Huck's Catholic problem

The sad thing about the American Catholic laity when it comes to politics is this: The "conservatives" just ignore the Church social doctrine on all the issue fronts that don't deal with Right to Life and Traditional Marriage, they seem to think that because the other issues deal with prudential judgments, then they can just declare that the popes and bishops could hardly know economics, environment, war, immigration, more than their ideological heroes- so just put all of that social teaching material in a Catholic Worker newspaper somewhere and trash talk the National Conference of Catholic Bishops' for sport- no problem- being pro-life and anti-Gay Marriage is all a "faithful" Catholic needs to be concerned about- it's all about the Non-Negotiables.

Meanwhile the "liberals" have major problems with the very idea of a Church Teaching Authority in the first place. But they will trot out papal statements that fit with their own conclusions about such things as war in Iraq, immigration, environment etc.. but when it comes to abortion and marriage issues, they are quick to ridicule the "celibate old men" who make up the Magisterium and deride the possibility that they could know anything relevent when it comes to bedroom politics and marriage unions.

It is a cold, lonely world for those of us who take the entire social doctrine seriously- this social doctrine as completely, neatly covered in the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, should be the blueprint for Catholic political thought- but alas- the ideologues have all the money- all we have is faith.

Huck's imm. views are so stupid that the only reason he's still in the race is because the MSM is completely corrupt. If the MSM were opposed to massive imm. they would have called him on his loony plans - and highly questionable past activities - weeks ago. For an example, see this: youtube.com/watch?v=nIbDAVQMKGM

And, this is one of the things they won't ask him about:
youtube.com/watch?v=1KxDhesWutc

As for the Bishops, his plan - and his sanctimonious support for illegal activity - are right in line with their goals, whether they realize or admit it or not.

Rod, I grew up in the county that coined the term "Reagan Democrat," Macomb County, Michigan. (I was 17 in 1980.)

My Catholic parents still live there and the problem with Huckabee is that for voters like me and my parents, we still remember Ronald Reagan and as the saying goes, "Huckabee is no Ronald Reagan."

Reagan didn't have to "speak to the Catholics" to get their vote, he spoke to America a message of hope, freedom, and conservative ideals. Reagans message me and my Democrat relatives because those ideals appeal to all Americans. Reagan didn't have to play "identity" politics, he was comfortable in his own identity as an American, and that in turn made us comfortable with him.

If Huckabee has to give a "Catholic" speech it's because he has failed to appeal to those same Reagan Democrats (many now Republicans) on the conservative ideals that attracted us to Reagan. His economic moderate/liberal policies aren't conservative and until Huckabee's comfortable in his own identity and quits pretending to be what he's not, he''ll never attract anything more than a small group of evangelical voters who believe that it's God's will for him to be elected so issues don't matter. For the rest of America's Christian conservatives (included Catholics), we're not so easily swayed.

"until Huckabee's comfortable in his own identity and quits pretending to be what he's not, he''ll never attract anything more than a small group of evangelical voters who believe that it's God's will for him to be elected so issues don't matter. For the rest of America's Christian conservatives (included Catholics), we're not so easily swayed."

Spunky, You can say a lot of things about Mike Huckabee but he not being comfortable in his own Identity and what being a pretender is not something I thing you can Huckabee is. IN fact the Press seems very sure about that!!!

I believe Mike's appeal is beyond a "small group" of Evangelical voters. I really have no idea what you mean about them believing it GOd' will or whatever. One thing as was noted in a Catholic Online Commentary last night some of the attitudes toward Evangelicals that is coming out is distasteful and bordering on what happen to Catholics.

It is a shame we will not see very soon how Huckabee would do with Catholic voters on a even playing field. Michigan is not a good example because frankly Mike has spent no time and no resources there.

Louisiana would be a great testing ground to say the least. In which has a primary all to itself. Sadly the Republican party has made it very difficult to vote in it and the vast vast majority of Republicans will not vote in it. Therefore we can't see.

However, I highly suspect if the primary was more publcized and Mike campaigned down here for a week in Cajun Country in the very Catholic and Republican Parish of Lafayette, in the Catholic Farming areas and the Catholic blue collar parishes where Lake Charles is contained he would do quite well

Sorry; included a TinyURL for that NYT story, but it didn't show up; don't know why. The story is at: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/13/us/politics/13huckabee.html?ex=1357880400&en=0ae537842c62e4c4&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

petros above is essentially suggesting that there is no "commaradaree of the trenches" between practicing Catholics and Evangelicals in the cultural wars, and if he were Catholic would not trust Huck to no "proscribe me".

If there is validity in this notion it is quite disturbing. Many Catholics want to think the ole 500 year-old notion of pope as "anti-Christ", whore of babylon stuff is something that has been been into the Evangelical Protestant museaum, even amongsts the Conservative Evangelicals. Most of this find this more humorous than offensive. The anti-Catholicism today is supposedly coming from both elites and youkels of the left and new age.

I think most Catholics are aware that Evangelicals distrust and dislike things Catholic more than Catholics distrust and dislike things Protestant Evangelical. Perhaps because Catholics are not supposed to be defined by Protestantism as Protestantism is by namesake defined by Catholicism.

On the issue of things like pro-life, seems like Evangelicals are with us Catholics in the trenches. Others, however, such as Protestant libertarian Dr. Gary North writes that the truth is that Evangelicals are not so militantly pro-life and do not object to women undergoing any abortions procedures as as long as "they are not offered a beer after the procedure". Whether this is meant to be sarcastic or not, I do not know.

"Spunky, You can say a lot of things about Mike Huckabee but he not being comfortable in his own Identity and what being a pretender is not something I thing you can Huckabee is. IN fact the Press seems very sure about that!!!"

Let me explain, someone who is comfortable within himself doesn't need to mispresresent who is or tell anyone that he's "authentic." It will be obvious.

Huckabee misrepresented his own education telling us he had a "theology" degree then it turns out he doesn't. He says his faith "defines him" yet you can find now mention on his website of WHO is faith is in just that it is a faith that "pervades our world." By contrast Ron Paul has a statement that his belief is in Jesus Christ. Huckabee's obviously a Christian Baptist and wants us to know he's been a pastor and that's helped him about other people's struggles, but he wont' release his sermons to let us know what he's learned. I know the UNbelieving world may use it for their own political gain, but Huckabee's a Christian first and politician second. Why would he fear others hearing the Truth of the gospel. Just think of all the people who would hear the gospel if those sermons were released.

nd then despite all his work in Christian service, he can't tell us if a Mormon is a legitimate Christian? That's Christianity 101 to a Baptist. His artful dodge makes political sense, but he is the one who made his faith his calling card to evangelicals specifically to bring attention and votes his way.

And then when things got out of control with the NY Times reporter and the Jesus and Satan are brothers, he PRIVATELY goes to Romney and apologizes. Fine and dandy. But then what does he do? Runs to the cameras and tells the world how he apologized, keeping the story alive and forcing Romney to talk about Huckabee and the apology. That's good politics but not a great example of humble Christian repentance.

It's not just in his faith that he puts ambition above truth. Huckabee came out with an emergency immigration plan calling it his own when he appeared weak on this issue, yet it wasn't. And now that is catching up with him. The Wshington Post has an article this weekend where the hastily put together plan was by Mark Krikorian, who admits it's his plan but his all to flattered by Huckabee's use to cry foul. What's laughable is that when the plan first came out, it was obvious because it referenced the INS which hadn't even existed since about 2003! He quickly made that change to his website when it was pointed out.

Shall I go on? It's those sorts of things that tell me Huckabee isnt' comfortable with himself and his knowledge of the issues. Or then again you could be right. Maybe Huckabee is comfortable in his own identity, his political identity that is. Perhaps, I'm still expecting him to uphold the high standards and character of a Christian leader.

It help if he did not spend his Sundays preaching at very anti- catholic churches.

You convinced me, Ande. All this while I thought Huck was just Slick Willie II-- a moderate, populist, Christian who could run a campaign with integrity; a man from Hope, Arkansas who was genuine and who could speak the truth from his heart and his mind--like Mormons believe Jesus and Satan are brothers.

Slick Willie, like Arkansas Slick, would never have sent 12 million illegals home--how could they vote for him from there?

Darn it, Ande, you win-- I sure don't want to cut my own grass.