Catholic Democrats

Catholic Democrats [http://www.catholicdemocrats.org] is a national not-for-profit organization of Catholics, based in Boston. The Catholic Democrats have members in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, with active local chapters in numerous states. It claims no authorization from any candidate or candidate committee. [http://www.catholicdemocrats.org/about/]

The organization was founded in response to the 2004 presidential elections, which, in the view of the group, had witnessed unprecedented attempts to bend Catholic Social Teaching to accommodate policies which are in conflict with the teaching and values of the Church. [Politicking in Catholic churches divides Catholics, 9/17/04. [http://www.catholicdemocrats.org/news/2004/09/politicking_in_catholic_church.php] ] It characterizes its membership as people "who share an aversion to the current abuses of US military power, the exploitation of social issues to advance the economic interests of a few, and the misuse of our Catholic faith for political gain." [http://www.catholicdemocrats.org/about/]

The group was angered as well by what it perceived as manipulation of Church teaching to the advantage of conservative and Republican interests: "conservatives have increasingly used Catholic language and Catholic congregations to advance their economic agenda and political interests." [http://www.catholicdemocrats.org/about/] The group's origins are rooted in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' “Call to Faithful Citizenship,” [http://www.ncrlc.com/1-pfd-files/BulletinInsert.pdf] particularly its insistence on “a consistent moral framework anchored in the scriptures and expressed in the teachings of the Church.” The group specifies the bishops' call [“The Challenge of Faithful Citizenship,” [http://www.ncrlc.com/1-pfd-files/BulletinInsert.pdf] ] for a new commitment to advancing public policies that work in the interest of “the common good.”

Catholic Democrats emphasizes certain issues within Catholic social teaching ("war, poverty, unintended pregnancy, preventable illness, the death penalty, instability of the family, all forms of discrimination, and supporting the dialogue balancing medical advances and the dignity of the individual") which it feels that the Republican Party neglects in favor of others, notably abortion, euthanasia and homosexuality. The group's website features the week's gospel readings, news stories and commentary, papal encyclicals and resources for adoption.

References

External links

* [http://www.catholicdemocrats.org Catholic Democrats]

* [http://ncronline3.org/drupal/?q=node/1525 Origins of the Catholic Democrats]
* [http://news.bostonherald.com:80/news/2008/view.bg?articleid=1114915&srvc=2008campaign&position=4 Faith-related events at the 2008 Democratic Convention]
* [http://archivesite.thecatholicspirit.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=2307&SectionID=36&SubSectionID=&S=1 Activities around 2008 Republican Convention]
* [http://www.time-blog.com/swampland/2008/09/what_a_community_organizer_doe.html On the relationship between Catholicism and community organizing]