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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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im beginning to get the opinion this elections basically gonna come down to th nonreligious vs the very religious. anyone else agree?
Not at all. Most of the Democratic base is religious and niether Romney or Paul Ryan are extremely religious, in fact they are both moderates when it comes to social issues.
im not entirlely sure just because both of them are always talking and preaching about there so called 'christian values' it honestly just sounds like some bull to me. but thats just me
"Ayn Rand is the reason I got into politics." Paul Ryan
Ayn Rand spend her entire career condemning helping the poor and elderly with "evil" programs like Social Security and Medicare. But when she retired she took full advantage of these same programs.
There is nothing remotely Christian about the values that drive Paul Ryan.
There is nothing remotely Christian about most "Christians" in America.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAvDtPz33w0
...and a self centered egotist like Bill Maher would know anything about it. He is pathetic.
Bill Maher is a pretty smart guy. You must not watch his show.
You forgot the Jesus that drove the money changers from the temple Bill, "So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables."
Ryan a Catholic? The Catholic teachings are the exact opposite of objectivism as preached by Ayn Rand. According to her, God does not exist, religions enslave men, charity is morally wrong and the only thing that matters is personal gain. Those ideas contradict everything that the Catholic faith stands for, yet, that is Ryan's idol and ideological guru. Sorry, Pretty Boy, Chistianity is a way of life. You are no Catholic.
Maria, where in the Bible, Old or New Testament, does it prescribe generational welfare? Didn't St. Paul say "if a man does not work then let him go hungry."
Charity is wrong yet she was on social assistance at the end of her life. Funny that her supporters did not assist her at the end.
I am skeptical that Ryan is a staunch Catholic. He seems more like a "situational" Catholic on the surface. He has been married for a very long tim but only has three kids. If he were a staunch Catholic, he'd have in the double-digits of kids by now, because "staunch" Catholics don't believe in birth control either. They prefer it to be left to God's will. That is why I say he is probably a "situational" Catholic. Down on a woman's right to choose, but not willing to follow the other dictates of his faith with respect to his own personal lifestyle.
Guess you are not Catholic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtX_R-V5Cws
Barack Hussein Obama is NOT a Protestant. That's fine, but he promotes himself as one when in actual fact, he is hostile and antagonistic towards all Christians and Jews. If anything, he is most closely aligned with Islam. He is disingenuous about everything, but especially with regard to his so-called faith.
disingenous? really? How about some evidence for your ridiculous cliams? citations? I guess not, because what you say is nonsense.
Thanks for parroting Glenn Beck's talking points.
Got any proof to back lunatic rant whatsoever?
No?
Barack Obama is a horrible president. He does not represent America!
CNN is an extreme biased news station and anyone who goes against them is bullied.
Why would CNN do that? Why? The things they say are so off based.
Do your own investigation; do not depend on rhetoric on any news station. It's all biased!
And you got your facts from where exactly? Put the keyboard away.
Maybe now Romney can finally talk more about the other side of the equation, that is how he is going to balance his proposed tax cuts. At the same time, it would be good to look at history and see when total debt/GDP increased or decreased or even changed direction. History shows that we have not successfully improved debt/GDP using the tax cut method and eventually the only way to get out of this depression will be to increase spending. While economists around the world tend to be fairly split on the best way to grow the economy, recent austerity measures in Europe along with the growth here in the US is starting to move them in favor of spending. Of course it will be challenging for Obama to accomplish this with the republican controlled house, so the best bet to save the economy would be Romney. He most likely will move to the middle once he realizes that the economy will still be depressed even as taxes are lowered and debt/GDP actually increases. He can then increase spending, of course call it something else to ensure he does not get the label to be a big government spender – even though he is one – and as a result given that it is impossible to improve debt/GDP in the current liquidity trap with just tax cuts, Mitt ironically is the best bet to fix the economy because he is the only one that can increase spending. But it will get worse before it gets better. But at least our leaders get to keep their jobs this way, which at the end of the day is their primary objective...
Can Ryan be a VP candidate and also stand for election as a rep of congress, so if Romney loses he still has a job in DC.
Separation of church and state anyone?
You think? Look at these Bishops pleading with the government to hand-out more money to the poor. What are the Catholics and The Vatican doing with all their money and wealth?
I think the President has a big fight on his hands. He may not get re-elected. Paul Ryan is no fool.
duh
Who cares about his faith that is between him a his God. What are his policies here on Earth that is the important question.
Americans wake the frak up you are voting for a Precedent and a V.P. not the head of some religious order.
I care about his faith, I care if he believes in a God. Do I count? This man could potentially become the POTUS. I think anyone that is at the head of our public administration should be God free. No supernatural influences needed.
You know who cares? The fundamentalists in the Southeast. It's not that they'll vote for Obama instead...they just won't vote. A Mormon and a Catholic? Romney is done.
Exactly, liberal here and his faith means nothing to me. I care about who he is, and what he plans on doing.
The Ryan choice is EXCELLENT
Ryan has the courage to challenge Big socialist government programs like Social Security and Medicare.
Politicians have been deathly afraid to challenge senior citizens on Social Security and Medicare because they are such a powerful voting block
But Senior Citizens have been feeding at the government trough for too long.
It's time Seniors learned that nothing is "Free" and that WELFARE FOR THE ELDERLY is no different from welfare for the poor.
American seniors are just going to have to learn to save their money and rely on themselves in their old age.
NO MORE GOVERNMENT HANDOUTS TO SENIORS
It's time to end the two biggest socialist programs in the federal government....MEDICARE and SOCIAL SECURITY.
And the Romney/Ryan team is the ones to do it.
You are going to pay your way now old people, no more free lunch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL
Beau–feeding at the public trough? the elderly spent their lives working and paying into SS. How dare you! This kind of soulless sentiment and rank right-wing ideology is precisely what marks out the lines in this election–that and the fact that not s ingle conservative who eschews "socialism" on this site and others has any idea what they are talking about. SS and Medicare are not socialism. Obama is not a socilaist. to claim otherwise is to claim ignorance. Huge tax breaks for corporations and the welathy is actually much closer to the correct definition of what socialism is.
Is he gay? This article makes him seem gay.
@SrdncStv
You said, "Is he gay? This article makes him seem gay."
Consider the following:
– He is staunch anti-gay, and
– There is a strong correlation between homophobia and arousal by homosexual imagery.
It could very well be that he, and most if not all, of homophobes are actually gay and just trying to hide that fact.
See: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8772014
jesus was gay, what's the big deal?
Is LinCA gay? His comment makes him seem gay.
@SrdncStv
You said, "Is LinCA gay? His comment makes him seem gay."
Seriously? That's what you got from my comment? Also, what makes you think I'm a "him"? Are you gay? Are you looking for a date?
in reply to Science:
Obama has purposely tried to ruin this country. It was his agenda from day one. Just look at all the radicals he associated with in his past. That kind of brainwashing is hard to overcome. I vote for whomever I trust to have the most moral and just character, it doesn't matter if they are a Republican or a Democrat or whatever. I choose someone based on how I feel the country should be run. We have to get back to a Morally safe place. We need people of faith and good family values to do this no matter what types of religious affiliation they have. As long as they have faith in a higher power and a plan to want to make the world a better place, I'm all for it. If they come from a place of hate towards the Country I live in, I won't trust they have my best interests at heart.
As far as someone not believing in some type of Creator, I would find my life meaningless if I didn't have some type of faith in believing that there is something bigger out there than just you and me and that there is no set standard for living a life of rightful intention. Without ethics the world would become unlivable.
ryan is a rand follower, no? as do nazis and kkk folks. anarchists, correct?
".. there is no set standard for living a life of rightful intention." so it is ok for the rest of us to follow other paths, like hindus, muslims and atheists. good, because xtianity isn't cutting it.
I call shenanigans. How has Obama once tried to purposefully "ruin this country". Please, show me how Obama found Osama bin Laden and let him live, or took this country from recession to full on depression. Show me how he hasn't been a devoted father, husband and countryman or the fact that just because he attended a church by reverend wright means he holds the exact same values.
As for your little "I need faith in my life" shpiel. Give me a break. We both believe there is something bigger than ourselves out there in the Universe. yours is just a little fairy tale whereas my "something bigger" is called VY Canis Majoris. I don't need to despair in no god. I have the love and support of my family. I have the guidance of friends and family and I have the ethics and morals that society has taught me. I live just a fine life without reliance on my own inner monologue doubling as god to tell me what to do.
"ethic and morals that society has taught me"....now that's a laugh! Take a good long look at our society, our world, and you'll see moral decay
@WorkinProgress
World in decay? I think you're suffering from the Golden Age fallacy illustrated perfectly in the movie Midnight in Paris. Yes, times aren't exactly peachy, but when have they ever been? Nostalgia always glosses over the bad parts of yesteryear, so please, tell me a time that America was perfect and we need o return to it.
As for being taught morals and ethics from this society. So far I've learned that killing, ra.ping, stealing is wrong, I know these things because of their impact on society if left unchecked. I've learned that love is the most potent good force on this earth and that when people try to stop love they are bad. I've learned that hard work and sweat will get you far and free rides are nonexistent. I've learned many more things from my 25 years on this earth and although theists like you might try and take credit by tossing up your bible, you and I both know all of these things existed before the bible and they'll still exist long after bibles start being used as coasters.
WiVoter
WOW! You obviously have zero exposure to Critical-thinking. Your arguement is exactly the segment in The US that is trying to destroy the country. Your pool picks what fits your perceptions and refuses to do true research of facts. Research is painful but necessary, to pose valid and intelligent arguements. You show none of this. For your kind to believe this pure nonsense is more dangerous than the blind followers of governments gone bad in history past.
Saying that you equate a lack of belief in a creator with a lack of ethics makes you seem like a childish simpleton. Normal people have no problem basing their ethics on right and wrong as seen by looking at history. By knowing how people have been treated, how they have been hurt, and what good can be done to avoid those things, you can have morality. Sadly, too many adults are stuck with a childish need for fear, and mystical threats of punishment after death before they are able to decide to do good in their life.
@Science
Not once did I ever allude to the idea that the there was a perfect time that we need to return to. Admittedly, there are things that have changed for the better, but at the same time we have let morals fall to the wayside and all you have to do is turn on the T.V., radio, computer, or open a newspaper to realize this.
And while you may hope that Bibles will become coasters, thousands of years ago Christianity was predicted to go extinct but only grew stronger. However, I am not surprised in the least that many will leave the Christian faith....it's all been predicted.
World in decay? I think you're suffering from the Golden Age fallacy illustrated perfectly in the movie Midnight in Paris. Yes, times aren't exactly peachy, but when have they ever been? Nostalgia always glosses over the bad parts of yesteryear, so please, tell me a time that America was perfect and we need o return to it.
As for being taught morals and ethics from this society. So far I've learned that killing, ra.ping, stealing is wrong, I know these things because of their impact on society if left unchecked. I've learned that love is the most potent good force on this earth and that when people try to stop love they are bad. I've learned that hard work and sweat will get you far and free rides are nonexistent. I've learned many more things from my 25 years on this earth and although theists like you might try and take credit by tossing up your bible, you and I both know all of these things existed before the bible and they'll still exist long after bibles start being used as coasters.
I am not the only one that believes this about Obama see http://patriotpost.us/opinion/14065
I also did not vote for Obama the first time because my intuition told me he could not be trusted. I make my decisions based on knowledge and inner knowing. When Obama was elected I just sat back and took a wait and see approach to see if my intuition was correct. Everything I see and believe today has just proven to me that I was right about him all along.
and for the record, I am Gnostic by religion, but I also believe in many other types of faith. I have reflected and studied other religions to come to the conclusion of what my true belief is in God, a Spiritual Hierarchy, Creator or whatever you want to call it.
I am not saying that people cannot make a conscious decision of what is wrong or right but belief in a higher power makes someone strive to stay stronger in their convictions of how they act when given to temptation and making the wrong or right decisions or choices. There is of course free will. But hopefully given some teachings or values taught by their family or their church will help them make the right choice. Unfortunately, not everyone does have that. So some need a little more help and hopefully a mentor or a religion will help them to see the right choices, etc.
I also want to say that there are some people who never believe in God up until their deaths but usually a person when they get to middle age start asking the bigger questions of what life is really about and sometimes but not all times that includes searching for the truth if there is a higher power or not.
Otherwise it depends on sometimes a spiritual awakening caused by some tragedy or some other life altering event when someone starts to do some soul searching that they look for these answers. Some people just don't care to find out the answers as they don't think it's important at all.
And I'm not saying that Science has no place for consideration here, I truly believe that creation was caused by both, Science and a Creator of some sort whether it be a God or some other benevolent force.
@WorkinProgress
By saying the world is falling into decay you are implying that the world wasn't decaying before and now it is. I'm sorry if I misunderstood you, however if you believe that there was no perfect or "better" time, then how are we decaying as a society if we are getting better? As for turning on the media to see what's going on, it's called the 24 hour news cycle and it's a recent phenomenon that has shined a light on what was once normally hidden from the public eye. Everything you read about and see has been happening way before we started reporting on it. This isn't new and in fact, if you look at statistics, we're getting better.
As for your little quip about christianity, just because christians actually became a force in the world does not mean they always will be. Empires rise and fall, cultures are created and destroyed. It's the cycle of things and christianity is not immune. Keep in mind that during the time of jesus and his followers, there were a lot of different jews all preaching their own version of where judaism should go and how it could survive. Rabbinic judaism won the fight and transformed the israelites into jews who were able to keep the torah sacred and bring rabbis into power. Christianity took a different route and targeted the gentiles. What I'm trying to say is, religions like Mormonism aren't going to go away either and already christianity from where it began to where it is now has become a perversion of it's original goal and will only become more so as time goes on. Your "predictions" that you put so much weight in were made to simply help believers such as yourself to gain more strength in your resolve to be a sheep.
@WiVoter
As for you. I looked at the website you posted, it's nothing but prop.agandist drivel designed to scare people of your ilk and ignore the contributions that Obama has made already to this country. LIke I've listed before, Obama has a solid record as president and although he's not th best president America's ever had, at least he didn't lead this country into deep rece.ssion, two wars we couldn't pay for and made us a mockery to the international community like his predeces.sor. If you want to make up a consp.iracy theory of a president who purposefully tried to destroy America, look at B.ush, not Obama.
With that being said, your next paragraphs are pretty ridiculous. You "intuit.ively" knew you shouldn't vote for Obama? Puh-lease, you didn't want to vote for him because of the lies that were said and the lies you now continue to believe during his presidency. His term has been far from a disaster and if really want to look at disasters, look no further than republican controlled congress. Both parties there are literally destroying America in a pis.sing contest to see who's got the biggest di..ck.
Your willingness to believe that the older you get the more apt to believe in a higher power is quickly refuted by the mult.itude of atheists on this blog who are middle aged or older. Or people like me who have gone through tragedy and learned that a god isn't there and if there is one, then he's a sadistic son of a bit.ch. Don't think you can know the nature of a nonbeliever just because your pastor told you about one.
@Science: you are wise for your age...I applaud you!
he's got eyes that are hiding something. probably illicit relations with a priest when he was younger.
Sounds like you know a little too much about that topic.
Awesome pick! Get the Obama freaks outta here!!
Picking Ryan as his running mate will play well with the core republican constituency. Ryan is a strong proponent of welfare for the rich and super rich. Those that are bankrolling the Romney campaign probably had a big say in the decision.
An added benefit of selecting Ryan is that he may also help ease the mind of the sheeple that every republican needs to to get elected. A catholic on the ticket may help sway some of the one-issue voters on the far right to actually vote for a mormon instead of sitting the election out.
A Mormon, a Catholic and an Agnostic walk into a bar……..
And the black guy at the head of the table says no soup for you.
a mormon, a catholic and a thinking person walk into a library....
Ugh. I live for one day, when a candidate is announced, "his faith" is not even a topic that comes up.
Seriously. To me its like saying " And his VP uses two ply instead of one for that extra comfort". Who gives a rats behind. What about how are you guys going to fix the broken stuff.
Did you really answer yourself?
I find it interesting that the bloggers of this article bring up NETWORK, which has zero authority when it comes to Catholic teaching, but fail to mention that Paul Ryan’s Bishop, Robert Morlino of Madison, who is actually entrusted by the Church to ensure and protect Catholic teaching supports Ryan when asked about Ryan’s budget on Catholic TV network EWTN. Morlino said: “I consider him a fine Catholic gentleman. … He makes his judgments very much in accord with the teachings of the church, and he knows how to do that.”
The bloggers really need to update their article to mention this very key point. Ryan's budget is in complete accordance with Catholic teaching, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops needs to stop giving its opinion on matters in which it has no competence, such as federal budgets.
When one man- Morlino – gives an opinion (that agrees with Ryan's and, I would infer, yours), it's fair game as evidence of Ryan's values and Catholic-ness.
When the conference of bishops (a group charged with leading Catholics on multiple issues) comes out against Ryan, they need to mind their own business.
Makes perfect sense. If you agree with me, you should say so. If you disagree, stay out of it.
And there we have the state of religious freedom in the Republican/Tea party today.
he wont be getting the Women, Latino, Black, Jewish, Asian, LGBT & Muslim vote; or mine
I'm a female and he has my vote.
Woman here, going to disagree with you. A cute, family man with great morals? Still voting for Obama, but Ryan seems great.
I'm a woman and he has my vote as well!
"A cute, family man with great morals?"
Typical and pathetic.
And furthermore, in regards to Iran, they keep saying that their possession of nuclear is for "peaceful" purposes. In Islamic thought, "peace" means the destruction of your enemies. Ahmedinejad tells his people to "imagine a world without the Zionist regime or the USA". He wants to kill us. The devil comes to Steal, to Kill, & to Destroy. Islam considers Israel the little satan, and we (USA) the big Satan. Each time they attack our country they get away with it, they keep testing our resolve. This government under Obama is allowing it. Islam wants to raise their flag in Washington., With obama as president, this will happen, and our Christian Country will be handed over to Islam. It's time for ALL TRUE CHRISTIANS TO WAKE UP AND STOP THIS. DO NOT VOTE FOR OBAMA.
"With obama as president, this will happen, and our Christian Country will be handed over to Islam."
Ha! That's hilarious! I almost choked I was laughing so hard.
No, wait... you were being serious?
Wow. Has anyone diagnosed the paranoid delusions yet?
what happened to "blessed are the peacemakers?" The Meek shall inherit the earth?
Some Christian you are. . .