Biden's Catholic faith offers risks, rewards

AP ^ | 8-24-08

[Darren McCarty]

DENVER - When Joe Biden underwent brain surgery for a life-threatening aneurysm in 1988, he asked doctors whether he could tuck his rosary beads under his pillow. The six-term Democratic senator from Delaware also has offered to shove his rosary down the throat of the next Republican who tells him he isn't religious.

Biden's selection as Obama's running mate immediately touched off new scrutiny of his support for abortion rights, a position in conflict with a fundamental teaching of his church.

One outspoken prelate, Denver Catholic Archbishop Charles Chaput, said in statement to The Associated Press that Biden should refrain from taking Communion because of his stance.

........ By selecting a Pennsylvania-born Catholic as his No. 2, Obama is betting the potential rewards — including swaying elusive lunch-pail Catholics in the Midwest — outweigh the risks.

.....

Other Catholics were even more forceful in their criticism. The Catholic advocacy group Fidelis called the choice of Biden a "slap in the face" to Catholic voters and predicted the Communion question will hover over Biden at each campaign stop.

...Biden is well suited to fight back, said Mara Vanderslice, Kerry's former director of religious outreach. Biden made that clear in 2005 when, quoted in the Cincinnati Enquirer, he said: "The next Republican that tells me I'm not religious, I'm going to shove my rosary beads down their throat."

"He's this scrappy Irish Catholic and he has a long and powerful record of speaking his mind," said Vanderslice, who now heads a political action committee that has aired pro-Obama ads on Christian radio. "I don't think he's going to take any attacks sitting down."

[The Great RJ]

Why hasn’t he been excommunicated for his support of abortion...and Teddy Kennedy too?

[Northern Yankee]

I am curious because I have a close relative who is “very” Catholic, yet is voting for Obama.

As a Catholic I can't for the life of me understand anyone who would support a pro-choice candidate.

I would assume they are still not very aware of the teachings of the church, or are unwilling to learn as much as they can. That being said excommunicating those who support pro-choice candidates would be a very difficult task. The priest and the officials would have to know the heart of each individual that voted for these pro-choice candidates.

The difference is huge when a pro-choice candidate publicly supports abortion rights and then expects to receive communion at Mass. It creates scandal in the church for the faithful who are following the doctrine of the church. It's a little more messy when you try to pinpoint voters who are more private in their voting actions.

Hope this helps.

[MaggieCarta]

You can't be a real Catholic and pro-abortion. Try and shove those beads down my throat, boy, and I'll shut your big mouth for six weeks.

I was stunned to see the number of Obama buttons visable at Mass this weekend. (Also the number of bumper stickers in the lot were amazing to me)

Somehow, for some reason, I picture you shoving a hockey puck into Biden's big mouth. Must be the screen name ;)

[Antoninus]

Biden made that clear in 2005 when, quoted in the Cincinnati Enquirer, he said: "The next Republican that tells me I'm not religious, I'm going to shove my rosary beads down their throat."

You may be religious, Joe, but you ain't Catholic. This story reminds me of the NJ governor's debate in 2001 between Bret Schundler and Jim "gay American" McGreevy. At one point, McGreevy stressed how he was an altar boy and how his elderly mother was praying the rosary for him.

The rest is history.

Democrat politicians are only Catholic when they think it will get them votes. When it comes to actually living their Faith, they can't be bothered.

Hypocrites all!

[Antoninus]

No Church discipline there.

Our bishops in the US are weak and spineless beyond belief (with a few notable exceptions). And they wonder why they have trouble attracting vocations. Perhaps if they actually stood for Christ and not Mammon, men would want to give their lives for the cause.

[azcap]

Here's a little gift for Joe.

 

 

[PizzaDriver]

If Kerry pulled only 10% of the Catholic vote, while in the top SPOT; how is Biden’s faith an asset to Obama?