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Cardinal Dolan’s Paul Ryan Problem [Amy Sullivan rant]
The New Republic ^ | August 31, 2012 | Amy Sullivan

Posted on 09/04/2012 12:31:37 PM PDT by Alex Murphy

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Earlier this spring, Ryan explained in an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network why he believes his budget plans do conform with Catholic social teaching, especially the principle known as the preferential option for the poor. “The preferential option for the poor, which is one of the primary tenants of Catholic social teaching,” said Ryan, “means don’t keep people poor, don’t make people dependent on government so that they stay stuck at their station in life, help people get out of poverty onto a life of independence.” That is a worthy goal, but not a definition of the preferential option, as nearly 90 Georgetown faculty members and priests wrote to remind Ryan after that interview. “We would be remiss in our duty to you and our students if we did not challenge your continuing misuse of Catholic teaching to defend a budget plan that decimates food programs for struggling families, radically weakens protections for the elderly and sick, and gives more tax breaks to the wealthiest few,” read the letter.

Even Dolan has made clear that he and Ryan disagree about this. On his radio program, Dolan reported that the two had a heated conversation about Ryan’s belief that entitlement programs only coddle the poor. In his convention speech, Ryan introduced a new topic of disagreement—the question of whether health care is a right or a privilege. Referring to the Obama health care plan as “an entitlement we didn’t even ask for,” Ryan firmly placed himself in the “privilege” camp. The Catholic church, however, has long considered guaranteed health care a universal right. As recently as 2010, Pope Benedict XVI wrote that it was one of the “inalienable rights” of man....

....It is not unreasonable to ask if Catholic bishops are playing favorites if they are content to sit back and let the GOP vice presidential nominee proudly call himself a Catholic and attempt to square his positions with church teaching while taking stands that are at odds with that teaching. Yes, the USCCB has written letters to Congress criticizing the Ryan budget. But Ryan has wrongly characterized those letters as representing the views of just a few bishops instead of the entire conference without being publicly corrected by church officials. And the vast majority of Catholics do not read the letters bishops send to Congress in any case.

1 posted on 09/04/2012 12:31:44 PM PDT by Alex Murphy
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To: Alex Murphy

I’ll take what Ms. Sullivan says seriously when she questions the Catholicity of a politician when she acknowledges that abortion, contraception and same-sex “marriage” are abominations.


2 posted on 09/04/2012 12:36:45 PM PDT by caldera599
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To: Alex Murphy
The church is supposed to do good works not the government.

Otherwise Jesus would have told Pontius Pilate take care of the poor.
Don't remember that happening in my Bible.

3 posted on 09/04/2012 12:39:06 PM PDT by cruise_missile (')
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Comment #4 Removed by Moderator

To: Alex Murphy
That OK any “Catholic” that thinks supporting a government funded abortion on demand candidate like Obama is going to be ok with GOD has a big surprise coming on Judgment day.
5 posted on 09/04/2012 12:43:30 PM PDT by MNJohnnie (Giving more money to DC to fix the Debt is like giving free drugs to addicts think it will cure them)
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To: Alex Murphy

Wow. Some stupid Catholic leaders have problems with insufficient “social welfare” spending on the part of the ‘Pubbies, but still haven’t excommunicated Pelosi and every “Catholic” Democrat in the DNC for their support of infanticide.

Go figure.


6 posted on 09/04/2012 12:44:26 PM PDT by Little Ray (AGAINST Obama in the General.)
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To: caldera599

perfect comment!


7 posted on 09/04/2012 12:56:34 PM PDT by Elendur (It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. - Thomas Jefferson)
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To: MNJohnnie
....any “Catholic” that thinks supporting a government funded abortion on demand candidate like Obama is going to be ok with GOD has a big surprise coming on Judgment day.

Does the religious affiliation of the supporter/candidate even matter? What about a Mormon "government funded abortion on demand candidate"?

8 posted on 09/04/2012 1:00:48 PM PDT by Alex Murphy
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To: Alex Murphy
The Catholic social justice position has caused the US reams of trouble over the years. So many Catholics have been useful idiots of the communists and socialists.

One of Saul Alinsky's main targets in Chicago was Catholics who were easily swayed by the class warfare message.

I would love to see Ryan's vision win over that of the Pope's and the US Bishops'. Interesting times.

9 posted on 09/04/2012 1:02:51 PM PDT by what's up
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To: Alex Murphy

Her problem is that she (either through denial of Church teaching or ignorance of Church teaching) considers social welfare to be more important that life and death.

It’s not, and never is.


10 posted on 09/04/2012 1:07:23 PM PDT by BlessedBeGod
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To: Alex Murphy
Context is king.

The article is arguing that Ryan "has a Catholic problem", I merely point out the fact that the real problem any Catholic has is supporting the Government funded abortion on demand position of the current Democrat leadership.

Claiming Ryan has a "Catholic problem" is akin to worrying about a spec in your neighbor's eye while ignoring the 2x4 in your own eye.

11 posted on 09/04/2012 1:09:09 PM PDT by MNJohnnie (Giving more money to DC to fix the Debt is like giving free drugs to addicts think it will cure them)
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To: Alex Murphy

Many Catholics are torn. The GOP statements on life are very good for them, but the worship of free market materialism is an issue.

The stated concern “for the poor” by the DNC matches what many Catholics perceive the social doctrine of the Church to be, but the DNC is very anti Catholic, and anti Christian in its morals.

We may see a Catholic third party once of these days as a result.


12 posted on 09/04/2012 1:13:15 PM PDT by redgolum ("God is dead" -- Nietzsche. "Nietzsche is dead" -- God.)
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To: MNJohnnie
The article is arguing that Ryan "has a Catholic problem", I merely point out the fact that the real problem any Catholic has is supporting the Government funded abortion on demand position of the current Democrat leadership.

Au contraire - the real problem anyone has, is supporting the Government funded abortion on demand position of the current Democrat or nominated Republican leadership.

Being Catholic has nothing to do with it, unless you're speaking from your personal beliefs, or you think Romney is pro-life despite evidence to the contrary.

13 posted on 09/04/2012 1:24:28 PM PDT by Alex Murphy
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To: redgolum

Free Market Capitalism has given billions to the Catholic Church. It is Catholics like Joe Biden , the Kennedy family and Pelosi who think the mass middle class should pay more taxes for the poor while they enrich themselves with government influence.


14 posted on 09/04/2012 1:31:29 PM PDT by paguch
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To: redgolum

Free Market Capitalism has given billions to the Catholic Church. It is Catholics like Joe Biden , the Kennedy family and Pelosi who think the mass middle class should pay more taxes for the poor while they enrich themselves with government influence.


15 posted on 09/04/2012 1:31:42 PM PDT by paguch
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To: Alex Murphy
After all, when a Catholic Democrat publicly dissents from church teaching or misrepresents it to a large audience, church leaders are quick to call out him or her for the transgression.

Is this satire?

16 posted on 09/04/2012 1:33:02 PM PDT by grellis (I am Jill's overwhelming sense of disgust.)
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To: caldera599

The Bishops have recently become concerned about Religious Liberty. Yet, the Bishops for 50 years have encouraged the Federal encroachment on religious exercise by calling for an ever expanding welfare programs.


17 posted on 09/04/2012 1:42:07 PM PDT by 11th Commandment (http://www.thirty-thousand.org/)
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To: cruise_missile

Judas was the socialist, not Jesus.


18 posted on 09/04/2012 1:48:00 PM PDT by Argus
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To: Alex Murphy

It has been so rewarding to have lived during the lifetimes of the Kennedy brothers, dedicated public servants all; to have observed their clearly demonstrated respect for their wives, their children and their marriage vows; their shunning of the perquisites of great inherited material wealth; the manner in which their lives were influenced by the teachings of the religion they professed and the oversight of its prelates.
Recalling all this just renders me almost breathless. I can’t go on!! Shall I abandon my Lutheran mind set and return to the Mother Church? /mild sarc/


19 posted on 09/04/2012 1:50:21 PM PDT by Elsiejay
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To: Alex Murphy
Blah, blah and blah. Does she think being Irish makes her a priest? Not yet, Miss Sullivan!

On the other hand, the Catholics better notice quick on which side their bread is buttered, and start abandoning the anti-faith Democrats even though they hope for subsidies and other graft--

20 posted on 09/04/2012 1:51:03 PM PDT by Mamzelle
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