Why do so many Catholics who have Christian beliefs more-often than not, endorse Democrats?

Question

Since Catholics identify themselves as Christians, shouldn't they support candidates and politicians whose political policies are in-line and conducive to Christian ideals and beleifs?

YET - a great many Catholics - primarily vote for Democrat politicians and candidates - who often endorse policies that are anti-Christian (i.e. - Abortion, pro-homosexual policies, liberal policies that are more permissive to 'alternative lifetyles' by deregulating the media).

Help me to understand why so many Catholics vote for people that don't endore Christian values.

I never said anything about "facts". All insults will be granted a thumbs-down. I'm looking for an intelligent answer, and an honest, sincere attempt to answer the question.

Answer 1

Unfortunately no political party has a platform in line with Catholic social teaching.

The Catholic Church is pro-life in the widest sense. This is often called a "Consistent Ethic of Life."

This pro-life stance stresses the highest regard for dignity of human life including that of:

+ All people in objecting to unjust war and nuclear arms. (closer to Democratic platform)

+ The unborn in objecting to to abortion, in vitro fertilization, frozen embryos, embryonic stem cell research, and cloning (closer to Republican platform)

+ The elderly, sick and dying in objecting to assisted suicide and euthanasia (closer to Republican platform)

+ Prisoners in objecting to the death penalty (closer to Democratic platform)

+ The poor and minorities in supporting social justice issues (closer to Democratic platform)

Some Catholics are enthusiastically anti-abortion and align themselves with the Republican party.

When you look at which party helps the most people, the Democratic party supports more "Catholic" issues so some Catholics are Democrats.

Neither party follows all Catholic teachings.

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, sections 2259 and following: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt3sect2chpt2art5.htm#2259

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

This query is quite abnormal. It turns out cautiously worded but leaves me the affect that it's little greater than race-bating. Your premise that the Democratic political insurance policies are opposite and corrosive to Christian beliefs and ideals is at great a stretch and potentially utterly in errors. I'll reply it as good as I can. I'm now not black, and can not inform you why "Black Americans" do some thing for certain, however I can inform you that "Black America" isn't a monolithic tradition that has just one time table or just one drawback. Most individuals I've met, black, white, brown, yellow, and a massive style of blends who vote Democratic, achieve this on the grounds that they aid the Democratic Party's platform. The ones I recognise who've been lively within the Democratic celebration had most commonly noticeable greater than their proportion of fiscal tough occasions, and so they felt the great option to cope with the issues they confronted was once via collective force. There have been a couple of who believed that their devout religion instructed them closer to the Democrat celebration line. However, I additionally met Republicans of many ethnic backgrounds, and so far as I was once in a position to inform, they have been additionally balloting their consciences. There is not more one Black identification than there may be one Hispanic identification or one Asian identification or one northern European identification. People vote to comply with their possess hearts. This is not the time to deal with the fake premise of the query, but when your target is actually to get rational solutions, you quite have got to evaluate that aspect while you submit subsequent. Thanks.

Answer 3

Well, I don't think its exactly a hugantic number...there are a lot of Republicans too.

I think that its part a lot of Catholics aren't really practicing, so they're not as tied down to the Church's laws, and a lot of others are like me and figure that if you're adult and what you do isn't harming others, then you're all good. I know what my beliefs are and I try to follow them, but I also know that a pretty big chunk of America doesn't. Therefore, I try not to impose the trappings of my faith on them more than what is required under common sense(for example, that killing people is wrong and requires punishment).

Abortion, though, is unacceptable.

Answer 4

Where in the world do you get your "facts".

There are just as many Republicans as there are Democrats in the Catholic Church.

F.Y.I....in the last election there was a large push to vote for Bush because of his stand on abortion and stem cell research.

Answer 5

Your 'facts' are questionable, but all that aside I know that many Catholics identify with the social justice aims of the Democrats.

Answer 6

Perhaps it's because they acknowledge that they have no business writing their religion into law, so they vote based on what they think is best and fairest for the country.

Answer 7

I never knew that a Christian couldn't be a Democrat?

Go figure. I guess that is another topic for you to stand on your high horse and judge.

Judgy Wudgy was a Bear...

Answer 8

...

If Yeshua were alive today (and real in general) he would be a liberal. He was for helping the poor, the helpless, the sinful. He was against violence, against cheating and stealing, he would have been appalled at what the Republican party is doing in his name. Your political beliefs are not necessarily those of your deity.

Answer 9

Here's a thought. Maybe instead of being sheep, they vote based on what they feel is best for the country?

Answer 10

I really don't know. Half my family is Catholic. They are also rabid democrats. However they are more cultural catholics than faithful go to mass type Catholics.