Catholic Democrats
Encyclopedia
Catholic Democrats is a national not-for-profit organization of Catholics, based in Boston
, USA. The Catholic Democrats have members in all 50 American states and Puerto Rico
, with active local chapters in numerous states. It claims no authorization from any candidate or candidate committee.
The organization was founded in response to the 2004 presidential election
, which, in the view of the group, had witnessed unprecedented attempts to bend Catholic Social Teaching
to accommodate policies which are in conflict with the teaching and values of the Church. It characterizes its membership as people who share an aversion to the kind of abuses of US military power that led to the Iraq War, along with "the exploitation of social issues to advance the economic interests of a few, and the misuse of our Catholic faith for political gain."
The group was angered as well by what it perceived as manipulation of Church teaching to the advantage of conservative and Republican interests: "conservatives have increasingly used Catholic language and Catholic congregations to advance their economic agenda and political interests." particularly its insistence on “a consistent moral framework anchored in the scriptures and expressed in the teachings of the Church.” The group specifies the bishops' call for a new commitment to advancing public policies that work in the interest of “the common good.”
Catholic Democrats emphasizes certain issues within Catholic social teaching ("war, poverty, unintended pregnancy
, preventable illness, the death penalty, instability of the family, all forms of discrimination, and supporting the dialogue balancing medical advances and the dignity of the individual") which it feels that the Republican Party neglects in favor of others, notably abortion
, euthanasia
and homosexuality
. The group's website features the week's gospel
readings, news stories and commentary, papal encyclicals and resources for adoption
.
, the organization launched the Catholics for Obama Web site, which included a petition of endorsement for Catholics to sign in support of Democratic Party
nominee Barack Obama
's candidacy, the Catholic questions and answers on abortion, and a welcome by Catholic actor Martin Sheen. Additionally, the Web site included the book, written by the president of Catholic Democrats with a preface by Victoria Reggie Kennedy
, entitled The Catholic Case for Obama. The group helped articulate a new approach to the abortion problem, also championed by the Obama Campaign, that focused on reduction strategies and emphasized finding common ground solutions.http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.catholics16nov16,0,1894003.story
In the summer of 2009, Catholic Democrats launched the website, "Pope Greets Hope" to celebrate President Obama's first meeting with Pope Benedict XVI
on July 11, 2009. Dr Patrick Whelan, president of Catholic Democrats, blogged from the Vatican during the meeting, which followed the release of the papal encyclical Caritas in Veritate
and the G8 Economic Summit in L'Aquila
, Italy, earlier in the week.
In August 2009, the organization paid tribute to the late Senator Edward Kennedy, who had been a great inspiration to the founders of the group. The group has more recently paid tribute to Sargent Shriver, founder of the Peace Corps, and Fr Thomas Kaminski, a Chicago priest who was president of the community development organization that hired Barack Obama in 1985.
In September 2009, the leadership of Catholic Democrats met with the White House Domestic Policy Council in an effort to find creative and constructive solutions to decreasing the number of abortions in the United States.
appeared on the PBS program Religion & Ethics Newsweekly.
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, USA. The Catholic Democrats have members in all 50 American states and Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, with active local chapters in numerous states. It claims no authorization from any candidate or candidate committee.
The organization was founded in response to the 2004 presidential election
United States presidential election, 2004
The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...
, which, in the view of the group, had witnessed unprecedented attempts to bend Catholic Social Teaching
Catholic social teaching
Catholic social teaching is a body of doctrine developed by the Catholic Church on matters of poverty and wealth, economics, social organization and the role of the state...
to accommodate policies which are in conflict with the teaching and values of the Church. It characterizes its membership as people who share an aversion to the kind of abuses of US military power that led to the Iraq War, along with "the exploitation of social issues to advance the economic interests of a few, and the misuse of our Catholic faith for political gain."
The group was angered as well by what it perceived as manipulation of Church teaching to the advantage of conservative and Republican interests: "conservatives have increasingly used Catholic language and Catholic congregations to advance their economic agenda and political interests." particularly its insistence on “a consistent moral framework anchored in the scriptures and expressed in the teachings of the Church.” The group specifies the bishops' call for a new commitment to advancing public policies that work in the interest of “the common good.”
Catholic Democrats emphasizes certain issues within Catholic social teaching ("war, poverty, unintended pregnancy
Unintended pregnancy
Unintended pregnancies are those in which conception was not intended by the female sexual partner. Worldwide, 38% of pregnancies were unintended in 1999 . Unintended pregnancies are the primary cause of induced abortion, resulting in about 42 million induced abortions per year...
, preventable illness, the death penalty, instability of the family, all forms of discrimination, and supporting the dialogue balancing medical advances and the dignity of the individual") which it feels that the Republican Party neglects in favor of others, notably abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
, euthanasia
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
and homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
. The group's website features the week's gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
readings, news stories and commentary, papal encyclicals and resources for adoption
Adoption
Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting for another and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities from the original parent or parents...
.
Involvement with 2008 presidential election
During the 2008 presidential electionUnited States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
, the organization launched the Catholics for Obama Web site, which included a petition of endorsement for Catholics to sign in support of Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nominee Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's candidacy, the Catholic questions and answers on abortion, and a welcome by Catholic actor Martin Sheen. Additionally, the Web site included the book, written by the president of Catholic Democrats with a preface by Victoria Reggie Kennedy
Victoria Reggie Kennedy
Victoria Reggie "Vicki" Kennedy is an American lawyer and the widow of U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy.-Early life and education:...
, entitled The Catholic Case for Obama. The group helped articulate a new approach to the abortion problem, also championed by the Obama Campaign, that focused on reduction strategies and emphasized finding common ground solutions.http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.catholics16nov16,0,1894003.story
President Obama and Catholics in America
In 2009 the group applauded efforts by the Obama Administration to reach out to Catholics, particularly in a major policy address President Obama made at Georgetown University on April 14, 2009, and in his commencement address on May 17, 2009 at the University of Notre Dame. Catholic Democrats later launched a national Letter of Support for President Obama, Notre Dame, and Catholic higher education that was signed by thousands of Catholics across the country. The group also launched the website, Catholics for Notre Dame, which housed the statement of support, a video called Catholic in America, and a tool for individuals to send letters to the editor. They helped organize a reunion for the Catholic priests and community organizers who hired President Obama to work in a Catholic church rectory on the South Side of Chicago in 1985. They also worked with local Democratic officials in South Bend the weekend of the Notre Dame Commencement to organize a welcome rally for President Obama and a food drive, in the spirit of national service struck at the Inauguration.In the summer of 2009, Catholic Democrats launched the website, "Pope Greets Hope" to celebrate President Obama's first meeting with Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
on July 11, 2009. Dr Patrick Whelan, president of Catholic Democrats, blogged from the Vatican during the meeting, which followed the release of the papal encyclical Caritas in Veritate
Caritas in Veritate
Caritas in Veritate is the third encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI and his first social encyclical. It was signed on June 29, 2009, and was published on July 7, 2009...
and the G8 Economic Summit in L'Aquila
L'Aquila
L'Aquila is a city and comune in central Italy, both the capital city of the Abruzzo region and of the Province of L'Aquila. , it has a population of 73,150 inhabitants, but has a daily presence in the territory of 100,000 people for study, tertiary activities, jobs and tourism...
, Italy, earlier in the week.
In August 2009, the organization paid tribute to the late Senator Edward Kennedy, who had been a great inspiration to the founders of the group. The group has more recently paid tribute to Sargent Shriver, founder of the Peace Corps, and Fr Thomas Kaminski, a Chicago priest who was president of the community development organization that hired Barack Obama in 1985.
In September 2009, the leadership of Catholic Democrats met with the White House Domestic Policy Council in an effort to find creative and constructive solutions to decreasing the number of abortions in the United States.
Catholic Democrats and Health Care Reform
In 2010, Catholic Democrats president Dr. Patrick Whelan published a studyhttp://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/362/13/e45 that appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine and asserted that the number of abortions in Massachusetts decreased after the 2006 passage of universal health care there. Additionally, national director Steve Krueger wrote a policy paper on health care and abortion. Catholic Democrats also sent a letter to all Catholic members of Congress asking them to give up divisive partisan rhetoric for Lent and to pass health care reform by Easter. Additionally, the organization asked Catholics to sign a petition that called on Congress to pass health care reform.2010 Midterm Elections
For the 2010 midterm elections, Catholic Democrats issued A Catholic Pledge to America, which called on Catholic voters to support candidates whose policies reflect Catholic Social Justice. Additionally, the organization issued a voter's guide that contrasted the accomplishments of the Democratic Congress with the Republican Pledge to America. National director Steve Krueger and board member Kathleen Kennedy TownsendKathleen Kennedy Townsend
Kathleen Hartington Kennedy Townsend , is an American attorney who was the Lieutenant Governor of Maryland from 1995 to 2003. She ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Maryland in 2002. In 2010 she became the chair of the non-profit American Bridge, an organization that will raise funds for Democratic...
appeared on the PBS program Religion & Ethics Newsweekly.
External links
- Catholic Democrats
- Origins of the Catholic Democrats
- Faith-related events at the 2008 Democratic Convention
- Activities around 2008 Republican Convention
- On the relationship between Catholicism and community organizing
- Catholic voters' shift: Why the flock disregarded some bishops' advice and helped sweep Barack Obama into office, Baltimore Sun, Patrick Whelan and Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, November 16, 2008
- Catholics for Obama
- Catholic Democrats Statement of Support for Notre Dame
- Catholics for Notre Dame
- Catholic in America video
- "Pope Greets Hope"
- Now is the time to pass health care
- A Catholic Pledge to America