Is Pope Francis Good for the Democrats? Obama in the Vatican

truthdig ^ | 3/29/14 | Juan Cole

[BlatherNaut]

Could enormous popularity of Pope Francis spill over into American politics? Pope Francis is worried about inequality, a Democratic Party issue, and his statements and actions on the subject are a stunning rebuke to “evangelical Catholics” such as Paul Ryan, who tend rather to celebrate economic inequality or to deny it or to blame the victims. On the other hand, Francis is worried about Obamacare forcing Catholic institutions to pay for birth control for their employees, against their will.

The real reason Joe Biden is vice president is that the Democratic Party has a White Catholic problem. Irish-Americans, Polish-Americans and Italian-Americans give the edge to Republican presidential candidates over Democratic ones by anywhere from 5 to 19 points. The two extremes both occurred in the case of Obama, who received 47% of the White Catholic vote versus John McCain’s 52 percent in 2008, and who received only 40% of their vote in 2012 versus 59% for Mitt Romney. Biden was able to turn things around in that constituency in 2008, but not so much in 2012.

[BlatherNaut]

But the more significant issue is the one on which Obama and the pope agree, that is, the undesirability of extreme wealth inequality. Late last fall Pope Francis wrote in an apostolic exhortation entitled “The Joy of the Gospel” (Evangelii Gaudium)

[GreyFriar]

I believe that only Pelosi-Kennedy-Kerry Catholics will see a ‘positive boost’ to bh0’s visit with Pope Francis. However, I do not see Pope Francis ever endorsing the PKK version of Catholicism over the established 2000 year doctrine of the Church.

Regarding the encyclical, it is more fashioned from the Pope’s experiences in his home country than in the US.

The Pope will never say “If you like your sin, you can keep your sin and still be saved by Jesus.”

[Lawgvr1955]

I saw the picture of the Pope standing between Obama and Kerry. Reminded me of Jesus between two thieves. Only I don’t see one of them (even the Catholic in name only one) asking for forgiveness.

[MeshugeMikey]

“more fashioned from the Pope’s experiences in his home country than in the US.”

...again context..is so important.

[GreyFriar]

Dear Marsh-mellow,

I intended to send this to MarshMallow, instead of you.

G-F

[Telepathic Intruder]

There is only one form of benign tyranny which makes everyone equal. And there is only one benevolent tyrant. Involuntary equality involves breaking at least one of the 10 commandments.

[Alex Murphy]

The real reason Joe Biden is vice president is that the Democratic Party has a White Catholic problem.

Not enough white Catholics? Seriously?

Catholics have become a slightly more affluent group and the current Catholic population has a disproportionately low number of blacks, who make up one out of every seven Americans but only one out of every 25 Catholics, and high number of Hispanics, according to the Barna Group.
-- from the thread Survey: Catholics Adapt to Culture at Cost of Committed Faith

"We've always been a double minority,” she said. “There are so few Catholics who are black, and there are so few blacks who are Catholic”....Originally called the Portland Black Catholic Lay Caucus, the group was originally part of a national organization, the National Black Catholic Congress, with various branches throughout the country that aim to get black Catholics more involved in all aspects of church activities, including the priesthood. “We were all feeling that black Catholics were almost considered to be invisible in the Catholic Church,” Jackson said. “We didn’t feel included in the conversation with respect to Catholic activities in a lot of the parishes, locally and throughout the state.”
-- from the thread Black Catholics create a home in Oregon

[onedoug]

That the Pope would even consider giving audience to this bacterium tells me all I need to know about the Pope.

God save Catholicism and Judeo-Christianity.

[grania]

I would think Pope Francis's message works well for constitutional conservatives who want to enable people to have more freedom and to have opportunities to become more self reliant. Obamacare takes away religious choice and faith in healing; common core leaves no room for a religious component in the classroom; NSA is an affront to man's personal dignity.

Constitutional conservatives distancing themselves from corporate greed are a much better fit for Christians who are fed up with the direction of things.

[realcleanguy]

I think the most important issue in this meeting is, the Pope knows Who God is, and he knows that his job is to point people to God. Obama thinks he is the son of God, and he is trying to point people to himself. So we have examples of humility with the Pope, and pride with Obama. It’s easy to see the differences. I’m glad we have the Scriptures, or else we would be fooled like so many democrats who are not familiar with God’s Word.

[pbear8]

That the Pope would even consider giving audience to this bacterium tells me all I need to know about the Pope.

Jesus ate with sinners.

The Pope is a Head of State and routinely meets with other Heads of States. No agreement with their policies is implied.

[JSDude1]

I am not Catholic, but I’m not a fan of Pope Francis.