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 Paul Ryan is better known for his outspoken fiscal conservatism than for leading on conservative Catholic social causes.
August 11th, 2012
09:20 AM ET
Ryan as VP pick continues election year focus on CatholicismBy Dan Gilgoff and Dan Merica Washington (CNN) – Mitt Romney’s selection of Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan as his vice presidential running mate promises to cast a spotlight on American Catholicism in an election year when the tradition has already been a major focus. Ryan, a Catholic who chairs the House Budget Committee, is better known for his outspoken fiscal conservatism than for leading on conservative Catholic social causes like opposing abortion and gay marriage. But Romney called attention to Ryan's religion Saturday in introducing him as his running mate: "A faithful Catholic, Paul believes in the worth and dignity of every human life," Romney said. And socially conservative groups were quick to praise Ryan's selection, with the president of National Right to Life saying that "Ryan has a deep, abiding respect for all human life, including unborn children and their mothers, the disabled and the elderly." Ryan’s advocacy for cutting taxes and trimming the deficit — he is the architect of the GOP’s proposed federal budget — married with his willingness to talk about fiscal belt-tightening in moral terms and his low-key social conservatism speak to a political moment in which the economic concerns of the Tea Party and the social focus of the Christian right have merged into a relatively cohesive anti-Obama movement. CNN's Belief Blog: The faith angles behind the day's big stories Ryan’s presence on the ticket also could increase Romney’s appeal among the millions of middle-of-the-road Catholic voters who populate key swing states, like Ohio and Pennsylvania. Catholics are considered the quintessential swing vote, and no presidential candidate has won the White House without winning Catholics since at least the early 1990s. With Romney, a Mormon, selecting a Catholic, Obama is the only Protestant in the 2012 presidential race (Vice President Joe Biden is also Catholic). "As a conservative Catholic, Ryan is likely to appeal to a number of Catholics in the Midwest,” said John Green, a professor of religion and politics at the University of Akron in Ohio. “Catholics who are concerned about religious liberty, he is certainly a positive there." The Catholic Church has helped frame this year’s election by strenuously opposing a rule in President Obama’s health care law that requires insurance companies to provide free contraception coverage to nearly all American employees, including those at Catholic colleges and hospitals. The Democrats have said that Romney’s and the GOP’s support for the Church’s position constitutes a “war on women,” while Romney and his party say Obama’s rule represents a “war on religion.” In an interview with CNN, former GOP hopeful Newt Gingrich, who is Catholic, said that Ryan would shore up support in a Catholic community that feels it is “under siege.” Romney released an ad Thursday repeating the war on religion charge. Next week, Sandra Fluke — a Georgetown University law student who was thrust into the national spotlight after radio show host Rush Limbaugh called her a “slut” for her role in supporting Obama’s contraception rule — will introduce the president at a stop in Denver. Ryan’s own Catholicism became a major issue this year, with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops criticizing his proposed federal budget for what the bishops said would be its adverse impact on the poor. The bishops cautioned against overreaching budget cuts that endanger “poor and vulnerable people.” The bishops’ message called on “Congress and the administration to protect essential help for poor families and vulnerable children and to put the poor first in budget priorities.” This split between politically conservative and liberal Catholics has existed for decades in the Catholic Church. But with Ryan running for vice president, some experts expect this divide to be sharpened. "What Ryan will highlight is a division within the Catholic community,” Green said. “More politically liberal Catholics are very critical of the Republican approach and the Ryan budget, but Ryan has taken them head on.” In an April speech at Georgetown, a Catholic school, Ryan defended his budget in religious terms. “The work I do as a Catholic holding office conforms to the social doctrine as best I can make of it,” Ryan said. “What I have to say about the social doctrine of the Church is from the viewpoint of a Catholic in politics applying my understanding of the problems of the day.” Ryan’s $3.53 trillion budget doubles down on past proposals to overhaul Medicare and other government programs that are seen as politically sensitive. While the budget has little chance to become law, it draws a distinct contrast with Democratic views on spending. That speech, along with other statements that put his budget into religious terms, led liberal Catholic groups to openly protest Ryan’s budget. In particular, NETWORK, a group founded by 47 Catholic nuns that speaks out on social justice issues, went on a bus tour around the country to protest the Ryan budget. In an interview with CNN, Sister Simone Campbell, the executive director of NETWORK, said Ryan has co-opted sacred Catholic teachings and twisted their meanings. This line of attack will intensify in the coming months because of Ryan’s nomination, says Deal Hudson, a religion and politics expert who ran President George. W. Bush’s Catholic outreach in 2000 and 2004. “I think the Catholic left will make this the drumbeat about Congressman Ryan,” Hudson said. “That is why it is so important for the campaign to effectively get out in front of this argument.” According to Hudson, it is possible to defend the Ryan budget from Catholic attacks, it will just take a campaign that “realizes this is what they face." soundoff (1,690 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Next »
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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Prayer changes things,
Yep...it makes the person saying the prayer feel better...no other changes but if it makes you feel better to think you're doing good, so be it...all that matters is that you get to be self-righteous and lazy not actually doing a damn bit of good. Enjoy your laziness while the rest of us think for you!
Mittens picks the man who wants to end Social Security and Medicare....This should be interesting.
By the way CNN, 16 articles and 4 videos on the same page about the same man is overkill.Please do not go tabloid on us.You seem to be heading in that direction.
Rick Santorum redux?
As the old saying goes: Give a man enough rope, and he'll hang himself... The press is shovel-ready... Let The Games Begin !!!
I would never vote for a candidate that worships a supreme being.Belief in mytholpgy is for the ignorant.
Or at the very least for the gullible.
Yeah, what a gullible simpleton that Jack Kennedy was, being Catholic and all.
Steve won't be voting for anyone in our elections anyway.
truth be told: No he won't be but as your largest ally, we have reason to care!! Now run back to thew sandbox and let the adults talk little one...your xenophobia is childish.
obviously like your web-site but you have to take a look at the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling problems and I to find it very troublesome to inform the truth on the other hand I will certainly come again again. cheap guild wars 2 gold
Yay for my Katholic Komrades! Whoo-hoo! Now, the future is not looking as bleak as it was before!
Please help save the jobs
http://www.indiegogo.com/save-our-jobs
Everything helps
I'm sure the avowed atheist and selfishness promoter Ayn Rand is proud to have a faithful conservative catholic disciple of HERS running for VEEP. That's what Jesus was all about, right? The self-interest?
I think you have it correctly. Religion. Come one. The universe was formed in six days four thousand years ago. Right. I'll buy that. Sounds reasonable.
Yeah, it was. Problem?
Nope...no problem, Until of course one looks at any available evidence and you find not one example to support the ridiculous creationist claims.
Be nice to jerry Steve, he obviously never made it past 3rd grade science.
I'll bet Jerry thinks the entire human race was started from one man, one woman, and 3 sons ... very interesting... but schtu-pid!! (think Arte Johnson's german soldier from Laugh-In)
Mirosal: Jerry is one of those who thinks incest is okay...he's simply not capable of breaking this down.
I hope he gets in, gets the Presidency (for whatever reason), and starts WW III.
Isn't that what the Republicans are hoping for? Armageddon? That's all they've been talking about since Obama was elected.
There is a difference between preparing for something verses actually wanting it to happen.
Ryan is a terrible pick! His budget plan is evil! We should've gone with Obama's! He really knows what he's talking about!
It's a shame the fascist Republicans in the Senate had to vote Obama's down 98-0...lol. So close!
That definitely is funny since there are only 50 republican senators. The vote was 99-0 with all of the senator's votes this year because the republicans wanted a more right leaning budget and the democrats wanted a more left based plan. Lol.
So when do the real republican candidates come out?
What? Really? This is it?
I look forward to the day when a President's religion is rather irrelevant and we have a Muslim, Buddhist, Atheist, polytheist, or American Indian as President. We need to settle on an underlying foundation of respect for fellow man in an individual's life to judge whether they are fit to be President or not.
Religions do not have a monopoly on morality. Millions of people respect other people and life and neither adhere nor identify with a particular religion.
Far too often, the touting of one's religion becomes the disguise used to deceive and take advantage of the innocent and naive.
"I look forward to the day when a President's religion is rather irrelevant and we have a Muslim, Buddhist, Atheist, polytheist, or American Indian as President."
Um...you want it to be irrelevant, but you also want him/her to be Muslim, Buddhist, etc., etc.? That doesn't make sense. The president's religion clearly matters to you. It sounds like you just don't want him/her to be Christian.
Brendan, I think what you're trying to say is that you won't vote for anyone who is not Christian . . .
The writings in the CNN belief blog are exercises in delusional self deception trying to create deeper delusions to support what one wishes was true, instead of examining what we have evidence for actually existing.
Theology is not a feild of study, only a practice of delusional construction.
You mean like psychology?
billdeacons: You think you made a point, but you did not. Not at all. lol
Funny thing. Billy just asked for a link to a study about brain function and how religious belief affects it.
If one doesn't believe that psychology is a valid field of study, why would you be interested in a study about brain function and religious belief?
Ryan's a Christian fascist. Spread the faith at all costs.
At least Romney practices his beliefs quietly.
Yah. Silent but deadly.
the last thing we should want in any leader is for him to have a delusional belief in ancient mythologies.
The Chritian god Yahweh Saboath (the hebrew god of war just one of many gods in a pantheon including Baal and Asherah) does not exist.
We need a leader with the intelligence to make decisions on what we have evidence for existing, not on what people wish was true.
You have no idea, do you? You read a few things, think you have it figured out, but you equate faith with delusion. You really think all those that came before your post are idiots? Grow up.
He seems intelligent enough. There are plenty of smart religious people out there. Why so judgmental?
Because there aren't enough people standing up for those with a normal belief in the divine. Too many on these forums calling them idiots. I don't mean to sound judgemental or mean, but stop calling those that believe in more than mere dust and hot gas i. the Universe stupid.
My post was directed at ScottCA.
sorry pal, my bad.
Of course you realize Mitt Romney is a northeast Democrat disguised as a Republican. Either way, the conservatives are toast, sans the jam. Hows that taste?
Paul Ryan is obsessed with Ayn Rand, an atheistic apologist for obscene greed in a dog eat dog world. My bike is a better Catholic than this fraud.
Were you also just listening to CSPAN radio lectures? I never heard of her until tonight.
You never heard of Ayn Rand? "Atlas Shrugged"?
Ayn Rand is an amazing author. Highly suggest you read Anthem.
@Mark etc
Ayn Rand is big for libertarians. The idea that individual liberty dictates free markets is important to libertarians. Think Barry Goldwater and his present heir Ron Paul and next Rand Paul.
The neocons and the fiscal conservatives aren't necessarily big Ayn Rand fans. Fiscal conservatives support free markets out of expedience, rather than principle.
The whole notion of what makes ideological 'purity' for conservatives is a very interesting study.
@Mark,
the fact that Ayn Rand was an atheist makes her 'awkward' for conservatives.
No I have not. They were talking about a picture of her at swearing in. Interesting philosophy.
You are so right. Hard to believe Ryan can like her brand of conservatism when you look at all she stood for. If he is so religious and staunch in his beliefs, admiring an atheist who believed so deeply in individualism seems ironic.
I am a person of Faith and A. Phillip Randolph is my favorite Civil Rights leader in history and he was an Atheist.
I think that some people are so black/white... on/off that some feel that everyone that shares their views is exactly the same. Sometimes, in a search for people that have all the right views, all the right beliefs or non beliefs...we skip over people who might have the solution to a individual problem that we face.
It's hard to compartmentalize Rand together with atheists. Her philosophy of "objectivism" was based on the idea that theism was moral, but that the theistic tendency to prioritize principle over pragmatism was a weakness of American culture. A hard-line atheist would completely disagree with her on that point, pointing instead toward what atheists tend to believe are immoral themes in religious doctrine (e.g.,persecution, exclusionism, etc.). Rand arrived in the US after having been raised in communist Russia, where free enterprise did not exist at all. Further, this was when there were much stronger regulations on businesses in the US and a much, much higher tax rate on the wealthy. If she had been around today to see the destruction in 2008 and the ensuing chaos, I think her ideas about the free market would be fundamentally different.
I should run for president.
Do you really want the hassle? 😉
I think itd be worth it to make the country a little better. 🙂
Damocles in 2012!!! Go, Damocles, go!
It would be... interesting to say the least.
I'd be your campaign manager. Except I'm lazy and can't be bothered. 😉
Hah! Its the thought that counts tom tom. 🙂
Fortunately, I think a lot. Unless it's too much work, or there's an episode of "The Closer" on TV.
Romney-Ryan '12- Let's look at the real issues here. All I have ever asked for in a politician is to show me your plan and then show me how you plan to execute your plan. Not many policiticans can do it. Obama Can't. Plain and simple. Great choice in Paul Ryan. It's time for a real "change"....
So, what's Romney's "plan"?
Where's Obama's plan??? and he's had over three years to form one, two of which was with a democratic house and senate – quit blaming and let's try to pull together to return the America that is great, not perfect but better than what we have now. No need to reply with your charm. :~
Nope. Sorry, Anna. If you can't articulate your idol's plan, why should I have any confidence he has one or that I should vote for him? Just on your say-so? From someone who can't admit she made a simple mistake?
@Anna,
and in those first two years he did exactly what he promised he would do during the election – pass comprehensive medical insurance.
Of course he didn't close gitmo. But I'm not sure you mind that.
He did manage to do in 3 years what G.W.Bush eiither didn't have the stomach for, was afraid to upset his Saudi hand-holding buddies or was too incompetent to do in 7 years – find and eliminate Ossama Bin Laden.
*crickets chirping* from Anna's side of the fence.
Ryans plan has been shown by official impartial sources to be practiclly insane.He would withiut a doubt drive this country into financial disaster,despair and revolution."let them eat cake"is his philosophy.But you probably don't know what that means.Obama had plans that were destined to be blocked by congressional retards on the day of his inaugaration.It was declared right the by Mitch McConnell,the racist senator from Kentucky,that this black man would not get an ounce of co-operation from republicans regardless of whether his plas wre good or bad.Is this still America!Obama did not have a filibuster proof congress so never mind theB.S. that he was in control of both houses for two years.Then nit-wits voted in theTea-party to solve our problems.Things went from bad to worse in congress.Luckily this president pulled us out slowly with no co-operation whatso-ever.That's worth another prize in addition to theNobel.Try to argue your case.You have nothing but Fox news lies.
Ryan's plan is to eliminate Social Security and Medicare. Romney's plan is to ignore Ryan's plan and to overturn Obama's plan (Affordable Health Care, Stimulus Packages investing in America). Neither Romney nor Ryan have Americans' interests at heart.
Just think what damage Romney would do to the U.S. military as well. We'd probably be set back to pre- World War 1 status. As Commader-in-Chief, with a stro'ke of pen, he could reinstate "don't ask don't tell" all over again. He doesn't need the approval of Congress to do that y'know.
Wow haven't seen such virtual since Kennedy was nominated and I was only 9 at the time, oh wait maybe it was a few months ago when Romney was attacked for his Mormon faith..........get over it people we need men/women who care that this country succeeds, cares about it's people, cares about it's security but above all is not ashamed of America or apologizing or bowing down – guess that only leaves one choice and his initials are NOT BO
Sez you. Sorry, but your idol has feet of clay. And it's not "virtual.". I suspect you mean "vitriol."
I did mean vitriol :~ dumb computer 🙂 but stand by the rest of my comment, my opinion just as you have yours.
Actually Tom, it may have been a "freudian slip." The vitriol is virtual since it has no real world significance. "It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."
Baloney. That wasn't any typo. Why do people like you always lie?
Sqep, are you making excuses for Anna? Really?
Poor Tom, poor poor Tom
Anna, can you explain how it was a "dumb computer" that was responsible? Was it supposed to read your mind? Mea culpa was the proper response.
Hardly poor, Anna. Just wondering why you can't admit to a mistake instead of lying about it. If that's the sort of person you are, why would I have any faith in the sort of candidate you'd favor?
Well Tom, I was feeling sorry for anyone who has to blame a computer for their own error and was trying to lend her a "christian" hand. Not that I am one, I just try to act like it.
Well, I admire your charity, squeptiq, but I'm not sure that "acting like a Christian" is all that great, considering the sort of "Christians" that post on here. Nonetheless, I do applaud your ability to forgive, even if the recipient is undeserving.
Cares about and is not ashamed of A merica? Then why does he have his money in foreign bank accounts.Why did he outsource all our jobs to China and India.Whats he hiding his tax returns from us for?Answer me that please.Why did he skip over to Europe and avoid military service.How is it that out of 5sons not one served in the military?Proud and caring about his country?Are you kidding.He's more concerned about Israel and he's not even Jewish!
We rarely see such furor over a typo.
@bill
Psht, Ive scene peeple positively foam at the mouth over typhos.
More info on Son of Boss, oh by the way, WHERE ARE THE LAST 10 YEARS OF TAX RETURNS Willard Mitt Romney??
Where are Obama's records...............oh that's right SEALED!!! Taxes will be revealed and it definitely doesn't have to be 10 years worth, I'm more interested in how to get this country back on the right path and it definitely isn't the present oval office holder
Oh, and I am SO sure you are quite the expert, Anna.
Tom, just as much as the rest of the "posters" on here........... you???? hahahahahahaha – chill we still have over 90 days
What's Romney's plan, Anna?
Anna, can you offer some real factual evidence about these "sealed" records? (Before you answer, maybe you should do some fact checking.)
@Anna Really? You realize you can look at Obama and Biden's tax records from 2011 all the way back to 2000. Every single year. Posted online. I would imagine if there was something bad in Obama's returns, Republicans would have turned into an event bigger than 9/11.
I'm an independent, so this whole Obama/Romney fight has definitely blown out of proportion, but that's the political game now. If Romney wants to win over any independents, he needs to show his returns, and if they actually turn out to show nothing, he could almost flip the election in his favor. If his records are clean, the Democrats can pick at their heart's content but they'll only look foolish when they come up with squat. So he's almost self-implicating by holding out at this point, whether he intends to or not.
Enough about the records already. THEY DON'T MATTER. Romney doesn't have to show more than he already has shown. Obama doesn't have to show more than he already has shown. Let them both stand on their accomplishments. (If only Romney would claim ownership of the health care reform he enacted in Massachusetts – which is highly popular and extremely successful!! You know, the plan that embodies so much of the GOP's past ideas about health care reform, the one on which Obama's plan is modeled.) People who hate Obama will continue to hate him, they will continue to believe there is this major conspiracy involving thousands of people in order to hide his school and birth records (as if that could ever happen) and they won't vote for him. People who hate Romney will continue to pick away at his business experience and believe he is hiding something in old tax records. MOVE ON ALREADY!! Gripe about the facts, not about fantasy!