Tuesday, March 30, 2004

Why Catholics for Bush? (Part 2)


Life. That one word, life, sums up for serious Catholics why they support President Bush. From conception to natural death, all life is precious and should be protected. The president's views and positions, though not perfect, are closer to Church teaching than any other president's since the Roe v. Wade ruling in 1973. And given the views and stands of his opponent, President Bush is the best choice for Catholics in November.

A list of accomplishments:

-Will soon sign Unborn Victims of Violence Act
-Signed the Partial Birth Abortion Act
-Signed the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act (prohibits doctors from killing babies that survive botched abortions)
-Signed the Adoption Promotion Act (increase incentives for states that encourage the adoption of older children)
-Promises to sign the Child Custody Protection Act (makes it a crime to take a minor across state lines for a secret abortion, if this abridges her parents right to be involved under their home-state law)
-Promises to sign the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act (prohibits state and local governments from discriminating against hospitals and other health care providers for refusing to participate in abortions)
-Promises to sign any comprehensive and effective ban on human cloning
-Placed "limits" on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research
-Reinstituted the Mexico City policy (prohibiting federal funding for international abortion providers)
-Directed Department of HHS that Medicaid would no longer cover the abortion pill RU486
-Directed Department of HHS to draft a new policy allowing states to provide medical coverage under CHIPs to unborn children
-Directed Department of Justice to rule that federally controlled substances cannot be used to assist suicides
-Budgeted increased funding for abstinence education to be on par with contraceptive education spending
-Doubled the adoption tax credit from $5,000 to $10,000 per child for adoption expenses
-Directed Department of HHS to Award $8.6 million in Adoption Awareness Grants (raise awareness about adoption as an option for pregnant women)
-Nominated federal judges who would be open to overturning Roe v. Wade
-Promises to nominate federal justices to the Supreme Court who would be open to overturning Roe v. Wade
-Proclaimed National Sanctity of Human Life Day (in 2002, 2003, 2004)
-Proclaimed National Adoption Month (in 2002, 2003)
-Supports Military Abortion Ban
-Stopped efforts to include the right to abortion at the UN Child Summit (2002)
-Established Bioethics Council (to increase understanding of how medicine and science interface with the dignity of life)
-Vocally supports crisis pregnancy centers, and adoption, and parental notification laws

These are subtle, but significant victories. Though we may wish the president would do more, given the political constraints (usually the Senate, and sometimes the federal judiciary) and cultural divisions (think Blue state voters) this is important and welcome progress.

We can only hope and pray there will be more to come after the president is re-elected.

We Are Finishing the War


Victor Hanson Davis sums up the reasons for fighting the war on terror. Not only does he stress the importance to finishing the war but also reminds us to fix problems here at home: deficits, debt, increasing entitlements, porous borders and a poor educational system.

Monday, March 29, 2004

John Paul II Again Entrusts World to Mary


Amen!

I love Mark Shea's blog...great stuff

Mark Shea on Kerry's Bible quoting

School of faith


The future of Catholic education in the United State...we hope and pray. One comment from the article:

Occasionally, someone will start a conversation about abstinence, abortion or politics. The debate is usually one-sided: abstinence good, abortion bad, George W. Bush for president.

Saturday, March 27, 2004

RNC Chief Gillespie Woos Catholic Voters


Good piece. Did not know Gillespie was Catholic. Some highlights:

So why should committed Catholics be attracted to the Republican Party?

...President Bush's support for faith-based initiatives...pursue whatever policy is necessary to protect this institution, including a Federal Marriage Amendment to the United States Constitution...uncompromising pro-life position and his support for school choice...

Kerry joked about his annulment


Funny? With the sad state of marriage in this country and the potential of same-sex marriage tearing down the institution even more you would think the senator would show some tack.

Why Catholics for Bush? (Part 1)


Back in Feb I came across a Yahoo! group called, Catholics for Kerry. It did not surprise me that there was such a group given Sen Kerry being a Catholic. What was surprising were the posts by members justifying Kerry's support for abortion. To me it is scandalous that Catholics, esp. pro-life Catholics, were enthusiastically supporting Kerry despite his strong vocal support for abortion and government funding of abortion here and abroad. So, I joined the group and added my voice to the handful of others who were at least wary of Kerry's pro-abortion stance. I pointed out the Doctrinal Note on some questions regarding the participation of Catholics in political life, which highlighted the importance of Catholic politicians and voters in protecting life at all stages. I shared articles and my own understanding of Church teachings. I dialogged with other members. In time the group owner guessed I was not a Kerry supporter and removed me from the group. I was disheartened and sad for those still in the group. In my mind, it will be scandalous for all Catholics as well as disastrous for the pro-life movement if a pro-abortion Catholic wins the White House.

Being removed and banned from the group I was moved to start another Yahoo! Group: Catholics for Bush. And now several weeks later I have started this blog to increase the presence of Catholics for Bush on the Internet. This is an unofficial grassroots group and I am not affiliated with the Bush campaign.

I will post more soon on why Catholics should support and vote for President Bush.

Friday, March 26, 2004

Voting Guides


I highly recommend Catholic Answers Voter's Guide for Serious Catholics. The focus is on life issues, no surprise given the guidance in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Doctrinal Note on some questions regarding the participation of Catholics in political life and the USCCB document, Faithful Citizenship: A Catholic Call to Political Responsibility.

Some other less useful and misguided (in my opinion) voter guides can be found at Maryknoll, U.S.-based Catholic mission movement and at NETWORK, a Catholic Social Justice Lobby based in Washington D.C.

Tuesday, March 23, 2004

Church Social Teachings


This article sheds some light on the ideas of Church social teachings but leaves the particular way in which to solve social ills up to individuals and governments to figure out.

Sunday, March 21, 2004

Catholics for Bush Blog


Welcome to the Catholics for Bush Blog. The email group can be found here.