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 Mitt Romney's VP pick, Paul Ryan, means there will be Catholics on both party tickets. Vice President Joe Biden is also a Catholic.
August 14th, 2012
10:41 AM ET
My Take: Paul Ryan will provoke a debate on Catholic politics
By Stephen Prothero, Special to CNN A lot has been written about the “Mormon moment” in American politics. But the election of 2012 is starting to shape up as a “Catholic moment,” too. Now that Mitt Romney has tapped the former altar boy (and Rep.) Paul Ryan as his vice-presidential running mate, there will be a Catholic on both major party tickets for the first time in U.S. history. So as Ryan and Vice President Joe Biden articulate their views, we will be tuning into an intra-Catholic conversation pitting “social justice” Christians on the left versus “family values” Christians on the right. Because this election will doubtless focus on the economy, and because Ryan is known primarily as the author of a budget passed this year in the Republican-controlled House, this debate will not focus primarily on social questions such as abortion and same-sex marriage but on economic concerns such as tax policy and the safety net. What would Jesus do about our debt and the deficit? In a preview of the debates to come, Catholic bishops wrote four letters to Congress in April attacking the Ryan budget as unjust and calling for “a circle of protection ... around essential programs that serve poor and vulnerable people.” These letters, signed by leaders of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, articulated general principles of Catholic social teaching. “A central moral measure of any budget proposal is how it affects ‘the least of these’ (Matthew 25),” wrote Bishop Stephen Blaire of Stockton, California. “The needs of those who are hungry and homeless, without work or in poverty should come first.” Another letter, co-signed by Blaire and Bishop Richard Pates of Des Moines, Iowa, argued that “the needs of those who are hungry, poor and vulnerable should come before assistance to those who are relatively well off and powerful” and spoke of drawing a “circle of protection” around the “poor and vulnerable.” But America's bishops also took aim at specific policy proposals, including cuts to affordable housing programs, cuts in food stamps and changes to the Child Tax Credit. Blaire insisted that “just solutions” to our budget problems “must require shared sacrifice by all, including raising adequate revenues, eliminating unnecessary military and other spending, and fairly addressing the long-term costs of health insurance and retirement programs,” before concluding that the Ryan budget “fails to meet these moral criteria.” To his credit, Ryan responded to these letters not just with canned talking points but with a fairly detailed defense of his understanding of Catholic social thought. In an April interview with David Brody, Ryan admitted that the “preferential option for the poor” was “one of the primary tenets of Catholic social teaching.” But he insisted this idea “means don’t keep people poor, don’t make people dependent on government so that they stay stuck at their station in life; help people get out of poverty, out into a life of independence.” A year earlier, in a letter to Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, Ryan said his budget was informed by the Catholic principle of "subsidiarity,” which he equated with “federalism,” and more particularly with the practice of addressing social problems with local rather than national solutions. Lots of things changed when Romney tapped Ryan as his vice-presidential pick. Among those things is the religious dynamic of the 2012 election. We have in Romney/Ryan what is arguably the first non-Protestant ticket in U.S. history. And in the vice-presidential tussle between Ryan and Biden we have the promise of a civil and informed debate about Christian values and economic policy. For far too long, politicians have been able to name check God or point vaguely to the Bible to gain the imprimatur of heaven for their particular policies or their political party. That sort of "God on our side" politics has been bad for both our religious and our public life. But substantive debates about Christianity and politics are potentially healthy for both. A century and a half ago, Americans engaged in a collective conversation about the Bible and slavery that was both civil and informed. Is it too much to hope that an intelligent debate about Christianity and the economy is now in the offing? If so, we will likely have Ryan (and Romney) to thank. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Stephen Prothero.
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Editor's note: Stephen Prothero, a Boston University religion scholar and author of "
Biden is pro-abortion. 'Nuff said about his commitment to the Catholic religion.
You can't be pro-abortion and be Catholic. Abortion is murder and murder is a capital sin in the Catholic Church. Again, I'm only talking about Catholics. I'm not saying EVERYONE should believe this. But, if you want to be a Catholic, you can't support abortion.
I think Ryan has his own issues with Catholicism but they're not nearly as serious as Biden's. As noted in this article, his budget definitely does not reflect the Catholic faith's values of compassion and charity.
But, the real issue is abortion. Biden's support of abortion is unacceptable for a Catholic.
If you support the murder of innocent babies on an industrial scale (abortion),
you've failed the SIMPLEST MORAL TEST. Every moral dilemma after that is far more complicated.
If you can't even get that simplest one right, you have no standing to take part in any other moral debate.
Let he who is without Sin cast the First Stone. People who only serve the Wealthy who buy these Politicians are more dangerous than a woman and her right to choose. If you believe in God you know YOU CANT destroy a Soul, or you believe that mortals can create a Soul and destroy it. Crazy I know.
Dear Jeff,
Why does one Catholic decide what the other Catholic should or should not do or believe? Is it so difficult for the Catholic to just bother about what he/she is doing rather than worry about who is/is not obeying the Catholic teachings. Well, it just exhibits a lack of the courage to introspect. So, like cowards, u just go about judging others.
So what is ur take on the head of the Catholic Church, the one who says that Pedo'philia by priests is a social problem, even though he covered up their as.ses and the Church did not cooperate with law and order to bring the criminals to judgement until they were left with no choice. Why don't u start a movement to bring them down too???
How does the act of abortion by one woman who deems it right for her concern u anyway???
Abortion is an individuals choice. And several religions dont think it is evil. Since, US happens to be a secular country, abortion should be legal (now dont tell me the interests of the minority in an issue as important as this dont count).
The Catholics can do whatever they want in their churches and their homes – the hell I care!
But wait, are u worried about losing control over ur children??? Is that what this is all avout?
Let me state what I think Catholic doctrine purports: murder=abortion=contraception.
If you accept the statistic that up to 98% of Catholic women have at one time or another used contraception, should we interpret that to mean that 98% of them condone murder?
Then, Biden would appear to be in good company with his fellow Catholics (at least the half who are women)
Patricksday,
Perfect. You just said it's more evil to ______________ than it is to murder innocent babies for convenience' sake.
Thanks for clearing that up.
We all have issues.Not one is perfect and ALL fall short of the Glory of God.Most of us are seeking are undersatnding of God but that apparently is too difficult too.But one common thread exists between Believers! We are trying !! Not whinning about it. We know whats comming and how it will end. We also are scriptually taught NOT to Break Bread with the UNBELIEVERS THAT HAVE MADE THEIR CHOICE. We are to stay seperate and let them live there ways. God will clean everything up. Those that use Christianity to ride in on God's coat tail are wolves in sheeps clothing. They will pay with there souls forever. Pray for you enemies. Who ever they may be.
It might be useful for all Christians, Jews, Hindus Buddhists, Muslims, atheists, agnostics, humanists to read "Sermon on the Mount".
Maybe read it in the evening before election day. Then go out and vote. ( if you weren't disenfranchised by the Republican establishment of your state.).
You mean like
"Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits."
Would this be like a man who pretends to be Christian, but actually supports the murder of innocent babies for convenience' sake?
most usa citizens go on the teachings of jesus he fed the poor and healed the sick weather you are a beleiver in god or not as humane beings we need to do what is right
1. Does your post have a point? If so, it was not clear at all.
2. Please tell me that English is not a first language.
Jesus did not rely on the government, or the kings, of his time to do those things. He did them on his own. He was teaching us to make the right decisions on our own. Not teaching us to give everything to government to make those decisions for us. "Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's" Matt 22:21
"A century and a half ago, Americans engaged in a collective conversation about the Bible and slavery that was both civil and informed. "
Really? I thought we went to war with ourselves?
well said, unknown
"civil" was meant to be a pun, I suppose
the shooting stopped; the war continues. check out the prisons.
time to end grants to religions and put them in the same class as business. Make them pay property tax too. We are SICK and TIRED of paying for these leaches. Already we pay 67% of catholic charities costs through our tax dollar and that's against my const-itutional rights. We want freedom FROM religion as our founding fathers wanted.
These "costs" are works of charity that we the people, through the government, want done, but government knows can be done more efficiently through charitable organizations with local footprints, like Catholic Charities USA.
Which is worse, someone talking about religion, or Biden getting up in front of a group of African-Americans telling them that Romney wants to "send them back into chains", as he did yesterday near the border of N.C. and Va. That to me is pretty low, and enough to make me not want to vote for Obama/Biden.
Obama and Biden are in the gutter with their politics like I have never seen. It is unpresidential and not becoming of the highest office in America.
Chains are a metaphor and affect the lower class ( note NO ONE left or right uses this term; it's always "middle class"}. And the chains affect the middle class white and black. Most people too stupid to know it and will reelect their taskmasters. It's both tragic and hilarious at the same time.
You weren't going to vote for him anyway. You told me that two months ago as you were serving me my fries.
psycholigist has stated that conservatives will never comprehend libs, libs are too cerebral and cons can only scape the surface. Your comment proved just that.
OK, vote how you wish, but don't forget that much of Romney/Ryan's policies don't seem to square with what Jesus said and taught. And before you say, "ditto Obama/Biden", they never claimed to. The Republicans/Tea Party/Right DO claim to.
The biggest problem with the USA is.......mixing religion with politics.
you should of said just "Religion"
so true the states are supposed to keep religion seperate so how come congress prays every day and we are not supposed to do so?
Keep YOUR god out of OUR government.
Which is precisely what Jesus said. John 17:16
and force religion to pay taxes, trae them as the businesses they are. And stop giving them our tax dollars, grant money, and then running arounsd as if it's THEM doing the good. Tax dollars to religions = greater chance for exposure. That's against my const-itutional rights. I want FREEDOM from religion as our founding fathers tried hard to guarantee.
More reason to not vote for the republicans. We all know the old adage 'all politicians are liars'. I wouldn't count on religious moral values as being a part of the decision making process when the sh!t hits the fan.
trollol,
You mean democrats, teaparty, green, independent are not politians ?
Didnt really think so
How can you claim to be Catholic and work only for the Wealthiest People in the History of the World, who with "new money" no longer give back to their communities. How is Jesus who was a voice for the Voiceless somehow giving the Republicans the tumbs up and a wink?? Its all so silly.
Jesus might actually want the poor to get a job, now thats a novel idea. Pay people to be poor and you'll always have a lot of poor people. Whoever is elected needs to create jobs, end the stupid war in Afganastan and send a bunch of deadbeat Mexican's packing for their own country. While their at it reverse the Obama care and the free trade agreement that the Democrates put in place under Jimmy foul it up Carter.
It's not a wealthy vs. poor issue. It's a life vs. death issue. 3000 Americans are killed every day and we accept it as a good thing because the mother made a "choice" (or her husband/parents/significant other did). Yet, when a mother wants to kill her 2-year-old or her 12-year-old or her 20-year-old, we all agree she's a murderer (as is the person who helped her). The only difference with abortion is that, given time, we might have the person with the cure for cancer or a future Olympian or a future American idol. Why don't we just help the baby AND the mother? Aren't we smart enough to figure that out?
and to think people were worried about the Kennedys
Get religion out of politics and get this country fixed....
Yeah, because we got God out of the govt schools and look how well they are doing.
If only . . .
Seriously you are going to blame the schools? God has been out of your church. That is the problem.
If you want an example of how government and religion together turned out, just take a look at medieval history.
So let's get this right. The catholic bishops think it is scriptural teaching to redistribute wealth, that is, to steal from some people to give to others. They know nothing about the gospel or the scriptures, or worse, purposely and knowingly pervert them to their own ends.
Are you saying that those who 'run' the religion are corrupt?
Hmm....lets take this back a few years, back to, lets say, when religion was created (because religion was a man-made creation). You think they were also corrupt? I wonder what that says about religion as a whole....
GNR, most religion is man made and corrupt, agreed. Roman Catholicism certainly is.
So what religion is the right one if they are all made up?
You see a bit of double standards you have when you doubt other religions b/c they are man-made, but life yours up disregarding that very same fact.
It is simple to determine made up religions. For example so-called Christians proclaimed that the world was flat. The Bible teaches otherwise (Isaiah 40:22). So-called Christians teach as fact celebrations such as Christmas and Easter which are nowhere to be found in the Bible. They are actually rituals taken from pagan and Greek Mythology. The "Rapture" is another teaching not found in the Bible. Eternal torment of "bad" people also not taught in the Bible. So you see, their is a difference between mane-made religion and what the Bible actually teaches.
This is just yet another display of how people can make up religion as they go along. It is 2012 people, wake up already.
Yes, it's 2012, and God is still sovereign, and still your creator, sustainer, and judge.
@SciGuy
What god?
The one true God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, maker of heaven and earth, the One to whom you will give account of your life, the One who demands perfect obedience from you, and the one you have miserably failed, as have I.
What evidence do you have that he exists besides:
-Being told it by your elders that its true and believing everything they sayd
-reading it out of a book that is thousands of years old, written and translated by many people along the way
SciGuy: Sorry...no creator needed outside of my parents. Your delusion, not mine!
SciGuy
The one true God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, maker of heaven and earth, the One to whom you will give account of your life, the One who demands perfect obedience from you, and the one you have miserably failed, as have I.
Please also add – the one God and Father of Lord Jesus Christ who forgot to send his message to 70% of human race, bcoz that 70% do not believe in him!
When we are electing a President/Vice President based solely or in a majority on their faith, we are making a big mistake. I don't care if he or she worships goats. The main issue everyone should be concerned about is their ability to lead and govern according to what is best for all people in this country and not on what is best for their political party or their own personal religion.
Are you kidding? What world are you from? We vote based on similar likes and dislikes. We vote based on our ability to not only lead but lead morrally. Your comparison of goats to Christianity is likened to a child and adult mentality. Churches and States ARE seperate but we are not voting for inanimate thinngs,we are voting people.They make choices as what to belong to. So,your faulting people that are led by there Christian beliefs and their ability to lead a country. What country is led by anything other than the beliefs of those running it???
If Paul is Catholic, I'm the Pope!
As a Catholic. I am embarassed and ashamed that either one of these guys is a serious and visible representation of what a Catholic is. Catholics should never polarly be exemplified as pro abortion or pro rich over poor and that is exactly what we have shoved in our faces. God forgive us please. This is not a representation of our faith and yet there it is shoved out there with no outcry from a silent rome. My stomach turns. Next they will be portraying our Christ on some bumper sticker advertising the morning after pill. God forgive us please.
What God?
Mike...no one is "pro abortion".VP Biden is PRO women...god forbid I have reproductive choices.
And yet, Jesus went right into the culture wars and chose the poor over the rich. So, you can duck out if you're NOT a Christian, but if you ARE a Christian, you have to decide whether you're with Jesus or against him.
@Darth
How exactly did he choose the poor over the rich?
The rich seem to be doing quite well for themselves, leading perfectly good lives. While the poor, on the other hand, are struggling to survive.
Mike: Keep your church out of peoples bedrooms!
You are scaring me! Do all Catholics believe like you? I am feeling very unsafe right now, at least the Evil Doers wear hats that identify them as evil. Oh Oh I seem to remember Catholics believe in men that wear hats. You are scaring me!
Mike,
I have read so many posts by so many claiming to be Catholics here. And everyone has a different opinion. Now, whose version do I believe to be the correct one?
Well, all of you seem to be claiming that the other doesnot deserve to be Catholic. If there is so much bigotry within you believers, then of course it is simple to understand why you hate non-believers.
God never asked you to fight for him. Never asked you to argue for him. Does not want you representing him as one of his judges either!!
Rome or the pope is not the founder of the Bible.Rome does what ever suits Rome,not God.Rome suffers from ego and glorification of it self. To busy looking in the mirror.
Religion + Politics = The Devil, Bobby
You keep following your master,Satan. You cant serve both.And its easy to see who you serve. Your choice.
Religion must stay out of politics.
Can air stay out of a living lung? They are born of each other. Politics = humanistic life styles that dont include Godly ones.But they should. Why do you imagine everything in this world is going so chaotic?
Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition... Monty Python