My Rant On The Catholic Blogspheres Increasing Cynicism Toward US Party Politics.

Quick rant here. Warning Polticial post that is a true ole fashion rant. I have other post here so if political stuff is not your thing please explore my other posts and links on my blogroll.

It seems all the craze nowadays for "Authentic" Catholics and other Christians to criticize the political parties. I see this daily as I am going through the blogs. On one hand this criticism is needed and should be listened too. On the other hand, I think this is just ole fashioned "They are all Crooks" , "They are all corrupt", and other bumper sticker statements with Catholic trappings on them. Don't get me wrong, this attitude is part of the American tradition. Americans love to complain about politicians and politics. However, I am not buying all this.

Lately this criticism has been focused on the Republican party. There seems to be a belief that Republican Christians and Catholics think the Republican Party platform is on par with the Bible and the Teachings of Christ. No doubt some think that. Some elements of the platforms are in fact very Christian friendly by the way. But the truth is far more complex

We Republicans are a diverse group. The cartoonish version of especially evangelicals and Catholics in the party is getting old. In Louisiana for instance we have a very conservative Church that is in the political mix. It is known for its football team that is associated with the school but it is a Church that is involved in the political scene. I was with a group of people that escorted a politico to speak and she got to speak from the altar. It is conservative and yes republican leaning. However, it is also full of union workers, people that have social justice concerns, people that have concerns about health care, a living wage etc. I know that doesn't fit the current box people want to put their fellow citizens in but it is the truth. However if you keep talking down to them they are not going to give you the time of day. The democrats did that and now they are in trouble for it. I would suggest that maybe this should not repeated with people that we share a lot in common with whether they are Evangelicals or Catholics.

One of my favorite bloggers is The Anchoress. In this post that was aimed toward the "conservative base" she said:

Here is a question, and I’ll be writing on it some more during the week, but start thinking about it, now: HOW DO YOU RECEIVE A GOOD?
How you receive a good has a lot to do with whether any more “good” comes your way.

I think there is a lot of truth in that. I in no way think that my Republican party or any party is on par with the Church. However many of us Christians and Catholics have been working in it and yes we have delivered on some things. We have not delievered as much as we would wish but we are in the fight.

I am sure some "authentic Catholics" that are always downing their fellow Catholics that dare to get their hands dirty in all this will not like what this Roman Catholic Magazine based in Rome had to say a couple of years ago in this article

Bush Brought a Gift for the Pope: The Alliance Between Catholics and Evangelicals.
I can already hear heads exploding. It is a good read.

It should be noted that these Catholics and Evangelicals are not wishy washy Christians that don't take their beliefs or differences they have with each other seriously. However the article hits on that true ecumenical discussion and respect has occured because we work with each other in the public square. This article is also a wake up call as to how much influence Catholics that do their best to be loyal to Orthodoxy have gained in the political realm to try to be an advocate for their Christian views. The last part of the article states

And the pope returns the affection, with an eye for the November presidential election. In the June 4 edition of "Corriere della Sera," Luigi Accattoli, the Vatican journalist who most faithfully reports the views from the pontifical palazzo, wrote that the pope has already decided: he prefers the evangelical Bush to the Catholic Kerry. And "he wants to help him with the Catholic voters."cate for their Chrisitian views."

Wow , I can the imagine the reaction that has to some folks.

The fact is that one can hope in vain for a third party, which will not happen and if it does it will be Libertarian and not friendly toward Catholic concerns , or the other option is go to the political catacombs while making sneering remarks behind computer screens about us poor deluded souls and mantaining some false sense of religious and ethical superority. Some Catholics I think are making a full time job of this.

I don't really mean for this post to be cheerleading for the Republican party. Fact is this can occur in the Democrat party too. In Louisiana with a Democrat legislature and a Democrat Governor we passed the most PRO -Life- anti Aoortion bill in the country. Why? Because pro-life Dems have stayed involved!!! Last year Senator Casey , a Pro -life Democrat, got Elected US Senator. Yet, I find that the Catholic blogsphere takes little interest in these developments and how to take advantage of it. Why is that?

Speaking to Catholics if you feel the parties are so lacking , and in some cases they are, then get involved. It is so easy to get yourself elected to local and state party offices where you can make a real difference and put your ideas into the public square. No one but the diehards show up or vote in these elections and basically a person can get elected by getting your Christmas Card list people out for you. Get involved in the campaigns and the organizations. Who knows you might decide to run for a real political office and have the honor of leading and advocating for your ideas on a State or national level. IF you don't wish to fine. But if you don't take a little pity on your fellow Catholics that are.

In the end , we return to question asked by The Anchoress: "How do you receive a good?". Let me say when we ask for your vote that is indeed a great good you give us. However this is a two way street. Many of us in the party are working to represent concerns that you have too. How do you receive that good?

I think the much needed criticims and analaysis of the parties is what we political involved Catholic need to hear. I would not be reading these blogs if I didn't think it was important. However, for those Catholics that are not working in the party structure don't assume right off the bat that we have sold out the faith or put partisan politics above our Catholicism.