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A Commentary on the Pope's Visit By Verv Wed Apr 16, 2008 - Large voting blocs can always sway elections, and sometimes even relatively small ones can end up changing all of history (e.g. the Cuban voters of Florida in the 2000 election). Of all the critical factors in the November election, pay special attention to Catholic voters. They have an astounding track record, picking the winner in eight of the last nine presidential elections. There are nearly 70 million Catholics in the United States, about 20 percent of the electorate, and they can tip the balance in a close contest. They will be listening closely for guidance from Pope Benedict XVI during his first U.S. visit. "Benedict XVI is not a superdelegate riding into town to deliver a key endorsement," noted John Allen, CNN's senior Vatican analyst. "On the other hand, I think it would also be terribly naive to think there's no political subtext to the Pope's presence in the United States." Many people wrongly assume Catholics will lean Republican simply because the Pope is so vehemently opposed to abortion rights. But a recent Pew study found that 51 percent of American Catholics think abortion should be legal in most or all cases. The point is Catholics are not a monolithic voting bloc; they routinely switch between Republican and Democratic candidates for the White House. "The Catholic vote as a whole is a fascinating study because it is the quintessential swing vote in American elections," said Luis Lugo of Pew. "In 2000 they went, by about 3 percent, for Gore over Bush. In 2004 they went about 7 percent for Bush over Kerry, interestingly who was a Catholic candidate." The Pope has said things that can be construed as anti-war which would bode poor for McCain. He has said: "When war, like the one now in Iraq, threatens the fate of humanity, it is even more urgent for us to proclaim, with a firm and decisive voice, that only peace is the way of building a more just and caring society…" In a speech to employees of Catholic television station Telepace, he added: "Violence and weapons can never resolve the problems of man." On a basic level he is right: war cannot solve anything by itself. It takes the people to realize what to do when the dust finally clears in any conflict, whether it is realizing to take steps to insure there is never a repeat of the Holocaust after WWII or taking precautions against another Communist invasion of South Korea. However, one would be ignorant to say that war has never solved anything. If he speaks of this again in the US it could strengthen the already bold Democrats and their cause for ending a war that we are now winning. Let's hope the Pope doesn't stick his nose into politics -- the quickest way to take away the legitimacy of your power and your Church is when you overstep your bounds. The Pope ought to speak of religion lest he alienate the entirety of his flock.
Comments : 1 Comment
VRWC commented, on April 16, 2008 at 7:45 a.m.:
I think the Pope's stance on islamo fascism has been pretty clear. He may not like war, but he certainly doesnt like being told he and his religion will be replaced by terrorist scum bags. I think he realizes that the west is either going to be christian or muslim and he prefers christian so I look to hear some good things on this topic. After all he did baptise a muslim journalist to catholicism in front of the whole islamic world, quite a statement if you ask me. |
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