The Sad Case of Catholic Social Justice Advocates Selling Their Soul in 08

We often hear that Catholic in the public square should think about Catholic principles as neither right or left. This statement is true though it is used way way too much on too many issues.

For years we have been lectured ( we being Catholic Republicans or Conservatives) that we were putting partisanship ahead of the Catholic gospel. I often disagreed but I listened to various arguments they made to form my opinion so it would be in line with the Catholic faith. Despite people telling me that these voices were just in bed with the democrat party I never fully agreed with that. Now however I do and I must say that is sad to me. The voice of Catholic Progressives and liberals has now lost any authenticity to me.

This is troubling far more than just if McCain or Obama gets elected. No it is apparent that that there is a fight over Catholic Social Justice Issues in the United States Political square. This fight is about:

(1) who will be the Catholic voices of those concerns and what voices are not allowed at the table (It appears that Catholic Republicans do not need to apply)

and

(2) Will Catholic Social Justice concerns and other related eggs in the basket all be put in one party.

Point number 2 is very troubling and I am sorry to say the hypocrisy of many Catholics is in full force.

For instance Catholic Conservatives and Republicans have been lectured non stop that the PRO-ISSUE (I am speaking of Abortion) cannot just be a issue of the Republicans. That we must fight for democrats that share this vision. I think that is very correct. In fact I have voted for Democrats over Republicans because I had a interest in making the Democrats more pro-life. It appears it does not work in reverse.

We saw signs of this early on. There was very little interest in Catholic Progressive, Liberal, Social Justice circles in Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas that ran for in the GOP primary. One prominent liberal Catholic blog that was mentioned in this NCR article on blogs main point of concern with Brownback was that he was not on all board with all facets of evolution as a personal matter and what a character fault that was!!!

Let me remind you that Boston Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley praised Sen. Sam Brownback as the candidate whose views most closely reflected Catholic social teaching .

Brownback got more attention from Evangelicals than Catholics. A sad state of affairs.

I saw this with Huckabee to a certain extent. Huckabee was even talking VERTICAL POLITICS. Yet when Huckabee was being attacked as some big socialist, for not balancing the state budget on the backs of the poor, and other Catholic Social Justice concerns by radical anti tax groups hardly no Catholic voices came to his defense!!

Why is this and why do see this happening to McCain right now? The answers came to me in a interview I saw by an Evangelical that took some time out to work for Huckabee in Iowa. He talked about what he had learned in his post The Short, Fast Ride:My 30-Day Crash Course In Presidential Politics. One of his observations was:

The Other Side Doesn't Matter (At All) -- No one on the campaign ever seemed to take an interest in what was going on with Clinton, Obama, Edwards or any of the other non-GOP candidates. For all we cared, the Democrats might as well have been in an alternate campaign universe. All that mattered was what was happening on our side.

That is a major truth. The reason not many in the self proclaimed Catholic Social Justice circles commented on the Catholic Social Justice issue in the Brownback, McCain, and Huckabee campaigns because they were NOT PAYING ATTENTION BECAUSE THEY WERE FOCUSED ON THEIR GUYS . No wonder there was silence.

However nothing is worse than what I am seeing as to McCain. Obama and Biden's Position on Gay marriage and abortion are excused non stop. However McCain views and advocacy on issues such as immigration reform (DO CATHOLIC SOCIAL JUSTICE TYPES RECALL THAT) or torture, or his history of reaching across the aisle is ignored.

They are putting all the eggs in one democrat basket. I have a big newsflash for the Catholic Social Justice and others that are pontificating all the time. Next time you go to a Politician's office and ask them to stick their neck out for your concerns they at least expect to get some attention for it. At the very least they do not expect to be attacked non stopped and made some silly caricature not one year later. This is the danger and I am sad to say Catholic Progressives are causing great harm.

Like I said it appears this is not a two way street. If Obama had done on abortion what McCain did on immigration , and torture, and other concerns we would be demanded to vote for Obama .

I thought the other nights debate was telling!!

Even the comment section at VOX NOVA , that is very pro Obama sensed the very hawkish tone of Obama. Something they complain about John McCain non stop.

However even here we sense there will no reappraisal

For Catholic Social Justice types the fall back argument is IRAQ, IRAQ, IRAQ. Thought for some reason Joe Biden is not held to this standard nor his goofy plan in he advocated as late as last year to divide Iraq into three sections. Again a horrible double standard.

Though on the issue of Iraq war Catholic Social Justice types have been horribly deceptive or perhaps we can hope just ignorant.

For instance the only question they pose about Iraq deals with the choice to invade or not. For them it is always the day before the invasion. Though they proclaim themselves to be the voice of authentic Catholic Teaching on the subject( FOR INSTANCE THE VATICAN IS AGAINST THE WAR OR THE VATICAN SAYS THIS) they sadly are not.

For instance the Bishop' latest statement on Iraq( No doubt made in consultation with the Vatican is just ignored). Especially these part:


We do not have specific competence in political, economic and military strategies and do not assess particular tactics, but we can, as teachers, share a moral tradition to help inform policy choices. Our Catholic teaching on war and peace offers hard questions, not easy answers. Our nation must now focus more on the ethics of exit than on the ethics of intervention. The grave moral concerns we and others raised prior to the war now give way to new moral questions. In the current situation the traditional principles of “noncombatant immunity” and “probability of success” suggest these questions: How can we minimize the further loss of human lives? What actions will do the most good and least harm? What elements of a responsible transition are attainable? How can theybe achieved? What actions should be avoided? How can decision-makers take into account both the realities and setbacks in Iraq and the likely human consequences of rapid withdrawal? What are the financial costs and global consequences of continued war and occupation? And, how can our nation effectively counter the perversion of religion and ideologies that support terrorism, which in all cases merits condemnation?

and

The dangerous political stalemate in Iraq that blocks national reconciliation finds a parallel in our own nation. We are alarmed by the political and partisan stalemate in Washington. Some policy makers seem to fail to recognize sufficiently the reality and failures in Iraq and the imperative for new directions. Others seem to fail to recognize sufficiently the potential human consequences of very rapid withdrawal. These two forms of denial have helped contribute to partisan paralysis.

and

What does USCCB mean by a “responsible transition?”“Responsible transition” is a morally and politically demanding, but carefully limited goal that allows for a responsible withdrawal at the earliest opportunity. The moral demands of this transition begin with minimizing further loss of human life and addressing the humanitarian crisis in Iraq, the refugee crisis in the region, and human rights, especially religious freedom.Each course of action in Iraq should be weighed in light of the traditional moral principle of “probability of success,” i.e. the likelihood that the action will contribute to a “responsible transition” and withdrawal as soon as appropriate and possible.

Needless to say sadly in the Catholic Social Justice world in the United States these questions and insights from our Shepards are not even talked about. It is very deceptive and intellectually dishonest. This also has played a part in now my look of disdain at many leading advocates of Catholic Social Justice principles in the United States. In essense I don't trust them anymore to to even give me good information.

So this election will be a sad event for me regardless of the outcome. Though I sometimes disagree with my fellow Catholics that are on the forefront of this issues as to the proposed solutions I never viewed them as being purely partisan hacks. That now has changed. They are on the whole no better than the people that they condemn