New Catholic Action: CatholicVote Produces Commercial Supporting Rick Santorum

By Keith A. Fournier
1/19/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Informed and morally coherent Catholics can make a huge contribution

We will not be stifled by "political correctness". For example, we will proclaim without equivocation or compromise of any kind the objective truth that every single human person, from conception, throughout every age and stage, up to and including natural death, has a Fundamental Human Right to life. This is not a Democratic or Republican "position", not a conservative or liberal position, it is a human rights position. It is not a "single issue"; it is the lens through which all issues must be considered.

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WASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) - As the South Carolina Republican Primary vote approaches the vital role of well catechized and morally coherent Catholic voters becomes increasingly clear. I have written for years concerning the pressing need for building a New Catholic Action. I have also spent those years helping to build such a needed movement.

I know that Catholic Social Teaching provides principles for action addressed to the citizens of every Nation, concerning how to live with one another in a manner that promotes the fullness of social life for the entire human community. These are not just "religious" ideas, in the sense of being offered only for religious people. Rather, they find their origins in the Natural Law and are confirmed by Revelation.

This Social teaching is not only for Catholics, other Christians or even just "religious people". It is for all people, offered by the Church to all who seek to build a truly just society. It is called "social" because it speaks to human society and to the formation, role and rightful place of social institutions, beginning with the family as the first society and first mediating institution.

Catholic Social teaching proclaims that there are some unchangeable truths, such as the dignity of every human person and the right to life, from conception to natural death; the primacy of authentic marriage and the family and society founded upon it; and our obligation in solidarity to one another, and, most especially, to the poor and needy in our midst.

It presents an understanding of human freedom as being properly exercised only with reference to the truth and at the service of our obligations to one another. It also proposes social ordering principles such as the principle of subsidiarity which helps in structuring governance in a manner which respects the family fiorst and looks to mediating institutions first.

This principle also has application in helping to build a truly just economic order where participation is continually expanded; an economic order which is at the service of the human person, the family, human flourishing and the true common good.

At the root of every social question, there are fundamental norms of morality which should inform our life together.The idea that "social" and "economic" issues can be separated fails to understand the primacy of the human person in the social question. When candidates claim such a mistaken notion, they reveal a moral incoherence.

The motto of Catholic Online reflects our mission, "Inform, Inspire and Ignite". We will do everything we can in the coming months to mobilize Catholics, other Christians, other people of faith and people of good will to build a new culture of life and civilization of love. We will do all we can to help ensure that Catholics take their place in serving the common good through effective and faithful citizenship.

Catholic Online will help facilitate the spread of a New Catholic Action as we approach the critical fall election in the United States. We will help fellow Catholics, other Christians, and other people of faith and good will throughout the world in their efforts toward achieving the same goal.

One way in which we will do this is to call attention to effective efforts put forth by Catholics who take their call to faithful citizenship seriously. One such group is CatholicVote. These enthusiastic and sincere Catholic men and women have shown the kind of courage and creativity which is so desperately needed from lay men and women in this urgent hour.

Here is but an excerpt from their mission statement: "CatholicVote.org is a lay movement, foremost, of committed Catholics who are passionate about living out the truths proclaimed by Christ and His Church in the modern world. We are joined by many individuals of other faith traditions (and no faith tradition) because the common good we seek is universal to all men and women of good will."

"CatholicVote.org is also a community of patriotic Americans who believe our nation's founding principles are good and true, and worth fighting for. Most of all, we believe in the dignity of the human person from conception until natural death, in the traditional definition of marriage as between one man and one woman, and in religious freedom for all people."

"CatholicVote.org also aspires to better apply the principle of subsidiarity in addressing the needs of our fellow citizens. We believe that an authentic Catholic approach to truly helping the needy of our country is best achieved by encouraging private armies of charity, healthier marriages and families, and the flourishing of religion in our culture."

"CatholicVote.org believes in communicating our message with creativity. For this reason, we have pioneered innovative ...

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1 - 10 of 16 Comments

Jeffrey Caperton
1 year ago
Vance, If you are in person who you are in writing, I do not believe you are a very nice person. That is just my observation of your writing, but back to the subject at hand. A big part of the problem is people like you who cannot discuss things without the rancor, name-calling and finger-pointing. The reality is that there is more than sufficient blame to go around right now and the conservatives are as much to blame for the current situation as are the liberals, the Democrats, Republicans, etc. I rather enjoyed listening to Jon Huntsman when he was talking about how we need a President who can bring people together; that it may make great soundbites on the 6:00 news to talk about "taking on" the unions, liberal establishment, "elitists" and others, but it accomplishes nothing. From my perspectiver, this "taking on" mentality merely ensures that nothing will be accomplished. Rather than shaking your fist (In writing) at everybody who does not agree with you, perhaps try working with them; hold out an open hand of friendship as opposed to a clinched fist. As it is, we are simply shouting at the wind.
carolyn
1 year ago
Today is the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of the unborn Children.
Vance
1 year ago
Jeffrey, You are right, Government isn't the only problem. The "Only Problem" is the Marxist Democrat Party and the Liberal Establishment. I attended the West Coast Walk For Life on Saturday in San Francisco ( San Fran Sicko ). The Liberal hecklers held up signs that said, "Pro Life Kills Women" and "Keep Your Rosaries Off My Ovaries". Now, how did these young 20 somethings come to believe this? They came to believe this via their parents who are hardcore obedient followers of the Marxist Democrat Party and who are brain washed by the dominant Marxist Media complex. This is how we arrived at this point in history and why we are in the mess we have today.
Jeffrey Caperton
1 year ago
Techwreck, You are right when you talk about how the sins of government, "how the corruption in our government, the wasting of the peoples tax dollars, and the spending of money we don't have and printing more which devalues people's savings" resonates well with the voters. Voters love it when you blame government for all of our problems because they feel it absolves them of their own contributions to the evils that exist in our society such as greed, feelings of entitlement ("By virtue of the fact that I am American, I am entitled to..."), gross narcissism, consumerism, ad nauseam. One political analyst went so far as to say that the American people do not want their elected officials to look them in the eye and tell them the truth; they want their elected officials to look them in the eye and tell them what they want to hear. He was 100% right. And, right now, the American people want to hear that all of our problems are the fault of government. As I said, I am no supporter of Mr. Santorum, but somebody needs to talk about these other issues as government is NOT THE ONLY PROBLEM. And remember, our elected officials are people too, and they are where they are because we put them there, so where is the ultimate responsibility? Where is the real problem? Is government the only real problem we have (Be fair)?
Tom
1 year ago
I voted for him in New Hampshire. (Santorum) Thinking he would probably not go all the way. He's the only real pro lifer on the stage. All the other issues wont even be remembered on judgement day.
john.vondra
1 year ago
Without all 'christains' returning to The one true faith the USA/UK and the rest of the english speaking world must surely go the way of the Byzantine empire and it's capital Constantinople.
techwreck
1 year ago
Jeffrey, I did not say that the economy was the only issue in the election, I said that pardoning felons is not on most voters radar and that indicates that Santorum is out of touch with the voters and has little chance of becoming his party's nominee. There are plenty of moral issues that are of concern to the voters that could be discussed, including the corruption in our government, the wasting of the peoples tax dollars, and the spending of money we don't have and printing more which devalues people's savings. Some candidates are discussing these issues and are connecting with the voters. I don't believe that Santorum is one of them.
Jeffrey Caperton
1 year ago
Vance, Never let it be said that I am not a fair man. You put very well. These are indeed Catholic Truths that transcend earthly politics. And, like you, I welcome New Catholic Action with enthusiasm.
Rob
1 year ago
This brings up a question for me. Why is it that all we hear about is the evangelical endorsements etc, but rarely hear a peep about Catholic endorsements? And why are they so late to the game? Seems to me that they were hedging their bets which makes me question if they really support Santorum or if they merely are doing so because of what's left? Tech, to a certain degree I agree with you. Santorum's fiscal platform needs a whole lot more explaining before I get on board.
Vance
1 year ago
A loud standing ovation for this article. Welcome, Welcome, Welcome New Catholic Action. This is something that has been long in waiting but finally arrived. The Catholic Faithful need Catholic Leadership and the kind of leadership that New Catholic Action will provide. Too long have the Faithful looked to leaders like the Kennedy's, Nancy Pelosi, and Joe Biden and were deceived by the rhetoric of what they called Social Justice. You are correct when you say that Catholic and Biblical truths are not Democrat or Republican but Catholic Truths given to us by Jesus Christ. Gob bless, you have my support.

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