Threats to religious liberty could be a unifying force for Catholic voters this November.
A group that makes up roughly a quarter of the electorate but historically does not vote as a bloc, the Catholic faithful — united — would wield significant power.
Brian Burch, president of Catholic Vote, said, “The Catholic Church has a massive political army in America — it has just not been organized effectively, and that is what we are trying to do. Sixty-five million Catholics faithfully applying Catholic social teaching would dramatically change the future of this country.”
He added that the continued prosperity of the United States depends on the protection of religious freedom.
“If we don’t act, if we don’t participate, freedom can be snuffed out, and there’s a great fear that we’re heading quickly in that direction,” he said.
An element of particular concern is President Barack Obama’s Health and Human Services (HHS) preventive-services mandate, which would force many Catholic institutions to pay for contraceptives, including drugs that cause abortion. Every U.S. bishop is united against the mandate, and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops recently completed a Fortnight for Freedom, a campaign of prayer and education about religious freedom.
Saving America
The bishops are not alone in encouraging prayer and education for religious liberty. A new campaign of prayer, fasting and repentance — 40 Days to Save America — will be held Sept. 28 through Nov. 6.
On the effort’s website, campaign organizers say the nation faces “pending economic collapse, moral disintegration and internal terrorism.” They call on people of faith to make informed choices and vote, not as members of any political party, but as “followers of the living God.” Web visitors have the option to sign up for daily prayer emails and to find online voter registration forms.
Pastor Rick Scarborough, leader of 40 Days and founder of Vision America, said citizens must stand up and say, “Enough.” He called the upcoming election “paramount,” adding, “We’re so close to the abyss that only God can save us.”
Partners of the effort include several members of Congress, Priests for Life, Catholic Advocate and EWTN. The Register is a service of EWTN.
Matt Smith, president of Catholic Advocate, said the 40 Days campaign is an opportunity to build ecumenical partnerships and “encourage all people of faith to engage in prayer and action.”
Smith added that Catholic Advocate seeks to encourage the faithful to participate actively in the political process and support candidates and policies consistent with the teachings of the Church.
In a message to the Pontifical Council on the Laity in 2010, Pope Benedict XVI said, “It is the duty of the laity to participate actively in political life in a manner coherent with the teaching of the Church.”
The Pope cited areas of particular concern, including the defense of life and freedom, the protection of truth and the good of the family, solidarity with the needy and the search for the common good.
Unprecedented Unity
Last month, Sister Carol Keehan of the Catholic Healthe Association, who broke with the bishops to support Obama’s health-care bill, announced that the HHS mandate “would be unlikely to adequately meet the religious-liberty concerns of all of our members and other Church ministries.”
Maureen Ferguson, senior policy adviser for The Catholic Association, said the issue of conscience rights unifies Catholics.
“Catholics of all stripes see the threat and the damaging effects this mandate will have on Catholic social-justice activities,” she said.
Last month, a poll sponsored by the association found that “the mandate is a losing issue with key constituencies — Catholics, independents and women.”
According to the poll, 29% of Catholics were less likely to re-elect Obama because of the HHS mandate, while 13% were more likely. Religiously active white females responded that they are less likely to vote for Obama by a more than 3-1 margin, and independents responded in kind by a nearly 2-1 margin.
Ferguson added that there has been a slow encroachment on religious liberties that is bigger than the HHS mandate.
Burch of Catholic Vote called the current coercion of religious practices in this country “unprecedented.” The effect may be that Catholic voters are united like never before. He believes that there is a large, persuadable group of Catholics who may not have shown much interest in political life before, but once informed and inspired, these poll-going Catholics could incite change.
News outlets have called the Catholic voter bloc the “bellwether” of the upcoming election. Swing states like Ohio and Florida are heavily Catholic, and though Catholics do not vote as a bloc, they do swing as a bloc. The percentage of Catholics that swings is greater than that of the general electorate, he said.
Catholic Vote, the Catholic Advocate, the Catholic Association and 40 Days to Save America are non-partisan groups. Burch reminds us that “Catholics are not — and ought not to be — firmly attached to any particular political party.”
Register correspondent Christine M. Williams writes from Quincy, Massachusetts.
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Thoughtful Catholics, in fact thoughtful Americans, have many good reasons beyond the HHS mandate to vote for anyone except Obama.
Most of the Catholics I know did not participate in the Fortnight of Freedom because they did not believe the issue was the first amendment or freedom. They thought it was bishops trying to show power or continue a ” war on women”. They will vote for Obama this year, as they did in 2008. I listen to those on EWTN who say that the Catholics now are more aware of the assaults on religious freedom: I think, alas, they are living in a bubble.
What the Catholic laymen need is a concise statement to post on our facebook and emails to our Christian brothers of other faiths. It would tell them why we need to protect our religious liberty. They will never find out
on the local news and probably do not listen to EWTN
Just how many faithful Catholics are there in the U.S.? Look at Capital Hill and try to find any Catholics serving mankind: Pelosi, Kerry, Sebelius, Delauro, Kennedys, etc.. How many Catholics going to Church even know or obey the teachings of the Church? How many ‘catholics’ are using birth-control and/or abortion? How many Bishops and Priests are obedient to the Pope? How many polls have any meaning? Will we have an election this year and will it be as dishonest as in 2008ad? +JMJ+
My wife and I voted for Obama in 2008. I cannot speak for other Catholics, but since becoming a Catholic in 2010 (previously a Lutheran) I cannot vote for Obama and support his policies. My heart will not let me. My wife, a life long Catholic, is also now unable to vote for Obama and his policies. Not because of media hype, but because her heart will not permit her to.
the mind of the catholic voter is polluted by so much sin that it can’t even see the murder of the child in the womb as sin, but as a womens right??...the mind of these same catholic voters see members of the same sex having sex together as NATURAL???..these same catholics will vote for obama who the LORD is using to punish His Church…another 4 years of obama and most of the Catholic Church will be forced to close all of its agencies that adher to Catholic teaching…..and the shepherds will be silent to avoid losing its tax exempt status….WOE TO YOU SHEPHERDS WHO FAIL TO INSTRUCT THE FAITHFUL ON HOW TO VOTE, YOU YOURSELVES WILL BE FORCED TO CLOSED YOUR OWN INSTITUTIONS, BECAUSE YOU FEEL ITS BETTER TO GET ALONG WITH THE DEVIL, THAN BE LEADERS OF THE TRUE CHURCH
All of this is just talk unless we put it into action. The main chore for all of us to do is to make sure every person in our circle of influence is registered to vote and votes. We need to find out the cutoff dates to register for the general election. Check with your county registrar of voters or your state’s Secretary of State. I believe most states are the same as to who can register to vote. Must be a citizen, you may register to vote if your 18th birthday is on or before the election date, if you have moved since the last election. We need to coordinate with our bishops to set up voter registration booths at Mass on Sunday prior to the respective cutoff dates. This is what I will be doing. All of us do a little work will have a huge impact on the election.
My husband I knew from everything we had read and studied that Obama was not capable of leading our once great country. My Catholic circle of friends all agreed Obama’s limited political and practical experiance was limited and dangerous. We all took the time to review and discuss his limited voting record - which proved dangerous. As time went on it was down hill for Obama as his background came to light. Voting is both a right and a privelge that carries with it the responsibility to study/compare the candiates thoroughly. Sadly, I don’t think many do this. Perhaps, Catholic families/friends/neigbors need to come together at the kitchen table and have those lively discussions about candidates records and statements ... we did. We also used our Catholic Voting Guide to assist us.
I think the Obama Administration’s attack on religious liberty will cost him some votes among those Catholics who attend weekly Mass, but won’t impact at all the Catholics who do not practice their faith and are dependent on the mass media for their information.
Mass-goers are a captive audience and have been educated about the topic for months now. Even those rare few in my prayer group who are Democrats and voted for Obama will not do so this time around.
The media has simply ignored the issue or echoed Obama’s false explanation.
I really wish this issue meant something to every Catholic, but perhaps there will be enough Catholics who will take it to heart to make a difference in the coming election. If not, we will see an unbridled anti-Catholic president preside over a religious persecution in this country we keep saying “can never happen here.”
The bishops made a deal with the devil when they supported the president’s health care bill. And no, I am not saying the president is the devil, but that the health care law is leading us to immoral decisions. The HHS mandate is just the beginning. Not only would the government force us to pay for contraceptive medications, which the Church believes is wrong, but the health care law will lead us down the path of euthanasia, as is practiced in the UK ( intentionally dehydrating and starving to death elderly patients in hospitals). If the president is re-elected we Catholics, as well as other Christians will continue to be marginalized, and it will only get worse.
I love that conservative Catholics would use one single misrepresented issue in an attempt to rally all other Catholics to their cause of defeating Obama. The ‘mandate’ you reference, does not exist. The Catholic Church nor any other religion based organization will not be paying for these services. Instead, all insurers are now required instead to contact all individuals and offer them total preventative care options. So, stop making stuff up - its a sin.
What you are advocating under the guise of ‘religious freedom’, promotes ‘religious intolerance’.
HOW CAN ANYONE CATHOLIC….ANYONE HUMAN VOTE TO KILL BABIES???? AS FOR US OLDER PEOPLE WE ARE NEXT AND I AM NOT SEEING ANYONE GETTING YOUNGER…REALLY???? TAKE A CHANCE WITH OBAMA AGAIN???? NO,,,, NOT WITH OUR LIFE,,LIBERTY,, AND OUR HAPPINESS….REMEMBER WE ARE AMERICANS…FOR ME I WANT TO STAY THAT WAY…THANK YOU VERY MUCH…
I whole heartedly agree with what this article states. The one problem I find is no party seems to align with Church teachings. Sure, the Republican Party official stance on abortion and homosexuality is aligned with the Church. However, I believe that they are severely lacking in some other areas. What I would like to see is a Catholic party run by the laity. I would like to see this party build its platform on the Church’s social justice teachings (including subsidiarity, community, etc.).
@Lincoln, where do you think the insurance companies will get the money to pay for the contraception? From the premiums paid by the Church organizations. Therefore, it will be the Church organizations that pay for the contraception. And we won’t even get into the fact that government has no authority to make any private company provide any service for anyone.
robert waligora ............I totally agree with you except I don’t think it is entirely up to the bishops. There needs to be better catechesis. But even if there was, how many would participates?!? The majority of Catholics do not even go to mass! Peace!
Lincoln and Jesuitical,
I wish the Obama administration would stop luring Catholics to vote for an administration that is rooted in Marxism and “false” poverty solutions. But, he has to continue using Christian rhetoric in order to continue being successful. If they would just call their intentions what they are, at least they would be genuine. But they have to lie to, granted, uninformed Catholics who are not well-formed in their faith. If you take away Catholics that voted for Obama because they thought he was implementing Catholic language, he would have lost. Using Christian language is the only way he can win.
That’s too bad Dorothy. We need to continue to pray for those within and outside the Church. Lincoln, an extra prayer for you… and your homework assignment - read the 2,700 page Obamacare law. I’m sorry that you think “it’s making stuff up” when the government is coercing faith-based organizations to provide coverage for sin. Just curious, what’s a socialist’s definition of free will?
@Gene: Be careful—that “anyone but _____” mentality is dangerous. I cannot in good conscience vote for President Obama again but neither can I, in good conscience, vote for Governor Romney. There isn’t enough of a choice there for me. Whoever I voted for, I would regret it, consider it a mortal sin, and confess it in Reconciliation as soon as possible. Both men are determined to break their oaths of office, and to vote for either is to make them commit a grave sin, which means being complicit in a grave sin.
@Lincoln: Not everything is politics, my friend. Some things are fundamental moral truths we should all be agreeing on wherever we are on the political spectrum. And the fact is that there is no exemption for individuals in this mandate, only for “religion-based organizations”, as you put it. What if the insurers are devout Catholics and believe that sterilizations, contraceptives, and abortifacients (I will not call then “preventative care” options as if they were good things) are sinful? Will they be able to opt out of this? True religious freedom is freedom for individuals to seek and live by truths that predate and transcend man-made governments, not merely freedom of worship that ends once you step out the door of the church. Our “cause” is God’s will, not something so small-minded and petty as the defeat of one candidate one election year.
I agree with AJ Speck amore vigorous media campaign with the other religious denominations must be done not just on local radio, Tv, and internet channels but on all aspects of media get those who have an inpact on the quiet lost and misguided to also stand up athletes, actor’s actresses politicians have it brought up in every church,tent,school, spread it to our military overseas it’s time for believer’s to stand up for what is right and just and pray to our Heavenly Father for his forgiveness and help and vote all the unbeliever’s out of office. For We Are The Children Of GOD!!! Not of a politico party.
It is a very difficult choice of who to vote for! While I do not like Obama’s intrusion into my religious convictions, I like the thought of a Republican Billionaire as my President even less! The man is 100 persent in favor of helping the Richest One Percent of the Population. A vote for him is a vote for the enslavement of the poor and middle class! Republicans have promised to destroy all so-called entitelments such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicade, and Obama’s health plan. This will make us SERFS in our own Country! With the help of the Supreme Court’s decision that “Corporations are People”, the wealthy can now legally “BUY” the Congress to vote as they wish. We will have a Republican Party Dictatorship, and government OF,BY, and FOR the Wealthy only! I choose to vote for Obama! He is our last hope!
Wow!! I just love the way some people on these boards bash the Kennedys. Joseph Kennedy,Jr. was killed during a bombing raid over Germany during WWII. Both John and Robert were fell to an assasin’s bullet. Yes, like you I have read all about their scandals which surfaced after they died and they couldn’t defend themselves. Granted the family are not angels by any stretch but let’s try to remember that this family has served and sacrificed a great deal for this country. Everyone of them has done public service in one capacity or another. 3 of the Kennedy brothers sacrificed their lives for this country and some of Kennedys are even (gasp!) pro-life. It’s amazing how some people only focus on the negative and not the positive. Yes, I know, Mitt Romney is also a good family man
Voting for the lesser of two evils is still a vote for evil. If I do not vote at all then I have no right to complain about the winning candidate. Who is God’s choice for American president? Which candidate actually obeys the Word of God? Both party’s canidate is wealthy and not a representative of the average American.
Maybe the time has come to separate from the federal government. The federal government has set us up for dependance. We are being oppressed by all the taxes and the laws, but have become financially dependant on the taxes and laws. If we learn to barter with each other and take care of each other couldn’t we do all this without politics?
When two or more are gathered God will be in our midst. Couldn’t we make a leap of faith?
Sorry, but my conscience tells me it would be a much greater sin to vote for Mitt Romney, yet another Republican! Given the GREAT job done by George W Bush-he almost single-handedly destroyed the USA as a nation-I will vote for Obama as the lesser of two evils! No more Republicans for me!
Ric, you obviously believe everything the liberal media tells you. Why don’t you try doing a little research and you’ll discover that although Bush wasn’t perfect, the democrats are FAR more responsible for the economic mess we’re in. Oh and since Obama is pro death, how is voting for him, “the lesser of two evils’?
Ric, My only advice is that if you’re trying to avoid “the greater sin,” don’t look at the candidates, but rather the issues. And right now, the greater sin is single-handedly monopolized by the issues that are embraced by the Democratic platfrom. I do agree that Romney is not the preferred candidate among Catholic and Christian voters. But, Obama caanot be the choice because of what he represents. So, although you may have some issue(s) with the Republican candidates from the past (i.e. Bush), in order to prevent the greatest amount of evil from advancing, you would have to vote for someone other than Obama. The chances still don’t look good for Romeny and the Republicans. But, a vote for Obama is a vote to advance greater evil by means of the issues his party represents.
If the comments indicate anything, it’s that there is no Catholic voting block in this country. How depressing.
Ric, you are sadly mistaken if you think that Mr. Obama is our only hope! For those of us who are in, or have a spouse who is in the trades, we understand a very basic truth, it is those in the upper middle class and above who make a tradesman earning a living possible. I myself used to have a resentment against people with money, until I realized something - the people with some money are employing a LOT of people! From carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and house painters (my husband’s line of work), nannies, dog walkers, etc., the wealthier people employ vast numbers of these people. For my husband, who runs his own very small business, the cost of doing business is outrageous (because he plays by the rules). He cannot compete price wise against those who pay no taxes, have no liability insurance, etc. Therefore, we are grateful to those who hire him and his associates in the trades, and believe me, someone doing a large renovation in their home can keep tradesmen employed for many months.
While Mr. Obama will continue to concentrate on getting more people on public assistance and food stamps, I believe if Mr. Romney is elected, those who create companies and jobs will feel the necessary confidence in the growth of the economy and will start hiring in earnest.
And by the way, my husband created his business on his own, with his own sweat and determination. Even with all the hours he works - an average of 50 to 60 hours a week - we only can afford a very modest lifestyle (again, the cost of doing business legally is very high). I’m saying this only so that you, Ric, will not insinuate that we are rich ourselves.
Ric ....your vote for obama, murderer of the child in the womb, by promoting this agenda from Hell…..your conscience is inspired by Satan himself..enjoy purgatory TILL THE END OF THIS WORLD, if you make it there by voting for the slaughter of children in the womb
Ric….........Who does your research? MSNBC? Huffington Post? Have you already forgotten what Obama told the Russian leader? That once he gets elected to his 2nd term he will have more flexibility? Another term and he won’t need to be re-elected. We will have a dictator! What is left of our country will look more like Greece or Syria! Class warfare! Civil unrest! Abortion, infanticide, euthanasia! All Catholics with a well-formed conscience, cannot vote for anyone running on the platform of the Party of Death. Wake up America!!!
I am so VERY disappointed that catholic vote is supporting Clark Durant, versus a real congressman with a 100% pro-life record.
It’s pathetic, and it’s a good reason for anyone who might have have given this organization money to pull back.
This is nothing but BUDDY politics. Instead of supporting the guy who will win the nomination, they are helping their friends. They should be forced to give back donations.
I will never support this organization again.
While Obama may (may) be American *technically*, the founders in 1787 never envisioned a President whose childhood was never lived in the United States. This guy spent the first 20 years of his life in Indonesia. He speaks of collectivism and village socialism which is totally unAmerican. And then as soon as he was elected with 54% of the Catholic vote, the good leadership of Notre Dame invites him to speak at Commencement against the majority will of student and ND parents. If there ever was a disconnect, the USCCB should be reading these comments instead of years spent wasted changing the wording at Mass. It’s high time people in the pew hold the USCCB accountable. Lead, follow, abdicate or (for most) please retire.
I seem to get the impression that there are a a lot of Catholics on these boards who wish the Pope was running our government. Well dream on cuz it ain’t ever gonna happen. We had an Irish Catholic President once who assured ALL Americans, Catholic or otherwise, that he would not be taking orders from Rome while he was President. In spite of the fact that many people here in the USA have turned away from God, we Catholics need to understand that we are not in the majority in this country and the best thing we can do is pray for our country and its leaders. I realize that a lot of people here constantly bash Obama for his pro-choice stance but at least he is honest about it. If you’re thinking that if Mitt Romney becomes president he will overturn Roe vs Wade, think again. Romney is devout LDS and pro-choice. I grew up in Utah and while the LDS Church agrees that abortion is wrong and should only be done in very rare cases if the pregnancy resulted from rape, incest, is a danger to the mother’s life, or the baby has multiple anomalies. I do believe this is called Pro-Choice.
New Observer,
I agree with your assessment on Obama and the USCCB because they certainly are to blame for this “54% of the Catholic vote” towards the Democrat candidate. But, if I recall correctly - and I could be wrong - I think the change in the wording was the Pope’s doing, not the bishops. And it was a good change because of the greater appreciation for the Latin translation from a poor Enlgish translation! That aside, however, these bishops that have cast their ballot for Obama, Clinton, Gore, Kerry, etc… have a long history of leading the flock astray and not preaching the whole Gospel, only a selective part of the Gospel. So if we are stuck with another 4 years of this Man inf office, they will feel the effects of it.
Michael, Do you or any other Catholic person on this blog even remotely realize that it is a mortal sin to vote for a pro-abortion candidate.
Michal! Go to confession and Ric, stop voting for your pocket book! Listen to the words of wisdom from Rafael.
Most importantly, when you were confirmed, did you agree to stand up for your faith even to the point of death? When you repeat in chuch your baptismal vow to reject Satan and all his evil deeds did you agree to those promises as long as it does not interfere with your bank account.
You have much to repent for my friend. I would not want to be you on judgement day. It is very difficult to be a Christain today. To stand up for your Christain faith is the test placed before you. Will you pass the test? Satan is very strong and he has given many a pair of rose colored glasses. There is no doubt in my mind that we are living in the last days. Christ said even the elect would be deceived. You are greatly deceived my friend and I will earnestly pray for you and those who will vote their pocket book instead of their conscience.
When looking at the two candidates, there is no doubt in my mind that the decisions Mitt Romney would make as president would be more in line with what I believe is morally correct. I don’t care that he’s a Mormon, and that some do not believe that they are not technically Christians. The Mormons may not be as in line with Catholics as we would like concerning abortion, but I truly believe Mr. Obama will have us paying for abortions through the health care mandates. Not only that, I also think we will be forced to pay for assisted suicide. These are not the only issues I am looking at when I consider who to vote for, but I believe Mitt Romney will make better decisions on those other issues as well such as national security.
While I would like to agree that Catholics are well informed on this matter, in my diocese that is not the case. We received no information about the Fortnight for Freedom. I pray that, as election day nears, my church will receive some guidance, if not from our priest, then from our bishop. Sadly, we very rarely get any guidance on Catholic social teaching at church, and our parish does not offer any opportunities for adult catechesis.
If you Google “Romney made money from fetuses” you will find articles and facts that Romney does not have the same values as a pro-life person. Romney actually profited handsomely from abortion. All Catholics should be aware of that.
@Marianne S [“Romney actually profited handsomely from abortion. All Catholics should be aware of that.”] Oh, please! Then just vote for Obama—your guy, who even supports partial birth abortion. Isn’t the message of Christianity forgiveness? I think less of where a man “was” than where he is “now.” Is this how you feel about Jane “Roe” now about her stand against abortion? You look more at her past than her conversion of the heart? What did Jesus say to the adulteress? “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and sin no more.” God does some of his most wonderous works in the transformation of human hearts.
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