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1994 Rudy: "I will work as hard to protect.. right to believe in God ..or not to believe in God."
The Brody File ^ | April 12, 2007 | David Brody thebrodyfile@gmail.com

Posted on 04/12/2007 8:22:49 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife

1994 Rudy: "I will work as hard to protect someone's right to believe in God as he or she sees fit -- or not to believe in God."

The Brody File has dug up a Rudy quote from the past that makes for an interesting discussion. In a 1994 New York Times article, Rudy said this:

"As the Mayor of New York City, I will work as hard to protect someone's right to believe in God as he or she sees fit -- or not to believe in God -- because I realize that my right to practice my religion depends completely on my commitment to defend someone else's right to practice theirs, or to practice no religion at all."

The article goes on to mention his views on Catholicism.

"Mr. Giuliani, who as a young man once considered joining the priesthood, noted that many Catholics today "feel that in some intellectual or quasi-intellectual circles, they are demeaned." He said he had also heard Catholics say that "Catholic-bashing has become part of the dogma of what they regard as the politically correct." And he said: "Indeed, I do detect among some who accept the most recent intellectual fads a disdain for those who share in the more orthodox faiths, whether Christian or Jewish or Muslim. In my humble opinion -- and this is meant as an observation, not a challenge -- that disdain emerges from an almost subconscious conclusion that to believe in God too fervently betrays a certain intellectual infirmity." He compared such a view with the "difficult time that some believers have in drawing the line between belief in dogma and respect for those who disagree." He called for believers and unbelievers alike to avoid "the arrogance of having no doubts."

Read the rest of the article here. It's interesting to hear Rudy talk about his faith. Clearly, there is a deeper story there. It makes me wonder what his upbringing was like and how his Catholic faith helped shaped who he is today. It's something worth exploring. I interview Giuliani next week. Maybe I'll pursue this with him. Got questions for him? Email them to me.


TOPICS: Front Page News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: election; giuliani; politics; religion
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To: LimberJim

Yep, thats better.


41 posted on 04/12/2007 8:58:52 AM PDT by dforest (Fighting the new liberal Conservatism. The Left foot in the GOP door.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
We were disussing this statement:

He called for believers and unbelievers alike to avoid "the arrogance of having no doubts."

Which, ironically, is arrogant in its own right.

42 posted on 04/12/2007 8:58:58 AM PDT by dirtboy (Duncan Hunter 08/But Fred would also be great)
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To: dirtboy

Your quote does not support your satement that he is telling people what to believe. I read the quote as, colloquially, “believe what you want but don’t be an a$$hole about it”.


43 posted on 04/12/2007 8:59:47 AM PDT by dmz
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To: msnimje
Another high profile person making Catholics look bad.

????????????

44 posted on 04/12/2007 9:00:12 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: GenuineChocolateFace
I heard that Guiliani went to vist Schiavo in the hospital, and was putting kinks in her feeding tube, and laughing maniacally.

It is pretty disgusting making fun of this woman's death, too much even for a Rudi supporter.
45 posted on 04/12/2007 9:00:28 AM PDT by msnimje (True Conservatives will not support a pro-abortion candidate.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
***...”The Catholic religion provides me the structure in which to ask these questions,” the Mayor said. “The church has built the road that allows my intellect to traverse to the outer reaches of what is comprehensible and, at that point, the church offers a leap of faith to carry me where my intellect cannot go. For me, being a Catholic is not limiting but liberating.”....***

Of course, his Catholicism apparently was no impediment to racking up a 100 percent NARAL rating.

So excuse me if I don't see Rudy as a font of wisdom on Catholicism.

46 posted on 04/12/2007 9:00:32 AM PDT by dirtboy (Duncan Hunter 08/But Fred would also be great)
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To: dirtboy
We were disussing this statement:

Rich! Who made you the dictator of what can be discussed?

47 posted on 04/12/2007 9:01:09 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Another high profile person making Catholics look bad. ????????????

Sorry, I forgot to use very small words for Rudi supporters.

Rudi is a very bad Catholic. He is a bad husband and a bad father. He is very public. This makes Catholics look bad.
48 posted on 04/12/2007 9:03:15 AM PDT by msnimje (True Conservatives will not support a pro-abortion candidate.)
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To: NYer; Salvation; narses

Catholic ping.

I find it interesting that he can be a Catholic and yet receive a 100% rating from NARAL.


49 posted on 04/12/2007 9:04:04 AM PDT by Ultra Sonic 007 (Why vote for Duncan Hunter in 2008? Look at my profile.)
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Comment #50 Removed by Moderator

To: msnimje
It is pretty disgusting making fun of this woman's death, too much even for a Rudi supporter.

Rudy cared about Terry.

I‘m sure you remember the case of Terri Schiavo. Well, for all you pro-lifers out there, is it important to you that Rudy Giuliani believes the government SHOULD have stepped in to help save her life? Read more here. At a campaign stop in Florida, here’s what he said: “I thought it was appropriate to make every effort to give her a chance to stay alive.” Let’s get out our social conservative scorecard and put a checkmark next to that one in Rudy’s column. He’s now saying the same thing that Tom Delay and Bill Frist said when this all went down...... http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/134938.aspx

....a New York Post article from April 1, 2005, in the midst of the controversy, quotes Giuliani expressing the same position: “I think the right decision would have been to keep the feeding tube in, under the circumstances of the case,” former Mayor Rudy Giuliani said.... http://thinkprogress.org/2007/04/10/giuliani-schiavo/

51 posted on 04/12/2007 9:04:35 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: msnimje
Another high profile person making Catholics look bad.

He's hardly making Catholics look bad. I'm a Catholic and I see nothing wrong with this. Perhaps you should read the whole thing first.

52 posted on 04/12/2007 9:04:42 AM PDT by areafiftyone
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To: dmz
Your quote does not support your satement that he is telling people what to believe.

Bullcrap. He is telling people without doubt that they should acquire some, quite frankly.

But this is the kind of mush I'd expect from a guy who talks about Catholic faith and then gets a 100 rating from NARAL.

53 posted on 04/12/2007 9:05:12 AM PDT by dirtboy (Duncan Hunter 08/But Fred would also be great)
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To: dmz
Your quote does not support your satement that he is telling people what to believe.

Bullcrap. He is telling people without doubt that they should acquire some, quite frankly.

But this is the kind of mush I'd expect from a guy who talks about Catholic faith and then gets a 100 rating from NARAL.

54 posted on 04/12/2007 9:05:16 AM PDT by dirtboy (Duncan Hunter 08/But Fred would also be great)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
to believe in God too fervently betrays a certain intellectual infirmity

Why is it that those with nominal, or non-existent, belief think that those who do believe are non-intellectual?

55 posted on 04/12/2007 9:05:40 AM PDT by Mr. Brightside
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To: msnimje
Rudi is a very bad Catholic. He is a bad husband and a bad father. He is very public. This makes Catholics look bad.

I didn't know you were monolithic.

56 posted on 04/12/2007 9:05:47 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: dirtboy

What is your obsession with NARAL??? You guys seem to know alot about them.


57 posted on 04/12/2007 9:06:59 AM PDT by areafiftyone
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

I can see which freepers are feeling more and more marginalized each day and it’s not pretty. LOL

I had rather thought that after being thoroughly trounced with their choice of Alan Keyes as the nominee in 2000 they would be a bit more temperate in their discussions about future presidents, but alas, it isn’t to be.


58 posted on 04/12/2007 9:07:05 AM PDT by Peach (Not banned yet.)
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To: dirtboy
So excuse me if I don't see Rudy as a font of wisdom on Catholicism.<.I>

Rudy believes in Catholicism like Castro believes in Democracy.

59 posted on 04/12/2007 9:07:37 AM PDT by Prokopton
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To: areafiftyone; msnimje
He's hardly making Catholics look bad. I'm a Catholic and I see nothing wrong with this.

msnimje is probably referring to Rudy's stance on abortion.

Say, if you're a Catholic, why are you so chummy with Rudy's stances on abortion?

60 posted on 04/12/2007 9:07:54 AM PDT by Ultra Sonic 007 (Why vote for Duncan Hunter in 2008? Look at my profile.)
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