Deal Hudson is decidedly correct in his assertion that life principles supported by Republicans take precedence over policy issues for peace, justice and poverty supported by either party. By recognition of Catholic principles first and preferred policy second, we remain steadfast in support of our beliefs. We need to make voting decisions based on principles, which are doctrine of 2000 yrs of Christianity and Mosaic Law for another 3000+ prior to Christ. That is not to say we toss out our belief in the corporal works of mercy, we just priortize protection of life
over liberty and pursuit of happiness, just as Jefferson wrote it (first)
Democrats try to sound the policy issue over principle. Until they get it turned around, they do not have a course I can support as a Catholic.

Hi Mr. Hudson--

I'd like to add my own reason for being a Catholic Conservative who has always voted Republican, if I may.

At this time in the US, poverty is typically a result of behavior. One drinks oneself out of a job. One fornicates and, if the babe is lucky, has one or more children out of wedlock. One chooses to quit high school. The list goes on.

Yet one can also turn one's life around, given hard work and much self-discipline. I know, because I have done it. One needn't be hooked into the "right" people to break out of poverty, nor does one have to violate any law. One does, however, have to bear the burden of past sin and work to make it right.

The welfare state would have us believe that the US citizens in "poverty" are there by no fault of their own. The truth, however, is the opposite. If one has reached the age of legal emancipation, one is ultimately responsible for how one lives.

Yes there are tragedies--accidents, unexpected deaths as such--and society should by all means help those suffering from unexpected tragedies. But there's nothing unexpected about living in a slum when one has fornicated, lied, drugged oneself into a state of vegetation, etc. It's called consequences.

Liberals, or whatever name they choose to call themselves, deny that consequences exist and wail that those of us who reap the rewards of self-discipline and hard work are really to blame for the lot of the poor.

While that explanation may work in Zimbabwe, it doesn't work here--pun intended.

Until the poor accept their own culpability for their economic situation, there is no amount of money on the planet that will help them.

I am Catholic and Republican because the choices in life are somewhat 'clear' to me:
Atheists & Manipulation (Democrats) versus Faithful & Self - Discipline (Republicans).
Now, that sounds somewhat extreme perhaps...a little too black and white, too general, too judgmental, maybe? Maybe. However, it seems to me that you can measure the quality of the INTENT of politicians like Hillary Clinton from simply watching how she intentionally manipulates the public. It also seems you can measure your own FAITH in God by your INTENT to "stay on the straight and narrow path..." as they say, and perhaps how often you PRAY for guidance, for forgiveness, and give thanks when you get those.
When you just follow your "gut" feelings about which direction is going to be GOOD for you, for us and for God...you will surely find this is not a popularity contest; it is Life itself. You can choose to be guided by God, or by the most "popular" positions. I'm finding that life is going by really quickly, and I suspect that the moments of a person's death bring all this into clarity; at least it should for those who hope to be going somewhere afterwards........
Vote with your heart. Pray with everything you have.

Mr.Hudson is infallibly correct. I am only 22yrs old, so I am still new to many things in this world, but what I do know is God and Mankind are intricately connected. I am a roman catholic republican from a protestant democratic home. I am on the front lines of this basic distinction everyday. I feel my family thinks I am a "know it all". I dont feel that way, I do feel the need to express my faith in all that I do, and being a republican is one way I do this. I don't think all democrates are "evil" or depraved in anyway. Many, many of them are successful,law-abiding,God loving people. Not everyone will share the same views on the vast issues of life(both spiritual and material). In fact there are democrates and protestants I deeply respect. Al Gore is one of them.

M rHudson,

Your article rings true for me. I am a Reagan Republican but a Catholic first. Precisely because the GOP stands for life and family (albeit imperfectly) is why I have always voted for them in national elections.

Yet, every four years I get disillusioned enough to consider going for a purer third party (such as the Constitution Party) because I know the GOP's imperfections. However, what brings me back to the GOP fold are two things: 1) the looming evil that the party of death candidate would bring upon us if elected (ie, Obama this year) and 2) the fact that voting for a purer third party with no chance of winning just might facilitate the rise of said party of death candidate. It all comes down to the old saying: Don't let the perfect become the enemy of the good.

If the GOP strays from its pro-life/pro-family, strong national defense planks, then I will leave it for the more perfect party. Ultimately, we must try to bring about the social reign of Christ the King in the temporal order.

For all the loyal Republicans asserting why social issues are the reason to go that way, I offer Thomas Frank's succinct summary of how the GOP treats social conservatives: They vote to stop abortion, they get tax cuts for rich people.
Dick Cheney said it best in late 2002, when he told Paul O'Neill, the then-Treasury Secretary, that another tax cut was in the works. O'Neill was concerned, in view of budget deficits and the looming Iraq War.
"Reagan proved deficits don't matter," Cheney replied. Besides, he added, the Republicans had just won the 2002 off-year elections, and a tax cut would be "a reward for our base."
Note the reward wasn't a stepped-up push against abortion, an anti-gay crusade, or something of that nature.

The Republicans have only paid lip service to so-called "pro-life" advocates. Where are the advances in this arena that should have been seen by now, after nearly 30 years of Republican rule?

Politicians are politicians. They tell people what they want to hear. You forget that at your peril.

The Republican Party does not equal Catholic orthodoxy.

I agree, the Republican party does not equal Catholic orthodoxy. But i don't think a faithful Catholic can vote Democrat this time around. Pope Benedict said our number one priority should be the defense of life, and second the defense of the family. Obama's attitudes are exactly the opposite of what they ought to be. Will the Republicans go so far as they ought to? No. But at least they represent our views to some extent, instead of ridiculing them.

http://www.gop.com/media/2004platform.pdf

I believe that the Republican Party's Platform is still pro-life and will continue to be in '08. The same cannot be said of the Democrat's platform.

I would really like to understand how the Democratic party (Leaders especially) can say God is on their side when they are so Pro Abortion.
They had the nerve to say God was on their side for the weather they experienced during the Obama speech in the outside stadium, and then I hear an add on the radio stating John McCain threatens the lives of women because if he had it his way he would overturn abortion rights. What about the babies’ rights? No logical mind can say abortion is not killing. When people plant seeds they start to grow, and then if they wilt, they say they died, how are embryos different???
They can not have it both ways; you can NOT have God on your side and agree with killing babies. It is totally hypercritical, just like many twisted liberal views working in the GRAY ZONE!!!! Please have them explain this, I am anxious to hear their answer and be enlightened!

I came upon this posting now, and I can definitely agree with it. I am ashamed of the Catholic Democrat politicians who, after selling out to appease as much of the crowd as possible, loudly proclaim their Catholic faith. It's understandable to be a Democrat on economic issue (albeit no better than a fiscal conservative - IMO), but any Catholic who tried to justify voting Democrat b/c of that is lying to themselves.

The main issues that Pelosi-types use to justify their hypocrisy are poverty, death penalty, and war. Economics is such a loose-cannon and imprecise science that taking either side does not mean much, although you can argue that more social programs benefit the poor (if you ignore the corrupt process and system of priorities they go through before they are passed).

Then Cardinal Ratzinger, now the Pope, said "There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about waging war and applying the death penalty, but not however with regard to abortion and euthanasia." In fact, war and the death penalty were not frowned upon before Pope John Paul II's Evangelium Vitae.

I am a Roman Catholic living in the New York / New Jersey area. I support Pro-Life. As long as the mother's life is in no danger, and if the child is healthy, abortion should not be allowed. Life is a special gift from God. Only He can give life and only He decides when it should end. Also, marriage is only meant to be between one man and one woman. That is what's natural, and that is how God intends it to be. If you are a man then you should remain a man - if you are a woman then you should remain a woman. Period. Another point to be made is people should of course always respect the country they live in. There is only one basic way a society can be successful and prosperous. Good family values, respect for elders, respect for your neighbor, respect your flag, and always having good ethical practices in our professional aa well as personal lives. Only this type of society can be healthy. Furthermore, there are the three loves we Croatian-Americans were taught growing up. The three loves we need to uphold are: Love for God, love for family, and love for country. God Bless!

Yes, the Republican Party does fit in well with our Catholic faith; yet I'm sure the Pope (and my local bishop) would disagree on some (but not all) of its members' stand on the death penalty. Also, every church I've entered, I hear the priest talking about "just wages" and "health care". I think that's why most of the people in any given Catholic church are going to vote Democratic...especially new immigrants. But the Republican Party is a "big tent" and all people are welcome. Years ago, one would never hear of Catholics in the Republican Party...or Jewish Republicans, but today, the conservative, moral principles of the Party appeal to many types of people.