Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

With Ryan on the Ticket, Spotlight Focuses on the Catholic Church
Crisis Magazine ^ | August 20, 2012 | Charlie Spiering

Posted on 08/20/2012 1:45:41 PM PDT by NYer

143495206WM015_Paul_Ryan_Gi

After Mass on Sunday, North Carolina pastor Rev. Andre Mangango was approached by a man who, a day earlier, was introduced as Mitt Romney’s running-mate for the 2012 presidential election.

“I am Representative Paul Ryan and this is my son,” the man said.

Ryan reportedly attended the 7:30 mass that morning with a group of Secret Service agents at St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church in Charlotte, North Carolina prior to campaign events later that day in the state.

“Our rights come from nature and God, not government,” Ryan said, in his post-nomination speech. “We promise equal opportunity, not equal outcomes.”

Those words characterize Ryan’s understanding of the role of government. As chairman of the House Budget Committee, Ryan put forth a plan for America in his budget that passed in the House. His goal? The pursuit of growth and opportunity.

The plan proposed significant reforms in the welfare programs that characterize modern American society.

Ryan’s lean budget caught the attention of two bishops from the United States Council of Catholic Bishops, who warned that cuts to programs designed to help the poor failed to meet “moral criteria.”

Ryan responded respectfully to the Bishops and maintained a dialogue with the USCCB that included several letters. Ryan also corresponded with Archbishop Timothy Dolan about the matter, arguing that some cuts and reforms were necessary to ensure a healthy growth-based economy.

After Ryan was criticized publicly by professors at Georgetown University, he visited the university to defend his budget in person.

“Our budget offers a better path, consistent with the timeless principles of our nation’s founding and, frankly, consistent with how I understand my Catholic faith,” Ryan explained to the skeptical professors. “We put our trust in people, not in government. Our budget incorporates subsidiarity by returning power to individuals, to families, and to communities.”

In addition Paul cited Pope Benedict XVI to explain the need to serve all peoples by creating a strong economic system.

“The Holy Father, Pope Benedict, has charged that governments, communities, and individuals running up high debt levels are ‘living at the expense of future generations’ and ‘living in untruth,” he explained.

Now that Ryan is Romney’s running-mate, these criticisms have boiled back to the surface. Ryan’s bishop, Bishop Robert Morlino of Madison, wrote a surprising column praising his “diocesan native son.”

“Vice Presidential Candidate Ryan is aware of Catholic Social Teaching and is very careful to fashion and form his conclusions in accord with the principles mentioned above,” he wrote. “Of that I have no doubt.”

In his column, Morlino explained that where “intrinsic evil” was not involved, a Catholic political figure was expected to act according to his conscience.

Morlino explained that Ryan’s view of solidarity—the responsibility to help fellow human beings—was well within the principals of the Church.

“Making decisions as to the best political strategies, the best policy means, to achieve a goal, is the mission of lay people, not bishops or priests,” he wrote. “As Pope Benedict himself has said, a just society and a just state is the achievement of politics, not the Church.”

Ryan attends Mass every week, attends a prayer group on Capitol Hill and sends his kids to Catholic school. Ryan was raised Catholic, served as an altar boy, and attended Catholic schools himself.

With Ryan on the ticket, Romney can attract Catholic voters who identify with his values. But the Obama ticket has the first Catholic Vice President, attracting his own share of the Catholic vote.

Although the two are both Catholic, both Biden and Ryan remain starkly different on the issues which have already attracted the attention of the media.

“Biden vs Ryan: two very different Irish-Americans fighting over a ‘bucket of warm spit’” read a news headline, referring to the famous description of the office from former Vice-President John Garner.

Catholic University’s Stephen Schneck, the director of America’s Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Research explained the difference between the two Catholics to TIME magazine.

Biden’s Catholicism, Scheck said, was the Catholicism of “ethnic neighborhoods and union halls and St. Christopher medals on the dashboard” while Ryan’s was about, “obedience to the bishops, about pro-life politics, and reflects the professional class of Catholics who made it out of the old neighborhood and into the suburbs.”

Biden’s “ethnic Catholicism” described by Scheck, often comes into play during popular public events and holidays such as St. Patrick’s Day, but remains hidden when critical moral issues come into play.

Biden has long supported abortion rights in spite of his personal views, and his Catholicism has remained nearly invisible during his term as the first Catholic Vice President. Ryan, however, has maintained a pro-life voting record and has a record opposing gay marriage.

In 2007 Biden expressed the personal understanding of his faith to the Christian Science Monitor: “There are elements within the church who say that if you are at odds with any of the teachings of the church, you are at odds with the church. I think the church is bigger than that.”

During the Obama administration’s fight against the Catholic Church regarding the Health and Human Services Contraception mandate, Biden had little to say publicly. Reports suggested that Biden warned the president about the political consequences of challenging the Catholic Church, but he was unable to sway Obama’s position on the issue.

After the administration feigned a compromise on the issue, Biden publicly insisted “the conscience clause is being honored in its literal sense,” and insisted that he had worked out a compromise with the Catholic bishops.

The bishops disagreed, and over 40 Catholic organizations filed a lawsuit against the Obama administration’s decision.

Contrast that with Ryan, who last week hosted a conference call with Catholic leaders, warning that the HHS mandate was an “assault on our religious liberties” and was “a serious threat to all peoples of faith.”

“No American should be forced to choose between their faith and their job,” he said. “No one should be forced to choose between their conscience and their livelihood.”

Biden notably ignored Catholic moral teaching when he revealed his support of same-sex marriage.

“I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women and heterosexual men and women marrying one another are entitled to the same exact rights,” he said in an interview earlier this year. Biden’s comments forced Obama to publicly reveal his own position of support for gay marriage.

Biden’s reluctance to publicly defend Catholic moral principals has continued for many years, often unchallenged by his bishops or fellow Catholics.

Paul Ryan has only been on the trail for a week, but already a great deal of attention has been given to the teachings of the Catholic Church and their political application in the public square. As the battle between Obama and Romney continues expect even more light to be shed on issues important to Catholics.



TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: 2012issues; 2012veep; biden; catholicpoliticians; catholicvote; election; ryan

1 posted on 08/20/2012 1:45:49 PM PDT by NYer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: netmilsmom; thefrankbaum; Tax-chick; GregB; saradippity; Berlin_Freeper; Litany; SumProVita; ...

Two VP candidates ... both claiming to be catholic ... yet the contrast could not be greater.


2 posted on 08/20/2012 1:47:13 PM PDT by NYer (Without justice, what else is the State but a great band of robbers? - St. Augustine)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NYer

The eye of Sauron (aka, dim-bulb-crat collection O’cretins) must now time-division multiplex itself between Catholics (who are now officially the anti-Obamadork churcy) and the Mormons, who I am sure are equally anti Obamadork.

Meanwhile, Ryan approaches the Mount Doom with the ring of Obamalies.


3 posted on 08/20/2012 1:58:17 PM PDT by Da Coyote
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NYer
"With Ryan on the Ticket, Spotlight Focuses on the Catholic Church"

Gee, it wasn't an "issue" for Biden 4 years ago......

4 posted on 08/20/2012 2:16:54 PM PDT by jeffc (The U.S. media are our enemy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jeffc

Amazing, huh?


5 posted on 08/20/2012 2:55:58 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: All
With Ryan on the Ticket, Spotlight Focuses on the Catholic Church
Does Ryan have a “Catholic problem”?
Paul Ryan Urges Catholics to Act Before Religious Freedoms Erode Wisconsin bishop praises Paul Ryan, discusses intrinsic evils, prudential judgments

Paul Ryan urges Catholics to act before religious freedoms erode
Dolan: Ryan Is a ‘Great Public Servant’ (great insight into Ryan's views)
Paul Ryan’s Bishop Defends Him Amid Attacks on His Application of Church Teaching
Paul Ryan, Catholic Who Looks to Church's Social Teaching, Tapped as Romney Running Mate
The other Ryan: the candidate’s wife, Janna
Paul Ryan, Joe Biden, and Liberal False Equivalence
Ryan as VP Pick Continues Election Year Focus on Catholicism
Paul Ryan Faces Left-Wing Religious Attack
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Holiness (Paul Ryan)
Paul Ryan: Midwesterner, Catholic, intellectual

6 posted on 08/20/2012 2:59:21 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: jeffc

>>Gee, it wasn’t an “issue” for Biden 4 years ago......

Four years ago, the spotlight was on trashcans in Wasilla.


7 posted on 08/20/2012 3:01:18 PM PDT by Bryanw92 (Sic semper tyrannis)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: NYer
I have a problem with a writer for an actual magazine like Crisis who doesn't know the difference between "principals" and "principles".

And with his editor, who should have caught this howler.

8 posted on 08/20/2012 3:06:24 PM PDT by AnAmericanMother (Ministrix of ye Chasse, TTGS Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NYer

JFK had a lot of anti-catholic junk thrown at him, including someone pulling out their hair that the pope was going to run the country.....He addressed it head on when the idiots wouldn’t stop and he was a democrat....One of Harry Trumans answer to a reporter was......I’m not afraid of the pope in the white house, it the pop> Truman knew the dirt on old Joe Kennedy...

Remember we don’t have a religious requirement for president...those that make one are nutty...


9 posted on 08/20/2012 3:31:23 PM PDT by goat granny
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NYer
Biden’s Catholicism, Scheck said, was the Catholicism of “ethnic neighborhoods and union halls and St. Christopher medals on the dashboard” while Ryan’s was about, “obedience to the bishops, about pro-life politics, and reflects the professional class of Catholics who made it out of the old neighborhood and into the suburbs.”
Ryan has already succumbed to the allowance of incest/rape abortions, and it's only been how many days? Romney's going to tear Paul's Catholicism apart. So sad.
10 posted on 08/20/2012 9:19:43 PM PDT by mlizzy (And if we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell others not to kill? --MT)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mlizzy
I don't know that that's necessarily the case.

Looks to me like Bp. Morlino doesn't think so - and he is one of the good guys. VERY good guys.

11 posted on 08/21/2012 7:39:58 AM PDT by AnAmericanMother (Ministrix of ye Chasse, TTGS Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: AnAmericanMother

Didn’t Bp. Morlino speak in favor of Ryan before it was released that Romney now “encouraged” Ryan to dump his full view for unborn life, in favor of rape/incest abortions? The first I heard of Ryan’s changed stance, was yesterday.


12 posted on 08/21/2012 7:56:17 AM PDT by mlizzy (And if we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell others not to kill? --MT)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: mlizzy
Only thing I see is a Romney statement about the "Romney-Ryan campaign", and Ryan's long standing 'life of the mother' exception.

It looks like Daily Kos & CBS are pushing the "Ryan changed his mind" story. I am skeptical.

13 posted on 08/21/2012 9:10:29 AM PDT by AnAmericanMother (Ministrix of ye Chasse, TTGS Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: AnAmericanMother

I hope you’re right, but if something is coming from the “Romney-Ryan campaign” doesn’t that mean Ryan agrees with what they say?


14 posted on 08/21/2012 10:52:49 AM PDT by mlizzy (And if we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell others not to kill? --MT)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: mlizzy
Not necessarily. It could be push-back against Akin.

But I wouldn't just assume that Kos or CBS is telling you the truth in any event.

The only way Obama is going to win this thing is to split off various conservative groups by convincing them that Romney/Ryan has abandoned them. Catholics are simply one such group. Obama has every incentive to do so, and a bunch of willing accomplices in the press. And we know he has no problem lying about everything else, so . . . .

15 posted on 08/21/2012 5:56:05 PM PDT by AnAmericanMother (Ministrix of ye Chasse, TTGS Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: AnAmericanMother

Much more would be the danger of voter fraud.


16 posted on 08/22/2012 5:32:06 AM PDT by Biggirl ("Jesus talked to us as individuals"-Jim Vicevich/Thanks JimV!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Biggirl
And that's why we need to stop all this nonsense and concentrate on defeating O.

They can't cheat if it isn't close.

17 posted on 08/22/2012 6:59:57 AM PDT by AnAmericanMother (Ministrix of ye Chasse, TTGS Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: AnAmericanMother

AMEN to that!


18 posted on 08/22/2012 7:26:05 AM PDT by Biggirl ("Jesus talked to us as individuals"-Jim Vicevich/Thanks JimV!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson