General Discussion

BarackTheVote

(938 posts)

189. I am a practicing church-going Catholic

Thu Jan 2, 2014, 07:50 PM

Jan 2014

For a long time, the vast majority of my friends were Catholic (up until college). I helped to run a Catholic youth group for close to ten years. I've seen the process I talked about first hand, progressive-minded Catholics voting for Republicans because the Bishops said abortion was THE PRIORITY. There was even a time when I was tempted to go in this direction until I had a long talk with my Catholic FDR Democrat parents and they talked me off that ledge. Also, as I said, my Republican grandma was turned off to the Republican noise machine specifically because they insulted the Pope. One of the things you underestimate is this: many, if not the vast majority, of Republican Catholic voters are the biggest die-hard Catholics, the ones who give the Pope the MOST credence. The fact that he has said that the pro-life agenda is no longer THE issue, but instead has made economic equality THE issue WILL have a huge positive impact among Catholics. That is my report from the trenches.

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Pope Francis shows Democrats how to take back America [View all] MannyGoldstein Dec 2013 OP

Economic progressivism and social justice have been a cornerstone of Catholicism all my life. onehandle Dec 2013 #1

We need to do the same. MannyGoldstein Dec 2013 #2

#popeulism = a religious doctrine where one sides with the people against the sins of the elite Coyotl Dec 2013 #73

Our RC Church was packed last night... nradisic Dec 2013 #82

True, Sir The Magistrate Dec 2013 #3

OMG ! I just rec'ed a thread by jaysunb Dec 2013 #4

I recommend all of MannyGoldstein's threads. Enthusiast Dec 2013 #14

Me too. And another rec for Manny who actually 'gets' it. sabrina 1 Dec 2013 #20

It makes me feel better. Enthusiast Dec 2013 #22

Awww. I got that album for Christmas in 1982. Fawke Em Dec 2013 #114

I just love The Who. Enthusiast Dec 2013 #129

I do, too. Fawke Em Dec 2013 #178

How cool! Enthusiast Dec 2013 #179

Vinyl is best. Me, too. Fawke Em Jan 2014 #191

Me too! sabrina 1 Dec 2013 #144

I do too. dflprincess Dec 2013 #24

Ditto swilton Dec 2013 #69

Hi, swilton! With the change of just one letter you could be a great blue cheese. Enthusiast Dec 2013 #130

So do I. 840high Dec 2013 #139

ROFL!!! Number23 Dec 2013 #37

Welcome to the Dark Side. MannyGoldstein Dec 2013 #85

Either that, or a sure sign of the Apocalypse. winter is coming Dec 2013 #124

+1 n/t jaysunb Dec 2013 #127

Well let's see if we can get the Pope to help us get the politicians to commit to REAL campaign Dustlawyer Dec 2013 #138

The people are hungry for true representation, for someone who will fight for economic justice. liberal_at_heart Dec 2013 #5

Indeed...although we've been fighting for that person for awhile now... KoKo Dec 2013 #6

That is it. Enthusiast Dec 2013 #16

The lesson of the 88% is skepticscott Dec 2013 #7

Oh but he has changed quite a number of things in just 9 months. Made some nasty enemies, too... Hekate Dec 2013 #9

Give us a list skepticscott Dec 2013 #87

Don't be too lazy or prejudiced yourself to LOOK IT UP Hekate Dec 2013 #118

Then you should have no trouble linking to it skepticscott Dec 2013 #126

Apparently you are skepticscott Dec 2013 #177

No you will not get an 88% by telling the people 'what the want to hear'. Our politicians are sabrina 1 Dec 2013 #23

That's a good point - The People want authenticity MannyGoldstein Dec 2013 #30

Pretending to be one thing while they are campaigning... madfloridian Dec 2013 #68

Hmm.... Sounds familiar: bvar22 Dec 2013 #83

bvar! I knew you'd stop by and inform the discourse! MannyGoldstein Dec 2013 #84

Same to you, Manny! bvar22 Dec 2013 #100

Amen. madfloridian Dec 2013 #67

George W. Bush skepticscott Dec 2013 #89

The Pope is making people aware of the most important issue of our time. Kermitt Gribble Dec 2013 #93

And as usual, he's late to the party skepticscott Dec 2013 #99

Late to the party, when was he made Pope? WHEN CRABS ROAR Dec 2013 #141

A prominent figure is speaking out on this issue - that is very important. Kermitt Gribble Dec 2013 #145

Both immediately following disaster or war. Per usual. Giuliani had a high approval rating after El_Johns Dec 2013 #119

Well, think of it as a demonstration of what people want, if nothing else Scootaloo Dec 2013 #38

I know you're a skeptic (sp), tavalon Dec 2013 #42

He has not said that the church skepticscott Dec 2013 #90

No, he said explicitly BarackTheVote Jan 2014 #183

He and all of his predecessors skepticscott Jan 2014 #186

I am a practicing church-going Catholic BarackTheVote Jan 2014 #189

He has changed a lot, but changing a huge, entrenched organization isn't something pnwmom Dec 2013 #44

What has he actually changed, other than tone? skepticscott Dec 2013 #86

He's making personnel changes, which will have a major impact pnwmom Dec 2013 #109

Ah, I see skepticscott Dec 2013 #113

+1 theHandpuppet Dec 2013 #116

Each Bishop manages his own diocese, and the Pope doesn't micromanage. pnwmom Dec 2013 #120

Ah, good then... skepticscott Dec 2013 #128

I have to agree and disagree with you Fortinbras Armstrong Dec 2013 #148

So the the archbishop in Seattle skepticscott Dec 2013 #151

Post removed Post removed Dec 2013 #147

Ah, so when you agreed with me in post 148 skepticscott Dec 2013 #153

I'm sure the mystery will be revealed in ATA Hassin Bin Sober Dec 2013 #168

Oh, believe me skepticscott Dec 2013 #169

Admin appears to have a serious backlog in ATA, so we may have to wait a while. cleanhippie Dec 2013 #174

Our friend was apparently skepticscott Jan 2014 #180

+1 cleanhippie Dec 2013 #173

Oh what the hell, I'll rec this. joshcryer Dec 2013 #8

Amen to that... zeemike Dec 2013 #10

Haven't seen it yet tavalon Dec 2013 #41

Oh, there are people on DU who trash the Pope Fortinbras Armstrong Dec 2013 #72

A very scholarly look at the subject. zeemike Dec 2013 #78

I believe that the Jesuits believe that Mary Magdalene was an Apostle (priest) of Jesus me b zola Dec 2013 #103

Trying to explain to people here that the Pope does not have authority to change Canon Law is hard Drahthaardogs Dec 2013 #117

No, people here who understand skepticscott Dec 2013 #158

KnR Manny, and Happy Holidays to you. Hekate Dec 2013 #11

Oh, baby! Enthusiast Dec 2013 #12

well said. peoli Dec 2013 #13

now this is a post I can get behind. BlancheSplanchnik Dec 2013 #15

We are a good lot, except when we aren't tavalon Dec 2013 #40

Hope is a good thing MannyGoldstein lonestarnot Dec 2013 #17

the yammerings of petulant feral children Enthusiast Dec 2013 #18

Yes Enthusiast Dec 2013 #19

Among Catholics, Benedict had a 76% approval rating and JP 2 was at 87% Bluenorthwest Dec 2013 #55

This OP is beyond excellent. JDPriestly Dec 2013 #21

Pope Francis reflects the teachings of Christ, the Democratic party reflects 1980's Republicans raindaddy Dec 2013 #25

We know this. Enthusiast Dec 2013 #28

Christ would be against abortion, contraceptives, and gays? joshcryer Dec 2013 #43

Another excellent post! Phlem Dec 2013 #26

This should have hundreds of recommendations! Enthusiast Dec 2013 #27

Would that I could recommend this more than once. What's really good about this message is... Populist_Prole Dec 2013 #29

Bill O pissed off my Republican Catholic grandmother BarackTheVote Jan 2014 #184

It Would Be Interesting To See A Breakout DallasNE Dec 2013 #31

Too bad this party is owned by Wall Street too. PeteSelman Dec 2013 #32

Sometimes you are brilliant madokie Dec 2013 #33

Well, Obama has SAID a lot of the things Pope Francis is talking about BlueStreak Dec 2013 #34

We need a candidate who can articulate bucolic_frolic Dec 2013 #49

It has been a long grind for Catholics BlueStreak Dec 2013 #66

Amen to that. jsr Dec 2013 #35

Church polls might not be comparable to political polls NoOneMan Dec 2013 #36

Agreed to a point. BarackTheVote Jan 2014 #185

Heck, I'm not even Catholic, tavalon Dec 2013 #39

I love it that he's a slap in the face to the Paul Ryan pseudo-Catholics pnwmom Dec 2013 #45

The Presidential campaigns of Fred Harris say otherwise about Americans. WinkyDink Dec 2013 #46

Kick. Now if we can just wrest the Democratic Party away from the conservatives runnning it. Scuba Dec 2013 #47

'Bout Time bucolic_frolic Dec 2013 #48

Change: ProSense Dec 2013 #50

Pope Francis shows how to take back America if you want a Third Way regime... MellowDem Dec 2013 #51

More change. ProSense Dec 2013 #52

For those interested in honest facts, Francis is a known anti gay equality crusader. To claim Bluenorthwest Dec 2013 #63

"Yes, Pope Francis has certainly placed the Roman Catholic Church on a far better track" MannyGoldstein Dec 2013 #81

A far better PR track, perhaps. cleanhippie Dec 2013 #175

Among Catholics, Benedict had a 76% approval rating and JP 2 was at 87% Bluenorthwest Dec 2013 #53

more than half of American Catholics said Pope John Paul II was out of step... MannyGoldstein Dec 2013 #60

How sad that you would not bother to look up the facts. Bluenorthwest Dec 2013 #64

Can you please tell us the name of the last pro gay pope? A Simple Game Dec 2013 #77

That's different than what you claimed. nt MannyGoldstein Dec 2013 #80

I see at the end there you quote Francis on his private international jet... Bluenorthwest Dec 2013 #65

"Are you happy about the Uganda laws"... El_Johns Dec 2013 #122

Both are vile, when it comes to that. MineralMan Dec 2013 #154

Actually, the poster was implying the catholic church was behind Uganda's "kill the gay" laws. El_Johns Dec 2013 #176

I propose a $12.50 minimum wage initiative petition drive in every state possible in 2014. Coyotl Dec 2013 #54

Yep great first step... humbled_opinion Dec 2013 #58

First Way, BEST Way! . . . .n/t annabanana Dec 2013 #56

Maybe you haven't been paying attention but... humbled_opinion Dec 2013 #57

Two-thirds of Americans *favor* any individual big-government program you can name MannyGoldstein Dec 2013 #61

Yes we all love the programs.. humbled_opinion Dec 2013 #134

US Catholics = 88% .. US non-Catholics = 75% DemoTex Dec 2013 #59

The only problem is... GoCubsGo Dec 2013 #62

I wonder if this Pope has the nerve/courage fadedrose Dec 2013 #70

Last week Uganda, a nation in which the largest religious group is RCC at 43%, passed anti gay Bluenorthwest Dec 2013 #74

Doesn't sound very encouragiing, does it....nt fadedrose Dec 2013 #112

Why do you keep talking about Uganda? That's on Obama's friend Rick Warren, & on Hilary's El_Johns Dec 2013 #125

Here's some Francis background: Bluenorthwest Dec 2013 #71

Did they deny comunion to politicians? MannyGoldstein Dec 2013 #79

"We all must work together." RoccoR5955 Dec 2013 #75

Sounds like a good PR push Go Vols Dec 2013 #136

WE are the Moral Majority--always have been randr Dec 2013 #76

A Christmas DURec... bvar22 Dec 2013 #88

K/R Jack Rabbit Dec 2013 #91

Loved this line in the original post Dem_in_Nebr. Dec 2013 #92

Sadly, there is no social justice without the following things: MineralMan Dec 2013 #94

President Obama was against gay marriage until most Americans were for it MannyGoldstein Dec 2013 #96

I don't see his message having much effect in the United States. MineralMan Dec 2013 #97

75% of Americans approve of Pope Francis. MannyGoldstein Dec 2013 #98

The Pope is not black. Think what it would be like if he were. kelliekat44 Dec 2013 #101

The Pope hasn't called for cutting benefit to to poor, the sick, and the aged MannyGoldstein Dec 2013 #102

The pope doesn't have a country to run and is not elected by those he serves. nt kelliekat44 Dec 2013 #104

Vatican City is a (postage-stamp, as they say) country. WinkyDink Dec 2013 #133

ROFLMAO! NealK Dec 2013 #149

Actually, ProSense Dec 2013 #105

Maybe because Obama actually CAMPAIGNED for his position? With everything that is attendant upon WinkyDink Dec 2013 #132

101 posts before the race card was played Doctor_J Dec 2013 #143

How is that relevant to his non-support MineralMan Dec 2013 #150

"I don't see his message having much effect in the United States" MannyGoldstein Dec 2013 #155

Look. You're holding up Pope Francis as some sort of MineralMan Dec 2013 #156

Thank you, MineralMan theHandpuppet Dec 2013 #157

What I think of Francis is not important MannyGoldstein Dec 2013 #159

Really? Suppose you are a young, non-Catholic woman MineralMan Dec 2013 #161

You're proving my point MannyGoldstein Dec 2013 #165

Please proceed, then, Manny. MineralMan Dec 2013 #166

You decide who you want to champion. You don't decide that for others. DisgustipatedinCA Dec 2013 #160

I am stating my opinion. I'm not telling others what MineralMan Dec 2013 #162

You're telling everyone what their opinion SHOULD be. DisgustipatedinCA Dec 2013 #163

OK. Well, thanks for your reply. MineralMan Dec 2013 #164

"And then our party lost its way." Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2013 #95

So we're all going to like Pope Francis now because of one issue? Vashta Nerada Dec 2013 #106

the best thing to happen to the church since Jesus! S.A.M Dec 2013 #107

Wouldn't it be interesting if Pope Francis became the leader Occupy always lacked. pa28 Dec 2013 #108

It's possible. Could be a game changer. harun Dec 2013 #137

I have vague hopes that this pope might cause the evangelicals to... JHB Dec 2013 #110

"the yammerings of petulant feral children" Android3.14 Dec 2013 #111

K & R !!! WillyT Dec 2013 #115

KnR sarchasm Dec 2013 #121

Sitting in front of the cathedral in Spokane last night, watching the homeless guy wrap himself jtuck004 Dec 2013 #123

Pope F1 (heh) is moving apace. Anyone who thinks he should simply throw over doctrine is nuts. Who WinkyDink Dec 2013 #131

you seem to confuse properly legislated secular law with 'doctrine'. Bluenorthwest Jan 2014 #182

I believe you should direct this post to the OP. I am as secular as one can get, idjit. WinkyDink Jan 2014 #193

Depending on what Lutheran Denomenation your in.. PatrynXX Dec 2013 #135

Catalyst voteearlyvoteoften Dec 2013 #140

That message is how candidate Obama won the landslide in 2008 Doctor_J Dec 2013 #142

Great post, Manny. woo me with science Dec 2013 #146

k&r for economic justice. n/t Laelth Dec 2013 #152

Hell-o Manny, rustbeltvoice Dec 2013 #167

Thank you. I note that Raymond Burke was MannyGoldstein Dec 2013 #170

Yes. rustbeltvoice Dec 2013 #172

Welcome to DU! BarackTheVote Jan 2014 #188

k&r... spanone Dec 2013 #171

Jim Jones had huge approval numbers among his followers as well. To die for. Bluenorthwest Jan 2014 #181

I'll let you know when the Pope tells a billion Catholics to commit suicide. rug Jan 2014 #187

Recommended. H2O Man Jan 2014 #190

kick woo me with science Jan 2014 #192

kick woo me with science Jan 2014 #194