The New York Times delivers a postcard from Catholic-rich Scranton, PA that spells trouble for Barack Obama:
Dozens of interviews with Catholics in Scranton underscored the political tumult in the parish pews. At Holy Rosary's packed morning Masses on Sunday in working-class North Scranton and the Pennsylvania Polka Festival downtown that afternoon, many Clinton supporters said they were planning to vote for Mr. Obama, some saying they sided with their labor unions instead of the church and others repeating liberal arguments about church doctrine broader than abortion."I think that one of the teachings of God is to take care of the less fortunate," said Susan Tighe, an insurance lawyer who identified herself as "a folk Catholic, from the guitar-strumming social-justice side" of the church.
But more said they now leaned toward Mr. McCain, citing both his experience and his opposition to abortion. Paul MacDonald, a retired social worker mingling over coffee after Mass at Holy Rosary, said he had voted for Mr. Kerry four years ago and Mrs. Clinton in the primary but now planned to vote for Mr. McCain because of "the life issue."
The choice of Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska as Mr. McCain's running mate had clinched it for him, Mr. MacDonald said. "She is anti-abortion, anti-gay-marriage, anti-Big Oil, a lifetime member of the N.R.A., she hunts, she fishes -- she is the perfect woman!"
One parishioner ruled out voting for Mr. Obama explicitly because he is black. "Are they going to make it the Black House?" Ray McCormick asked, to embarrassed hushing from a half dozen others gathered around the rectory kitchen. (Five of the six, all lifelong Democrats who supported Mrs. Clinton in the primary, said they now lean toward Mr. McCain.)
Mr. Madonna, the political scientist, said of the Catholic vote in white, working-class Scranton, "This is a tough area for Obama and some of it is race."
It would seem that the Obama campaign knows it has to do something to gain back ground among Catholics. Doug Kmiec's new book could be one step, but God-o-Meter wonders if Obama has something bigger in the offing, possible involving a cradle Catholic named Joe Biden.
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The Republicans have long used Abortion as a proxy or a moral veneer to hide behind when other issues such as the economy are a complete failure for them. That is the case now, but also after reading this blog and NYT piece it is apparent that it is being used to hide the race issue as well. I ran into this in PA during the primary, but did not figure some would be so open about it, nor would it have an impact. I now believe that race will play a major role underneath the veneer of abortion as the right tries to trump Obama on the economy. The Bishops must speak out on the intrinsic evil of racism.
The Bishops are simply conflicted at times on the state of life. They argue that all abortion at every stage of conception is a sin against life, but they do not condemn war or nuclearization that guarantees a mass loss of life. The same also applies to other life issues such as capital punishment, poverty alleviation, disease control and food insecurity. It is the inconsistency of their life arguments that confuse people.
God-o-Meter: It is problematic to state that while you agree with the Catholic Church on abortion that does not translate into public policy. They are saying that they believe as the Catholic Church that the unborn are fully human but they can not protect their lives. It is different than saying that the unborn child is not a human therefore not deserving of human rights. In the case of Biden and Pelosi, they went even further by publicly offering an alternate view of the Catholic Church's position.
Eric McFadden: I am small town Catholic in the Philadelphia area and I can't help but see your post as race baiting. I've been in the pro-life movement for 25 years and have worked with hundreds of social conservatives from PA and never once, never once, seen any evidence of racism. Racism exists, to be sure but your assertion is way out of line. Your claim to the Bishop's "inconsistency" on life is fallacious. For one, the Bishops are very clear concerning the subjects you cite. Although I have not seen any encyclicals on food insecurity, something tells me the Bishops would be for that. All issues are not equal. Wars are sometimes necessary and we can argue the particular instances. Capital Punishment was once necessary and now the Church teaches it should be “very rare, if not practically nonexistent." BTW, didn’t Clinton run home to execute that mentally challenged man during the 92 campaign? 42 people were executed in the US last year. Abortion claims 42 people every 16 minutes. I am a Great Society democrat so I’m not so sure Obama will eliminate poverty but I know strong families will go a long way to help. For the Catholic Church abortion is the direct killing of a innocent human life there isn’t much room for maneuver there.
Practicing Catholics know there is an inherent contradiction between worshipping God and supporting a ticket that thinks it's okay to kill unborn children--or in Obama's case--let them die if they happen to survive the abortion. This is not rocket science. Practicing Catholics, at least most, think unborn life and babies are worth protecting--and this is a central, identifiying isssue for them. It is part of who they are, and most of them will never leave it behind. Feed the poor but kill the unborn?--it dosn't make sense and they know it.
Doesn't your bible say that "though shall not judge". Why, then do you feel qualified to decide what another person should do with their body? If you feel they are committing a sin, let God judge them.
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