Posted on 11/30/2003 3:07:00 PM PST by madprof98
I know that I'd have to think seriously about voting for any politician who states that he will follow the dictates of his religion's prelate in matters of public policy. That means I'd have to study that religion's teachings on all the issues that might be involved in government as well as the specific prelate's views. It'd be easier just to vote for the prelate directly.
If politicians are going to toe the line of their religion, then their religion must become a part of the political campaign.
Oh give it a rest on the "Kennedys guy their annulments' garbage! If you are familiar at all with the Sacrament of Marriage in the Catholic Church, you'll understand that with every one of the Kennedy men, there was never a true marriage because NONE of them ever intended to be faithful to their spouses! They philandered continually, but the public never knew about it because the press kept their secrets.
If either party can be shown to have entered into the Sacrament not intending to abide by the promises made, there is no Sacrament, thus no marriage, thus, grounds to begin the nullification process. Their Civil marriage is handled by the divorce, the pronouncement that there was never a religious marriage is handled by the annulment.
As for the Bishops kissing up to politicians, well they are politicians too, as well as shepherds for their flocks. I just wish they'd start being LESS political and more pastoral!
Hey, maybe I oughta start using that nifty spell checker! Guy = BUY!
No one has suggested anything of the kind.
If politicians are going to toe the line of their religion, then their religion must become a part of the political campaign.
You're weird. Many, even most, politicians feature their religious faith in their campaigns. But I think you're suggesting that anyone who actually believes the teachings of their religion should be regarded with extreme skepticism. That's anti-religious bigotry. Nice that you're honest about it. But it's scary.
No one is suggesting that. Premarital sex, for example. Sinful, not illegal. And no one is suggesting otherwise. Why don't you try addressing the issue at hand?
No, I'm not weird. I try to be an informed voter. If Candidate A says "I'm a good Catholic and will follow the precepts of my religion," then even if he does not run on a platform of anti-contraception I'd have to assume that he'd be anti-contraception anyway. It is not anti-religious bigotry to make that connection and vote one way or another depending on what the candidate's beliefs, whether specifically enunciated or implicit in his faith.
If you are in favor of a strong national defense and one candidate is a devout Quaker, isn't that going to affect your voting even if that candidate never directly refers to war in his campaign, based on the fact that Quakers are pacifists?
"I know that I'd have to think seriously about voting for any politician who states that he will follow the dictates of his religion's prelate in matters of public policy"
The implication is that you wouldn't think seriously about voting for someone who follows an unknown or changing philosophy that can't be researched? That would be fine? But someone who is religious, you gotta check them out real close? That's anti-religious. If you care about the Catholic candidate's opposition to handing out contraceptives to kids, for example, you should also care where his opponent stands on the issue. Otherwise you're just scared of, biased against (etc.) religious people.
Obviously a candidate's philosophy is a major thing to vote on. But you're saying you'd need to closely scrutinize religious people in particular.
No, the topic just happens to be religious candidates. If a candidate said "I follow the precepts of Ayn Rand [or Karl Marx or fill in the blank]," then I'd equally want to find out what those precepts are.
I have no idea what you are talking about. A "found" fact?
Sounds like we're pretty close on the issues. Why let it trickle away. It is evidence of hypocracy in the highest levels of the church.
As for whether or not I'm familiar with the church's sacraments. Personal experience except with two.
Thanx for the homily.
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