Year of Catholic Political Success Continues With Election Day
By Dan Gilgoff, God & Country
The past 12 months have been noteworthy for the number of Roman Catholics elected or appointed to top political posts, and yesterday's election results kept the streak going.
The winners of the two biggest races, gubernatorial contests in Virginia and New Jersey, are Catholic Republicans who appear to be committed to their faith. Virginia's governor-elect, Bob McDonnell, has talked about his Catholic upbringing shaping his political views. New Jersey's governor-elect, Chris Christie, and his wife send their kids to parochial schools.
The relatively new heads of the two major political parties are both Catholics whose lives have been deeply influenced by their faith. Michael Steele, the Republican National Committee chair, is a former seminarian. Tim Kaine, the Democratic National Committee chair, is a former missionary.
Last year, Joe Biden became the first Catholic vice president in American history.
In the summer, President Obama appointed Catholic Sonia Sotomayor as the first Latino to the Supreme Court.
Anyone have an explanation for this trend, other than it being a sign that the discrimination that Catholics faced in the United States for decades has mostly faded? Here's one: In an America that's increasingly polarized between the secular left and the religious right, Catholic political figures are well poised to appeal to the social-justice impulses of the former and the cultural conservatism of the latter.
Your theories?
- See President Obama's top faith leaders .
- Follow Dan Gilgoff on Twitter.
Tags: politics | religion | Catholicism
Tools: 
Share
|
| Comments (10) | Print
Reader Comments
The true meaning of being "Catholic"
Unfortunately, to the understanding of many Americans, it's just the act of getting sprinkled as a baby and being issued a "Certificate of Baptism" that makes one a Catholic. However, to be truly Catholic, and individual's heart and mind must be turned to God, in love and service to the Lord and to our neighbors.
Authentic Catholic faith is marked by reason, but also a fervent passion for Truth, Holy Scripture (The Bible) and Holy Eucharist -- and obedience to the teachings of the Magisterium. An authentic Catholic lives out his or her faith in genuine love of neighbor by works of mercy and charity as illustrated in the Bible and urged by church teachings on social justice.
A Catholic whose conscience has been fully formed through proper catechesis and continues to be informed by Holy Scripture and the guidance of the Holy Spirit finds it easier to embrace the path of the cross rather than to seek the praise of other human beings. Being Catholic is not about being popular -- it's about following Christ and "doing the right things."
Informed Catholics know that being Catholic means being willing to give and receive tough love. Too often ordinary Catholics in their quest for social justice concentrate all too much on the corporal works of mercy while neglecting the spiritual works of mercy. (This is where, I believe, many of our so-called Catholic politicians fall into error.)
As Catholics, it is our call to care for the souls of others, which means that we are called to teach the ignorant and admonish the sinner. But in some circles, it has become politically incorrect to accuse anyone of being "ignorant" or worse yet -- a sinner.
Yet we know that as human beings "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 8:23) We should be working for those things which are eternal -- that is if, as Catholics, we truly believe that there is more to life than what simply we see here and now.
As Catholics we need to take the advice of St. Paul, to respect those in political authority, and to pray for them (see Romans Chapter 13).
If EVERY baptized and confirmed Catholic truly lived out genuine Catholic faith, we could truly transform the world to bring about Christ's Kingdom here on earth --and we could quit pointing fingers at those who are not really "Catholic."
Catholics
Catholics take the best from both parties.
They believe in national security and have a heart and empathy for those who are disadvantaged.
Stated simply
For aura dawn the atheist and communist traitor-shoo fly,find some poo to eat.
advertisement
