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Catholic Democrats defend Obama and Notre Dame

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Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion: Presidential (Through Nov 2009)

MBS

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Fri May-15-09 10:04 AM
Original message

Catholic Democrats defend Obama and Notre Dame

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-oped0515promay15,0,6794007.story

Countdown to Sunday: Notre Dame made right decision to invite Obama

By Patrick Whelan

May 15, 2009

. . . .

Stung by Obama's persistent popularity among Catholics -- higher even than for the general population in a new poll by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion and Public Life -- Catholic conservatives were "outraged" that a defender of abortion rights would be given an honorary degree by one of the nation's premier Catholic universities.

. . . .

Obama has rejected some Republican ideas on abortion. But articulating a different vision doesn't mean he's "in defiance of our fundamental moral principles." Conservatives can't produce any actual evidence that their minor changes to abortion law or any Bush rulemaking has stopped any abortions. Also neglected is the link between economics and abortion. The deep recession hatched during the Bush years is likely to be bad for the unborn, and the prideful critics are reluctant to accept that Obama's urgent economic recovery efforts may be among the most effective ways to decrease abortion.

On commencement day, Notre Dame will be packed with parents harboring a different kind of pride. The day will be about their children's accomplishments, but it will also be an occasion for many Catholics to feel a healthy pride in Obama's presence there. He has such a remarkable life story, growing up without his father but rising to the top of the Harvard educational establishment, attaining a U.S. Senate seat from Illinois and ultimately overcoming the most singular of racial barriers in American life. He embodies much of what every parent hopes for his or her own child.

Obama won a decisive majority of Catholic votes last year and now returns the compliment by paying his respects to a pre-eminent Catholic university. It seems to me that no solution to the 35-year-old abortion stalemate is possible until we all question our assumptions, humbly reach out to those who think differently and exchange one kind of pride for the other.

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ClarkUSA

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Fri May-15-09 10:13 AM
Response to Original message

1. Nice read... K&R

Edited on Fri May-15-09 10:15 AM by ClarkUSA

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FightingIrish

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Fri May-15-09 10:23 AM
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2. It's obvious this has more to do with conservatism than Catholicism

Edited on Fri May-15-09 10:26 AM by FightingIrish

Three fourths of the student body and an even greater percentage of the graduating class are in favor of President Obama's address. Most of the opposition is coming from people with no ties to Notre Dame and a few who will jump at any opportunity to protest the way things turned out last November. We finally have a president who embodies and practices principles that Christians of all denominations profess. These sore losers and hypocrites seem to ignore all his virtues but were willing to overlook all of Bush's faults so long as he was willing to let their faith shape our government. I'm proud that Notre dame is not wavering on the invitation and is not making lame excuses not to award him an honorary degree.

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AspenRose

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Fri May-15-09 10:25 AM
Response to Reply #2

3. Yep...religion is being used as the trojan horse

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47of74

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Fri May-15-09 10:57 PM
Response to Reply #3

7. It took a while

But I finally saw that this right to life thing the Republicans were going on about all the time was little more than a four flushing shell game. They got all up on their high horses about how they were all for human life around election time, but outside of that they couldn't possibly care less about human life. I'd be lying if I said I was thrilled about abortion, but I see Democrats doing a lot more to reduce the number of abortions than Republicans ever had.

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krispos42

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Sat May-16-09 09:50 AM
Response to Reply #7

9. The conservatives need footsoldiers to get power

The biggest group that gets Republican largesse is the top 1% and large corporations. So add in about the other 5% that thinks they're in the top 1%, a few more pecentage points for the hardcore liberal-haters, minority-haters, and pro-gunners, and you still get a fairly small segment of the population. Add in a few more points for the true libertarian-type small-government Republicans, and you still don't have anything close to a majority.

But if you flog fear and Jesus, you can get people that the top 1% use to increase their wealth on the side of the top 1%.

Note that Republicans never, ever, ever tell their base that they can't outlaw abortion. They talk about it every day, how they'll "protect the unborn" and outlaw abortion... but they can't. No significant legislation can pass Congress because it will by shot down by Roe v. Wade and no constitutional amendment will pass the ¾ of state legislatures needed for approval.

It's suspension of reality to keep them coming back. It's sitting on their backs danglling a carrot from a stick to keep them moving forward for the top 1%. A goal always visible but never attainable.

Why do you think they're flogging gay marriage so much now? Unlike abortion, gay marriage is something they CAN do about.

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Cha

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Sat May-16-09 04:54 PM
Response to Reply #9

15. They don't want Catholics to see

Prez Obama as an intelligent caring human being, either.

They'd lose some fundraising without that wedgie.

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LiberalFighter

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Fri May-15-09 10:28 AM
Response to Reply #2

4. If they don't agree with Notre Dame's position then just don't donate any money to them.

That will show them.

Oh wait. I bet most of them don't!!!

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griloco

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Fri May-15-09 09:42 PM
Response to Original message

5. google the name of any bishop that opposes Obama

and "pedophile".
I doubt you'll be surprised.

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vaberella

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Fri May-15-09 09:44 PM
Response to Original message

6. I'm a Catholic....we like O here. But I'm from NYC---different type of Catholic...Anti-Pope too. n/t

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Kdillard

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Sat May-16-09 06:40 AM
Response to Original message

8. Thanks. I am looking forward to his speech tomorrow.

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ecstatic

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Sat May-16-09 11:05 AM
Response to Original message

10. I'm curious: Are all of Notre Dame's star athletes devout, pro-life Catholics?

If not, doesn't that make them a bunch of hypocrites?

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burning rain

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Sat May-16-09 05:51 PM
Response to Reply #10

18. I bet they're mostly modern-minded college students who want to have a good time....

and, like most, don't have much use for crap theocon issues like pro-life and anti-gay, however much the traditionalists may gnash their teeth and pull their hair.

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Dappleganger

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Sat May-16-09 11:12 AM
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11. Do they also protest pro-death penalty speakers there as well?

Just curious if there is any consistency.

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Zynx

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Sat May-16-09 11:22 AM
Response to Reply #11

12. Of course not.

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demosincebirth

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Mon May-18-09 02:25 PM
Response to Reply #11

19. MIsconception: You cannot call yourself pro-life if you support the death penalty.

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rvablue

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Sat May-16-09 04:21 PM
Response to Original message

13. Kicking! Yes, most Catholics both in the election and at ND support the President!! n/t

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Cha

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Sat May-16-09 04:50 PM
Response to Original message

14. I hadn't thought of this correlation..

"Obama won a decisive majority of Catholic votes last year and now returns the compliment by paying his respects to a pre-eminent Catholic university. It seems to me that no solution to the 35-year-old abortion stalemate is possible until we all question our assumptions, humbly reach out to those who think differently and exchange one kind of pride for the other."

The "conservative catholics" don't mind killing innocent people in a misbegotten war On Iraq, the death penalty, or a party that thrives on Hate and LIES.. but when it comes to safe sex, parental planning, and a woman's Choice..their poisonous fangs come out.

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DesertRat

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Sat May-16-09 05:24 PM
Response to Original message

16. Good read. Thanks for posting

k&r

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burning rain

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Sat May-16-09 05:44 PM
Response to Original message

17. Those Catholics who are conservatives need to get a clue.

Although their Church is anti-choice, it is not a single-issue church and it does not exist so as to prop up the Republican Party or the conservative movement. And they also need to give up their stupid pipe dream of pro-choice Catholics, and Catholics who vote for pro-choice Democrats, being excommunicated. That would result in the loss of about half of US Catholics. Whatever else the Catholic Church is, like most churches it's largely a business, and it does not want to lose membership, market share, or money.

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