[polemikos]

Many people of good conscience are therefore leaving the Church

All in all, not a bad article, but full of little PC "balance" lines like the one above.

[nathanbedford]

No political party should claim morality or religiosity for itself. Politicians rarely get away with even a hint that they are more Christian or religious or moral than their opponents. Voters punish such arrogance.

Rubbish. Some politicians, such as big city dems, have for decades pandered to religions. Clinton cynically paraded religiosity. Some politicians, such as secular humanists who inhabit the dem party, attack virtually every symbol of religion in the public domain. In San Francisco the dems have declared open season on the Boy Scouts because they are "Christian."

But the author's larger point is valid, the Catholic conservatives cannot much longer live the lie. The significance of this is it represents a wedge issue for Hispanics which the Republicans certainly should exploit. Hispanics will turn national elections for decades to come.

[Neanderthal]

Let's hope he's right. No one with a brain can be a Catholic and a Democrat at the same time. The 'Rats are trying like mad to hide this fact.

[livius]

Good article. I hope it's true...Catholics suffered for so long from non-existent or defective leadership and from miserably inadequate instruction in their faith that many of them are probably not sure what they believe anymore.

But I suspect that the Dems are going too far now, even for the foggiest minded Catholic (unless his name is Kennedy). Here's hoping.

[Consort]

Catholics, who for historical reasons have largely voted Democrat,...

That is a source of guilt that Catholics thrive on, for some reason.

[MassExodus]

Expect a Catholic "exodus"

No ... This is not where my screen name came from, but it applies here as well.

[George W. Bush]

I wonder if the author is right. I don't really believe that RCs are going to abandon the Dims in great numbers. Somehow, I don't see it happening. I expect an even greater rise of cafeteriaism among RCs instead. Especially on the the east coast or among union members in what remains of the industrial Midwest.

[madprof98]

Democrats gathered pro-abortion Catholics, including a priest, on Capitol Hill last week and assailed what they claim is an intolerant smear.

I didn't see the report on this. Anyone know if it was posted on FreeRepublic?

[Mannaggia l'America]

Most of the DemocRat Catholics I know (including some in my family) have similar profiles - older, blue collar, and immigrants or children of immigrants. They either grew up worshiping St. Franklin of Roosevelt or their unions have been pummeling them with "Democrats good, Republicans for the rich" for so long that they can't change.

They've been trained to hate Republicans for so long, that they just instinctively vote 'rat. I know guys that are pro-gun, pro-life, and overall conservative people and they still voted for Clinton and Gore, and will probably vote for whatever the 'rats put up in 2004.

Every few years, I see the father of a friend of mine at a picnic or some function - he's in his 60's - and every time I see him he is still complaining about Ronald Reagan!

[narses]

Ping.

[ninenot]

About Damn Time that the "Catholic-Reflexive-Democrat" vote becomes one grounded in morality.

But in Union towns, it may take a while longer than this writer expects.

[IrishRainy]

The pro-choice stance of the Democrat party is the main reason I became a Republican in 1996. As a life-long Catholic, I could no longer ignore the fact that Democrats condone the murder of innocent babies, pure and simple.

[codercpc]

My 88 year old Grandmother, born and raised Roman Catholic, converted to the Episcopalean (sp?) Church in the mid 60's.

She did this because after years of living with a layed off union worker alcoholic, she decided she must get a divorce. This was after a complete nervous break down on her part. Her faith was so important to her that she could not reconcile in her mind a divorce. She later met my Step Grandfather (a widow with 5 kids), and fell deeply in love and decided to marry. Because she could not marry in the Catholic Church without an annulment (which I have no doubt would have been granted) she switched Churches. She believed strongly that to ask the church for an annulment would be like slapping her children in the face. These children were her life, and she never wanted them to think that her marraige to their father wasn't "real".

Since the Bishop Robinson scandal (homosexual bishop) she has refused to go to Church. Because my Step Grandfather died two years ago she has been suffering depression anyway, and unforetunatley this is pushing her over the edge. Nothing we say can cheer her up. Due to other minor health problems, she has basically given up on life. She really sees no reason to live right now, except for the fact that she doesn't want to die without some religous ceremony. Her Priest has tried to comfort her but she wants nothing to do with that church, but doesn't think she can go back to the RC church either.

I don't think that the Episcop. Church has any idea what it is doing to it's members. This live and let live attitude regarding morals and core beliefs will backfire.

Grandmas Bible right now is her saving grace, and I tell her that God loves her and is waiting with open arms for her, and so is Grandpa.

[Ann Archy]

Pray that Catolics abandon the liberal lies of the left.

[Petronski]

I wish this were true, but in many parts of the country, the American Catholic Church is split far from the Roman Catholic Church and instead aligned comfortably with everything the Democrat party represents.