That is fair, but it is also disingenuous to believe that Catholic teaching is or should be identical to the GOP platform or conform to the secular definition of conservatism, nor should it.
We Catholics have allowed the American political system to effectively divide the Church against itself. Although the Democratic Party has increasingly aligned itself with positions that are in direct conflict with Catholic teaching, the Republican Party does not represent a strong moral alternative. The Republican Party stands only timidly for life and the traditional family while demonizing social justice and the plight of the poorest. On the other hand the Democrat Party preaches social justice and anti-poverty while bathed in the blood of the unborn and benefiting from the demise of the family. It forces every Catholic into a conundrum which has no good answer. It means that if either party wants the Catholic vote they will have to radically alter their platforms and identity.
Peace be with you.
Well said.
I disagree. What you are saying is the standard party line propaganda of the Liberals against the Republicans and it obviously works if 50+% of Catholics vote for them.
The GOP has a strong pro-life plank in the platform versus the DNC which is strongly pro-abortion. They strongly favor traditional marriage and family values while the Dems want to make homosexual marriage the law of the land - hardly what I would call "timidity" on the GOP's part. And let's not forget that it was the DNC this year at that convention that strongly objected to the word "God" even being mentioned in their platform! As far as "social justice" let's not forget that it was the Republican party that championed antislavery measures and the Civil Rights Act - something conveniently forgotten by those who have been brainwashed into thinking ONLY the Democrats "care" about minorities and the poor. Welfare reform was a good thing to happen in this country because it sought to phase out the generational dependency on the government for life's basic needs instead of personal responsibility - something Scripture heartily condones.
I do not see this "conundrum" you speak of for Catholics. Where ALL Christians should look is to how the Bible tells us to treat our neighbors and that entails each of us looking our for one another, not giving the sole responsibility to government to do it for us. There will never be a platform of a secular party that meets the requirements of singular religious dictates. We must look to those that are closest to our values and ensure those we send to serve share those values. At this time, I think the GOP far outshines the DNC on nearly every point.
My commandments say, "Thou shalt not covet" and that is exactly what those who demand "social justice" are wanting.
Besides, those who can think, know that in the long-term the welfare state cannot endure.