Not Democratic or Republican, but Catholic

by Raymond L. Flynn
President of Your Catholic Voice

During the 2000 presidential campaign, I was often asked by my South Boston neighbors and friends, "Ray, how can you support a Republican for president of the United States? You're a lifelong Democrat and you know those Republicans don't care about people like us. We're the party who fight for working people, they are only concerned about their rich and powerful friends."

Believe me, what my Democratic neighbors were saying, was almost the same thing I heard on the campaign trail for George W. Bush in communities in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and Missouri. Because I was a well-known urban Democrat with strong ties to both Catholic and Irish-Americans across the country, many like-minded voters were interested in what I had to say.

Admittedly, some were skeptical and others thought I was naďve. Still, some even accused me of being a political opportunist. I said at the time and still feel today, "It is more important for me to be a good American and a good Catholic, than a good Democrat." That one sentence made an impact with many conflicted Catholic Democrats who had never voted for a Republican for U.S. president before.

I don't think Washington, D.C. political experts of either party believe then or now, the moral and political quagmire that many faithful Catholic Democrat voters face. Yes, it is true, we have been proud, life long traditional blue collar, working class Democrats, who have actively helped elect Democratic candidates for public office through the years.

With a new presidential election fast approaching, I think it is fair to ask the question that has often been asked to evaluate the record of an incumbent, and measure it with the campaign statements of his opponents, especially those issues of importance to Catholic Democrats. Now, I totally realize that even though there are over 64 million Catholics in the U.S. with a potentially significant voting block, Catholic voters are not monolithic and often reflect the attitudes and opinions of voters in general.

However, in light of all the unprecedented and sustained negative public attention that the Catholic Church has received during the past 18 months, it's probably even more important now to ask the key question to Catholic Democrats, "Are you better off today than you were in the year 2000 before George W. Bush was elected president? I certainly do not mean to link the sex abuse scandal to the Bush administration, but only mention it to factor in attitudes of people generally.

If you sometimes vote Republican but now are unemployed and watched your life savings disappear, you might be less inclined to follow the line that Republicans are better for the economy than Democrats. On the other hand, if you are a traditional Catholic, you, like me, might feel that the Democratic Party has been kidnapped by the liberal elite and left wing special interest groups. Of course for those who are hard line Republicans or Democrats, the choice as to who to vote for is clear. And if you are conservative or liberal you probably have already made up your mind on which party you will vote for in the 2004 presidential election. It's the so-called Reagan Democrats that could be the big swing vote in 2004. We're not happy about how the economy has gone, but we also don't like the direction in which the Democratic Party has gone either.

I think the candidate of choice for traditional Catholic Democrats in 2004 is at best unclear. So much has changed in people's lives during the past four years. And in many ways, it has become uncertain and more difficult. And still, there are many of us who sincerely believe that the values and principles which are important to us as Catholics, morally, economically and socially have been ignored or taken for granted by both parties.

So the challenge for many concerned but understandably undecided Catholic voters will be, do we vote on pocket book, bread and butter issues; or on U.S. foreign policy and homeland security; or on issues on social and economic justice (domestic), or on moral issues like abortion and the stability of the family, which are important to many Catholics. You might even agree with me that the 2004 presidential election will be the most important vote and decision that Catholics will ever cast, it might also be the most difficult.

A more recent follow up question asked of me by some of my same Democratic neighbors and friends has been, "Ray, did you do the right thing by supporting George Bush for president in 2002?" Without hesitation, I answer, "yes." But if you're asking me, is the U.S. a better country than it was four years ago or is our Church a better Church than it was four years ago, or are we as a country more united than four years ago, I'd have to honestly answer, no. A lot of work needs to be done and a lot of bridges need to be built. The questions to Catholics are, will you help build a better and stronger country and church? I have hope and I have not lost my faith and I pray that you haven't either.

Over the next several months, Your Catholic Voice, will attempt to do what has never been done before. We will try to inform, mobilize and build a massive Catholic grass roots political movement to restore respect and dignity to traditional Catholic voters once again. We are not Democratic or Republican, but Catholics. But this obviously can not be done without the active involvement of Catholics who take their faith and civic responsibility seriously.

Learn more about Your Catholic Voice, and how you can become involved by logging on to www.yourcatholicvoice.org

___________________________________

Ray Flynn is National President of Your Catholic Voice, former U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican and Mayor of Boston. (617) 269-0909.

Your Catholic Voice is a movement to promote faithful citizenship based on the fundamental truths of the Catholic Church relating to Life, Family, Freedom and Solidarity. For information go to Your Catholic Voice http://www.yourcatholicvoice.org

Contact

Your Catholic Voice
http://yourcatholicvoice.org CA, US
Ambassador
Raymond L. Flynn - President, 661 869-1000

Email

colirf@catholic.org

Keywords

Catholic, Democrat, Republican

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