Posted on 01/09/2012 7:54:11 PM PST by tcg
Ann Coulter's criticism of Rick Santorum for being "more of a Catholic than a Conservative" makes me want to do even more to help people come to understand his positions. ...Coulter's comments help explain why Catholics like me consider ourselves to be 'reluctant Republicans." She was derisive of Rick Santorum's concern for the poor. She mocked his insistence upon the connection between moral, social and economic issues. She was condescending and dismissive of his integrated campaign message.
...Santorum understands that freedom is a good of the human person. Further that he sees that the market economy, as promising as it is, requires the continual expansion of opportunities for participation. Many of us who are inspired by him are from blue collar backgrounds. Our ancestors did not come over on the Mayflower. We care about the poor and cringe when any candidate seems to lack concern for them.
However, we also now know that big government does a horrible job of providing care for them and that collectivism - be it of the right or the left - is anything but the solution. We want a candidate who speaks of opening up economic participation in the American dream to as many as possible. One who recognizes that the market was made for man, not man for the market.
...Recently I heard Rick Santorum defend his proposal to increase the child tax credit in order to help parents, promote the family and grow our economy. He accurately explained the fact that a demographic winter is leading many Nations in Europe to do all they can to increase the birth of children.
He then persuasively argued that America needs to encourage strong families because strong families build a strong Nation. He is correct. ...
(Excerpt) Read more at catholic.org ...
Had Romney been born to George Reynolds instead of George Romney, he would have been a used car salesman or oriental rug dealer at best.
I square it by saying that the Archbishop of LA does not represent the church, or Catholics as a whole.
LOL! Amen to that
I still have a couple of paragraphs to read of this excellent article, but had to rush back here.
We have our answer. This is our next Reagan. The one we’ve been looking for.
We must pray without ceasing that God will make us worthy to receive this incredible gift of a leader that He’s holding out to us.
We must not let anything or anyone upset us. This is in God’s Hands. “Wait on the Lord, take courage. Be stouthearted and wait on the Lord.” Ps. 27
Whatever happens, I am certain Santorum’s the one.
“many Catholics believe that we have that responsibility as a society”
We do have that obligation as a society to care for the poor. However, the way that society can fulfill it’s obligation is through individual charity.
“unfortunately the members of the Catholic Church are not as a whole so generous.”
Speak for yourself sir.
“Catholics like Pelosi, Kennedy and perhaps Santorum”
Ugh. What a hit piece. Santorum is a faithful Catholic who believes in what the Church teaches. Pelousi and Kennedy rejected what the Church taught.
“feel that they should make society follow the ideals of the Catholic church and care for the poor.”
Nonsense. Santorum does not believe this, and neither does the Church teach it. Pelousi believes in it because she’s Dim!
“Call it what ever you wish but the safety net or welfare has ruined our society.”
I agree, which is why I’m supporting Santorum. Ron Paul’s thugs assaulting Santorum show me exactly who I need to support.
I think she is experiencing menopause and she is freaking out at what is left of her life.
We want a practical man with a good moral core...that's all!... Some one who will concentrate on the practical problems that we have today without going out of his way to promote perversion like Flip-Flopper or OHOMO.
We do have that obligation as a society to care for the poor. However, the way that society can fulfill its obligation is through individual charity. . . . .
__________________________________________________________
And just where does this responsibility come from? Our Constitution? I think not, we are responsibile to give everyone an equal OPPORTUNITY not outcome.
I said
“unfortunately the members of the Catholic Church are not as a whole so generous.
you answered:
“Speak for yourself sir.”
I spoke for myself, I give until it hurts, I think we all should but I do not believe we should force anyone who disagrees with us to give against his will for the support of others.
You said:
“Nonsense. Santorum does not believe this, and neither does the Church teach it.”
You are wrong on both counts.
The Catholic church teaches that societies who can should support the poor. Santorum and most Republicans believe in a safety net and talk about it all the time. What is the difference between safety net and welfare? Republicans and Democrats simply argue about how much they should steal from one person to give to another. It is all wrong. It sounds nice but you are still stealing from one person and giving his labor or results of it to someone who didn’t earn it.
I believe in welfare only I call it charity. If you are really a Christian then you will do all you can to keep your fellow man from suffering, if you aren’t a Christian you will force someone else to do it for you. Government welfare is the opposite of charity.
One thing Romney knows how to do is lose elections, he did win that one, but they kicked him out with 34% approval, turned the seat over to the Democrats, and the state GOP was gutted and shrunken by the time Mitt left.
In 2008 he broke spending records and got nowhere, the man is unelectable.
Twenty years of running for office, and only ashes and destruction to show for it.
Ann Coulter is not a Catholic, and has never identified herself as a Catholic. Her father was a Catholic, her mother was protestant and she was raised protestant. She says she’s a “Christian” and leaves it at that. Catholics are proud to be called Catholic.
Ann Coulter is a blowhard RINO. Nothing more.
“And just where does this responsibility come from?”
To love our neighbour as ourselves.
“I think not, we are responsibile to give everyone an equal OPPORTUNITY not outcome.”
Agreed. But we are still called to do what we can for those who are less fortunate. We cannot pass off on the government and excuse ourselves for not taking action. No, we must take actions ourselves.
It is not charity to steal from our neighbours to provide for the poor.
“I spoke for myself, I give until it hurts, I think we all should but I do not believe we should force anyone who disagrees with us to give against his will for the support of others.”
Agreed wholeheartedly. I don’t see what is to be accomplished by casting aspersions on one another for not giving enough. I cannot speak for what others give, I can only speak for myself.
“The Catholic church teaches that societies who can should support the poor.”
The argument is not whether they should, but the argument is over how. What is the best way to provide for the poor? Through individual charity. Yes, the Church teaches this. You are incorrect here. The Church teaches that charity must be voluntarly - not the result of forced confiscation through taxation.
“Santorum and most Republicans believe in a safety net”
There you go again. Santorum has explicitly said that he rejects the argument that entitlements are immune to cuts and reforms. He has argued that the best way out of poverty is to get a job, and provide a regulatory climate that fosters job growth. He knows that you cannot have a sane fiscal balance without cutting entitlements.
“What is the difference between safety net and welfare?”
Depends on how the net is formed. If one contributes into a plan and withdraws based on said contribution, then that is not welfar is it? However, the individual would be better off investing that money privately.
“It is all wrong. It sounds nice but you are still stealing from one person and giving his labor or results of it to someone who didnt earn it.”
Again, it depends on the program. Someone can pay into a plan in gross excess to what he withdraws.
“Government welfare is the opposite of charity.”
Well said.
Peace and blessings to you.
Dull, Newbie, Dull??? REALLY???? Why, because he’s a CHRISTIAN?? No SCANDAL??? SERIOUS??? HARD WORKING??? Father of 8?? Dull, Newbie?? I don’t think so. He’s what we USED to be all about before the GAY AGENDA.
Ann’spossessed by the spiirit of her best friend, Bill Maher!!! How can ANYONE be friends with that VILE, EVIL Maher?? Ann, we hardly knew ya.
As your fellow Catholic, I would like to add something supportive to your post. When the government taxes its citizens too heavily, it takes from them the ability to be charitable towards others in proportion to the amount that it is taking by taxation. Each of us must meet basic expenses of ourselves and our families. If, after that and the tax burden, there is little left, we cannot be very charitable individually. That politicians decide to spend our money for us on causes, however worthy, is not to our respective moral credit, even if we were to vote for the politicians that behave that way. God bless you and yours!
Just like the Republican Party.
Which is why we keep getting our butts kicked by liberals, and the socialists are winning in this country. The liberals have been OK with winning just a little bit at a time, and making incremental change. Little by little, they are winning the game. Conservatives tend to want it all or nothing. Nothing, so far, has been the take. Yay team.
No not like the Republicans, the party that Romney turned against when Reagan was elected, Republicans just had a historic victory in 2010, due to the tea party and Palin.
We now need to stop Romney, the liberal, the socialist, anti-conservative, the father of Romney/Obama care and “gay marriage” etc., no sense in giving the leadership of the Republican party to the left.
The Beatitudes: Blessed Are Those Who Mourn
The Beatitudes: Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit
The Beatitudes
Lists Every Catholic Should be Familiar With: The 8 Beatitudes
The Beatitudes: Generosity and Happiness
Beatitudes by Bishop Fulton Sheen
Happiness of Sacrifice
The Danger of Spiritual Sloth [Reflection on The Beatitudes]
Satan's version of the sermon on the mount [Difficult read]
The Eight Beatitudes
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