encourage you to read the entire platform of each party before you vote. The Republican Platform can be found here  and the Democratic Party Platform can be found here Consider carefully what the party has done in the past and what it says it will do in the future. You should also read the US catholic Bishops' "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship" the EWTN guide and Catholic Answers' "Voters Guide for Serious Catholics"

In the Catholic Answers' guide are listed five non-negotiable, intrinsically evil actions that must never be promoted by the law. Regrettably some are already enshrined in law in this country, so these must be reversed and countered, not supported, by any prospective candidate. To that end, I will briefly digest the statements contained in the two platforms concerning those actions to help you begin your research. In a few places I have added explanatory comments. You may research other issues, such as religious freedom, for yourselves.

1. Abortion

Democrat Party Platform: ". in his first month in office, President Obama overturned the'global gag rule', a ban on federal funds to foreign family planning organizations that provided information about, counseling on, or offered abortions. And that is why the administration has supported lifesaving family planning health information and services." (The "health information and services" are generally provided by Planned Parenthood). "The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman's right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy, including a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay."

Republican Party Platform: "We oppose using public revenues to promote or perform abortion or fund organizations which perform or advocate it and will not fund or subsidize health care which includes abortion coverage.  We support the appointment of judges who respect traditional family values and the sanctity of innocent human life."

2. Euthanasia

Democratic Party Platform: Not mentioned

Republican Party Platform: "We oppose the non-consensual  withholding  or  withdrawal  of  care  or treatment,  including  food  and  water,  from  people with disabilities, including newborns, as well as the elderly and infirm, just as we oppose active and passive euthanasia and assisted suicide. " "Republican leadership has led the effort to prohibit the barbaric practice of partial-birth abortion." "We urge Congress to strengthen the Born Alive Infant Protection Act by enacting appropriate civil and criminal penalties on healthcare providers who fail to provide treatment and care to an infant who survives an abortion." "We call for legislation to ban sex-selective abortions. and to protect from abortion unborn children who are capable of feeling pain" .

3. Embryonic stem cell research

Democratic Party Platform: "Further, the President issued an executive order repealing the restrictions on embryonic stem cell research."

Republican Party Platform: "We call for a ban on the use of body parts from aborted fetuses for research. We support and applaud adult stem cell research to develop lifesaving therapies, and we oppose the killing of embryos for their stem cells. We oppose federal funding of embryonic stem cell research."

4. Human cloning

Democratic Party Platform: Not mentioned

Republican Party Platform: "We urge a ban on human cloning and on the creation of or experimentation on human embryos."

5. Homosexual practice and homosexual "marriage"

Democratic Party Platform: "This administration hosted the first-ever White House Conference on Bullying Prevention and we must continue our work to prevent vicious bullying of young people and support LGBT youth." (Many see "prevention of bullying" as code words for promoting homosexual practice among young people) " Democrats support evidence-based and age-appropriate sex education." "The President's record . ending 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'." . "The Administration has said that the word 'family' in immigration includes LGBT relationships."  "Recognizing ...
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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: catholic, catholic vote, intinsic evil, abortion, homosexuality, marriage, debt, republican, democrat, party platforms, Dr. Frederick Liewehr

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