the GOP is raising taxes not only to the top 1% but even more so to those in the lower and middle class.
DC is full of DCvers! It is the system that is corrupt, which attempts to pit Americans against each other. While we focus on blame, vs our authority as provided by the Constitution, DC continues business as usual.
Wake up, turn the other cheek, and engage civically beyond the duty of voting. The Founding Fathers did not trust the heart of man, nor did they trust a centralized government, thus they gave us the tenth amendment, Article V, and ensure that the powers of the Federal Government are enumerated.
It is our responsibility to take our liberty back, stop blaming others and look to the States for solutions. See the tenth amendment center, http://www.restoringfreedom.org , and The Forgotten Men (fb page and web-site) among the many other resources.
This is in response to Howard’s post: George Weigel was on Raymond Arroyo’s show this Thursday on EWTN. One thing he said did amaze me. He said that it is up to the laity to evangelize the non-believers, including our “pagan” baptized Catholics. Wow! I think it starts with our shepherds. We, of course, have our role to play, and please God, we will continue to do that. We desperately need our priests and bishops to PREACH AND TEACH FROM THE PULPIT - THE TRUTHS OF THE GOSPEL AND THE TEACHINGS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. It’s time - way past time. Let us pray.
After reading every article and the comments on the presidential election, I conclude that I am no longer welcome in the Catholic Church or by my the people writing and posting here. It makes me very sad. I voted for Barack Obama and would do so again, in good conscience.
Your “family” wasn’t “caught” and taken to the US against their will, dear anon. Rather they eagerly jumped in head first. And the US immigration system is easy to escape, just go home.
“And God said, ‘Take what you will but pay for it’.”—Spanish proverb.
Since God has been driven out of our nation, who else can people rely upon except the government? That’s all they know! It’s way past time to put God back as the one we rely upon and trust. And, since the Catholic Church is the largest Christian denomination in our country, Jesus is calling his Church to take the lead. We’ve all heard of the “fiscal cliff” that will take place on January 2, 2013 if we don’t have a national budget. But more importantly, and let there be no mistake about it, our nation is at the precipice of a “moral cliff” which, if we don’t do something about it now, will lead many souls to perish and will lead to the destruction of our nation as we know it.
“The Church is a big Tent.”
At this hour it is late. Cardinal Dolan has declared that we had two Catholic candidates running for the office of Vice President even though one can not be Catholic while denying that The Word of God Is The Word of God, simultaneously.
The veil has been lifted, for there is nothing hidden that will not be exposed. Do you have the courage to ask Cardinal Dolan to explain how The Catholic Church can possibly be seen as a “big tent” that can accommodate heresy while remaining Faithful to The Word of God?
To David Slater:
You are always welcome in the Catholic Church. ....It is the Doctrine of the Church, which you do not welcome and reject.
“I think it starts with our shepherds.”
Kathleen, indeed it did. Approximately 2,000 years ago. Your responsibility is not relieved yet. Do you not get two readings every Mass? Do you not get an explanation in the homily?
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Church teaching is everywhere! You watch EWTN, it is there in detail. Catholic radio, it is there. The internet, it is there. The catechism of The Catholic Church is online in various places including http://www.Vatican.va it is there. The world of publishing, it is there. On this website, it is there. Do you ask questions of your priest, it is there?
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As an adult you are expected to help yourself.
Howard:
Amen!
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