by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Writer
(June 13, 2008) Both Presidential candidates are reaching out to Catholic voters, but with mixed results. While Senator John McCain (R-AZ) recently met with Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests forLife and other Catholic leaders in Philadelphia, Senator Barack Obama’s (D-IL) campaign is embroiled in controversy over its Catholic National Advisory Council which consists of mostly dissidents and abortion supporters.
According to a report by Deal Hudson of Inside Catholic, Senator McCain conducted a meeting with Catholic leaders in Philadelphia on June 12. After meeting with Fr. Frank Pavone, founder of Priests for Life, the first issue he raised with voters was abortion. He told voters that the “inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” applies to the unborn. He reminded voters of his pro-life voting record and promised to “maintain that commitment” if elected president.
McCain has a solid pro-life voting record, which includes a vote to uphold the Mexico City Policy which prevents International Planned Parenthood from receiving tax dollars. He also voted against endorsing Roe v. Wade and believes it should be overturned.
Obama, on the other hand, is a staunch supporter of abortion rights. He voted against the ban on partial-birth abortion and opposed legal protection for babies born during an abortion procedure. Obama and former Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, co-sponsored the Freedom of Choice Act, a bill that would invalidate virtually all state and federal limitations on abortion, and will make partial-birth abortion legal again. Obama has frequently made the promise that passage of the Freedom of Choice Act will be one of his first priorities if elected president.
During his Philadelphia meeting, McCain also brought up another subject sensitive to Catholics – that of defending marriage against the legal assault by same-sex couples. While he believes the matter should reside with the states, he added, “But if some federal judge rules that all the states must recognize the [gay] marriages in Massachusetts, I would be in favor of pursuing a Constitutional amendment.”
Obama says he personally believes marriage is between a man and a woman but supports legal recognition of same-sex couples and advocates for the complete repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) because it discriminates against homosexuals. He has also said that he believes the Sermon on the Mount justifies recognition of same-sex unions. Both McCain and Obama support embryonic stem cell research.
Each candidate has also been embroiled in controversy concerning the Catholic vote. McCain recently came under fire after being endorsed by Texas evangelical preacher, John Hagee, who referred to the Catholic Church as the “Great Whore” and an “apostate church.” Hagee publicly apologized for these comments last month.
The Obama campaign has also been excoriated for establishing the controversial Catholic National Advisory Council comprised of mostly dissident Catholics who support abortion. Included on the list is Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius who was recently asked to refrain from receiving Communion by Kansas City’s Archbishop John Naumann because of her staunch abortion support. Also included on the Council are abortion supporting senators such as Edward Kennedy (D-MA), John Kerry, (D-MA) and Chris Dodd (D-CT). The flamboyant Fr. Michael Pfleger who was recently subjected to a two-week suspension for racial statements he made about Hillary Clinton was also on the Council but recently withdrew his name.
There is some indication that Obama may have suspended this Council but has not publicly announced its dissolution.
Of the two candidates, McCain scored much better with Catholic voters during the Republican primary season, winning a large portion of the vote from active Catholics in key states such as California, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.
Obama has been having a more difficult time, with Catholic voters in the Democratic primaries preferring Clinton over Obama by substantial margins.
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Voting with a Catholic conscience can be tricky in today’s nuanced political arena. In “Casting a Catholic Ballot,” Fr. Frank Pavone, Mary Jo Anderson and Fr. Edward Krause answer your questions about how to cast a faithful ballot.
