Politics: Catholic Vote . com revisited

Here's a comment I rec'd today from a " Kathy O'Leary " based on a post I wrote a week or so ago about Catholicvote.com:

Yesterday I received an email with a "grassroots video" produced by
Catholicvote.com.

The video and website, Catholicvote.com were produced by
Fidelis. They have very strong ties to the Republican Party and to the McCain
campaign. In February of this year they issued a press release endorsing John
McCain for president and their website includes articles from Deal Hudson who is
an advisor to the McCain campaign as a member of the “Catholic Outreach
Committee”. They have given campaign contributions only to republicans and even supported republican Senator Rick Santorum over Bob Casey, a pro-life Catholic
democrat, during the 2006 election cycle.

If you forward this video or link to the website in your official capacity you may be in violation of IRS regulations and Church policy. You will also be distributing materials that contradict Church teaching.Among other things, the video glorifies US economic and military power. This runs contrary to Catholic Social Teaching which emphasizes a preferential option for the poor and solidarity. It also runs contrary to the Cathecism which teaches us that "Respect for and development of human life require peace."

There is more than one intrinsic evil at issue this year. They include genocide, racism, torture, targeting non-combatants and engaging in unjust wars. They are all life issues and they all require our attention as Catholics. Whether we vote Republican or Democrat this year what defines us is that we are Catholic. Don't let the political parties redefine what it means to be CATHOLIC.

Vote the Common Good!www.votethecommongood.com

Now, normally, I'd be thrilled to get such a long comment from someone I don't know. But I read this, re-read it, and just wasn't impressed! And why:

1. anyone who gives my little blog even a cursory reading would see that I am probably a staunch, card-carrying Republican, so for me to find out the film's producers have "They have very strong ties to the Republican Party and to the McCain campaign" doesn't really bother me much.
2. supporting what is true, good and rationale in this campaign year for me IS the Republican party so I don't have a problem with "contributions only to republicans". I have yet to hear a Democrat explain life issues rationally -- Senator Biden claims that when life begins is "just a matter of religion" -- uh, no even a 10th grade biology student learns that LIFE BEGINS AT CONCEPTION. Nancy Pelosi, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE UNITED STATES, doesn't have her facts correct and yet by her own admission, she has "studied this matter for years"! HUH??????
3. obviously Ms. O'Leary has no clue what this blog is all about -- a modest (but not very humble) homeschooling mom occasionally waxing poetic about her family, their learning adventures and general Catholic truths, teachings and festivities. Her comment that "f you forward this video or link to the website in your official capacity you may be in violation of IRS regulations and Church policy" is just nonsensical -- as is much of the idea that relgion shouldn't come into politics and that just because it's true for you doesn't mean it's true for everyone else. Wasn't it Pilate who asked "What is Truth?" (John 18:38)
4. finally, the "life issues" described in Ms. O'Leary's comment can only be mentioned to cloud the overall issue. If someone doesn't understand the dignity of human life, the idea that the human person is DIFFERENT from animals, that our nature is imbued with something special since we are made in the image and likeness of God ... than that person is not a Christian or a Catholic. No matter how much a wolf calls itself a sheep, it is still a wolf, period! The sancticity of life starts at the moment of conception and continues until the moment of natural death -- this precept includes "genocide, racism, torture, targeting non-combatants and engaging in unjust wars" and the only time such a precept is suspended is when innocent lives are at stake. Period. Until we can get Democrats who talk truth ... who talk rational .... who talk with a logical base ... the only way for this blogger to vote is Republican!

But thank you, Ms. O'Leary, for giving me a chance to vent a few of MY feelings about this political year ... to elucidate the reason why the Republicans make sense and the Democrats make empty statements. Thank you.