Bob, I couldn't agree more. If the McCain campaign does not conduct a vigorous Catholic Outreach they don't have a chance to take the White House in November. The fact that some Catholic voters are beginning to re-identify with the Democratic Party -- probably over Iraq and Immigration -- is all the warming sign the campaign should need. The campaign did create a strong Catholic Outreach to help the candidate secure the nomination. It needs to be doubled, or tripled, to make the difference on election day.

I hope Catholics stay as far from John McCain as possible. He may try and court Catholics with anti abortion talk and a photo-op with the Pope but he is a wolf in sheep's clothing.
He has been described as George Bush on steroids and I think the description is apt.
McCain has surrounded himself with the same neo-con bunch that created the ideological outlook for the Bush administration. One would think they learned a lesson from Iraq. Not so. Like the Bourbons of France the "have learned nothing and forgotten nothing". McCain is intent on further war in the Middle East and is just itching for war with Iran. It would not surprise me to see concocted evidence against the Iranians similar to what the Bush administration did to the lead-up to the Iraq war.
If we want to see many more flag-draped caskets containing more young Americans and thousands more innocent people of the Middle East killed and wounded and displaced we should vote John McCain into office.
I simply do not understand the thinking of certain Catholics who will march in an anti- abortion rally and decry the death of innocents in the womb (and rightly so) but then turn the other way when our government kills innocents abroad. Is it that they are just not that visible? They are not Americans so they count for less? Whatever threat Islamic extremism is or isn't to the United States, the Bush-McCain method is not the way to deal with it.
Let us reject John McCain.

Miguel, I think some Catholic voters will be sympathetic with your argument against McCain on the basis of Iraq -- but not too many. With some exceptions, only those Catholic voters who are itching for reason to vote for a pro-abortion candidate like Obama or Clinton will be persuaded by your argument. They whole "neo-con" conspiracy theory thing doesn't work in a national election.

...then why have we elected presidents who support legalized abortion, government-funded "family planning" programs here and abroad, gay marriage, and gays in the military? Maybe that's what others mean by the Catholic vote. What do YOU mean?

McCain should tap Rick Santorum for Vicepresident. Catholics love him; he's bright and presentable; has experience in government and would carry Pennsylvania (his Senate loss there was a bum deal orchestrated by a vast left-wing conspiracy of liberal press and dirty dealing Democrats).

"Let us reject John McCain."
So we can watch more pro-abortion judges placed on the bench, more assaults on traditional marriage, this time with the tacit support of the White House ?
A foreign policy based on appeasing our enemies, selling out those who've risked everthing to support us,just to placate elite European opinion? Gutting our intelligence and surveillance programs to please paranoids, conspiracy nuts and the ACLU?
No thanks.
I wouldn't hold my breath for a McCain/Santorum ticket. The two men dislike one another, and Santorum couldn't hold his own Senate seat. A Santorum nomination might please those of us who are "movement" social conservatives, but he doesn't bring any broad strength to the ticket. McCain would probably chose Ron Paul as his running mate, before Santorum. (Not bloody likely!). I'm hearing more and more speculation about Chris Cox as the running mate. I don't know that he's Catholic- he did graduate from a Catholic H.S.

Miguel,

I understand your frustration with the John McCain because I to don't want to cast a vote for him (I'm a Brownbacker). Your arguments are reasoned but don't make the mistake of placing innocent unborn children with civilian casualties. Unborn children have not had the 'opportunity' to freely commit sin while civilians have.

Though tragic that civilians do perish during war and their deaths are equally tragic as aborting innocent unborn children, the death of an unborn infant are more heinous in and of themselves relative to civilian casualties because they are 'innocent' children.

That may be what "the maverick" McCain NEEDS to do, but c'mon. What's the likelihood of McCain suddenly becoming a culture warrior and alienating his "precious" support among the press hacks and "moderate" voters?

The McCain bashers here sound like Democrat trolls that have been sent out to disrupt the coservative blogoshphere. The Dems are really painting themselves into a nasty corner these days and it's no wonder they are sending these trolls out to cause us trouble. The pleasure of seeing them loose in November would be exquisite.

Yep, that's me. The "Democrat troll".

After all, there couldn't possibly be conservatives who have their doubts about McCain.

John McCain is a weak candidate, especially on the culture of life issues. It's quite acceptable to investigate and question many of McCain's policies and ideas.

Your accusation is grossly inaccurate and misinformed.

After watching John McCain over the last decade, I'm having a difficult time believing he'll nominate conservative justices for the Supreme Court or for the Circuit Courts.

All Senator Schumer will have to do is tell McCain that any nominees like Roberts or Alito will be filibustered, and McCain needs to submit a 'compromise' judicial nominee so as not to 'divide the country'. Is McCain more likely to fight Charles Schumer for a conservative, pro-life justice, or support a nominee like Sandra Day O'Connor? I hope I'm wrong, I don't see him doing anything but 'reaching across the isle' to Democrats on this.

This is an awesome article and I completely agree that Senator McCain MUST aggressively reach out to Catholics in order to win the general election.

I got involved in politics during the 2004 election while I was a senior in high school because of the aggressive Catholic outreach by the Bush campaign, specifically RNC Catholic Outreach.

Its great that the McCain camp has issued two press releases touting support of some great Catholic leaders, but McCain must do much, much more. I think Mr. Reilly has really just outlined a very doable game plan for the campaign to pursue.

Francis, I disagree. McCain has named Sam Brownback as his chief adviser on judicial appointments, and McCain credits Brownback with torpedoing the abysmal nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court.

McCain couldn't of picked a better adviser when it comes to judges.

I'd be more convinced of McCain's bona fides in this regard if he picked Brownback as his running mate as well as putting him in charge of picking his judicial nominees.

I do hope my interlocutors who are against McCain because he is not more pro-life or more astute on the social issues realize that the perfect is the enemy of the good. Now is the time, when he needs the Catholic vote, to steer him in the right direction. Can he be trusted? He has shown himself to be a man of honor. Also, this whole issue must be seen in light of the alternatives. As both Clinton and Obama support partial-birth abortions, McCain's consistent pro-life voting record shines out.

There's one issue I haven't heard here: adoption. Having adopted a daughter, in addition to his biological children, John McCain is in an excellent position to argue that he is not simply pro-life for political gain, but that he lives out this value. While he is not 100% in line with the Church on matters of stem cell research, I think this actual family experience of being open to life should really go a long way in reassuring Catholic voters.

From his website:

In 1993, John McCain and his wife, Cindy, adopted a little girl from Mother Teresa's orphanage in Bangladesh. She has been a blessing to the McCain family and helped make adoption advocacy a personal issue for the Senator.

The McCain family experience is not unique; millions of families have had their lives transformed by the adoption of a child. As president, motivated by his personal experience, John McCain will seek ways to promote adoption as a first option for women struggling with a crisis pregnancy. In the past, he cosponsored legislation to prohibit discrimination against families with adopted children, to provide adoption education, and to permit tax deductions for qualified adoption expenses, as well as to remove barriers to interracial and inter-ethnic adoptions.

Billy: I hope you're right about McCain on judges. I know McCain is not on the judiciary committee, but I would have to like to have heard him speak out against the despicable manner in which Schumer and his compatriots on the judiciary committee treated both Roberts and Alito. His association with the 'gang of 14' is also a concern.

Bob: I understand your concerns. McCain was definitely no higher than fourth on my list of preferred candidates for the GOP nomination. I'm one of those who hasn't made up my mind about whether to vote for McCain or not cast a Presidential vote. I'll likely end up voting for him because the alternatives are so radical, but I'm under no illusions about him being a Reagan-style conservative; he is not.

In the meantime, McCain would do well to follow your advice on the Catholic vote.

+JMJ+

To pick up on the stem cells issue, I've heard it claimed that Sen. McCain is "open to changing his mind" based on the new research that suggests that embryonic stem cell research is not necessary. It would be a huge step for him to take the time to research it, and this is a golden opportunity for him to change his mind. It's close enough to the new discoveries to keep him from getting branded as a "flip-flopper" and it would help him affirm that his guiding principles do support the sanctity of human life.

As for the war in Iraq, it would be helpful if he expressed deep sadness about the current situation, especially all the lives that have been lost. He should stress that he wasn't the one who got us into this mess, but he's going to responsibly to get us out. Make it clear that he has some concrete goals in terms of at least starting to transition out during his presidency, but remind people about the consequences of just setting a date.

More thoughts later if they come to me...

Mr. Reilly,

I'm not so much "against" McCain as I am not yet convinced that I should be "for" him. He's got some convincing to do where I'm concerned.

I'd be delighted if he'd follow your prescription for winning over Catholic voters, but it just seems not within his makeup to take on the culture issues in the same way the Gipper did. I'd be somewhat satisfied if he'd name Senator Brownback as his running mate, however.

McCain's definitely preferable to the alternatives on the Democrat side. But I'm not sure that's good enough anymore.

When the choice is between an aggressive, fanatical pro-abortion candidate (either Obama or the wife of the rapist (I believe juAnita--and OTHER victims of the rapist ex-president) and a sort-of pro-life candidate (and McCain's support of ESCR has been exaggerated--he does not support the creation of NEW stem-cell lines from aborted babies) who will bring several thousand people to Washington who are more conservative than he is, a pro-life voter MUST vote for the sort-of pro-life candidate.

There is no proportion between the deaths of soldiers and civilians on the one hand, and the murder of the unborn, on the other. First, the Church ultimately cannot teach definitively whether a particular war is unjust. Catholics are legitimately divided on the justice of this war. Second, the wholly illegitimate current legal permission to kill a certain class of human beings is a vastly greater evil than erroneous judgments made in carrying out the fundamentally legitimate authority to make war. Third, the number of soldiers and civilians killed in this war in five years is less than the number of babies murdered in the U.S. EACH WEEK. The number of soldiers killed in this war has been less than the number of murdered babies EACH DAY in the U.S.

Anyone who argues that Catholics can legitimately vote for Obama or the wife of the rapist is simply pro-abortion.

With regard to judges: It would be NICE if the USSC would reverse its abortion decisions. But when, in history, has an evil on the scale of the American Holocaust been stopped by simply going to the murderers and saying, "Please stop"? Tens of millions of Americans have been direct collaborators in the holocaust. It stands to reason that the reform of American society will require infinitely more suffering, enlightenment, repentance, and cleansing disaster than the mere political labor involved in changing the makeup of the USSC. The fronts in the culture war include whatever it will take to give us such changes as Catholic bishops who are not corrupt and blackmailable, such as the bishops who stubbornly and cravenly refuse to obey the Church themselves--such as those who refuse to obey Canon 915 because they fear loss of federal money or the exposure of their personal sins by powerful pro-abortion "Catholics."

Great article. Indeed, Senator McCain will need the support of Catholics who are unconvinced of his pro-life stance. Picking a strong pro-life running mate will surely assuage the fears of the right-to-life community.

I havn't read one word yet that Mc'Cain went to Dr. Haggee begging for an endorsement. Obviously, he was more intent in getting that endorsement for his own politial gain. If he wasn't the Republican nominee and Hillary and Obama wern't so busy trying to dismantle the Democrat party the news media would be having a field day over it.

That being said as I am a Conservative Catholic I will vote for the only Candidate that was Pro-life Pro-family and helped the poor and needy by opening up his state As governor and greeted the victims of Katrina with open arms. Provided food and shelter for them because our own government dragged their feet in doing so. Many of those people have stayed and are still living in that state because they were treated with such kindness.

That is what our Father ask us to do. To feed and help those who are miss fortunate than the rest of us. Even if I have to write this mans name in Nov. at least I can go to my creator someday and know I did the right thing. That man is former Governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas.

Before the 17th Amendment (first used in Election Year 1914), in which the power of direct public election of senators replaced their election by state legislatures, the electorate were those presumably more educated in the theory and practice of politics--because it was their vocation.

The progressive era unfortunately expanded suffrage to every 18-year old citizen not convicted of a felony. This meant that now all federal campaigns had to be run with the mindset that any fool could vote.

Needless to say, all federal campaigns, morphed from brilliant debate like between Lincoln & Douglas, to sheer sound-byte demagoguery from both parties that we are accustomed to today.

I trust the readership here is much more educated than the fools I speak of.

But the educated ought to acknowledge our plight--we live in an age of demagoguery--and act according to practical (if not wholly philosophical) politics.

The experienced politician--John McCain--will not ignore the practical demands of the day, and nor should we. We may exercise our right not to vote, but when we are up against Obama or (and?) Clinton, we must remember that, as St. Ambrose says, we are called to answer for our actions--and inactions.

McCain should be able to expect the Catholic vote without further ado, but Catholics are notorious for forgetting the symbiosis of Faith & Reason. Reilly's plan is outstanding; it is almost Burkean in the way that it employs practical politics to serve sound political philosophy.

Bob, your article was excellent and addresses the serious need to reach out not only to the Catholic vote but to a nation that needs a clear voice reminding everyone why America is a special place with a special duty to history and the world. Catholic principles are at the heart of our founding documents - a recognition of basic human rights that come from god, our responsibility toward one another and toward the society at large, and the opportunity for each of us not only to make a difference but to contribute in whatever way and with whatever gifts God has given us.

Changing the law to respect all human life must be our first effort, for without the right to life, there are no other rights.

So what candidate comes closest to helping us reach that goal?

Not Obama.
Not Hillary.

John McCain may not have a perfect voting record but his record is consistent and pro-life over 25 years in Congress. As my Senator from Arizona, he has always been a friend to AZRTL. He has pledges to give us solid jurists, to support our efforts to reverse Roe v. Wade, and continues to communicate with the leadership on pro-life issues. Sam Brownback supports him and even if I did not know Senator McCain,. I know Sam Brownback to be a true friend to the unborn and to the movement.

Most hardcore Catholic Democrats are lost causes, I'm afraid, as they'll do ANYTHING to justify voting for even the most pro-chocie Democrat. But the liberal-leaning devout Catholics and pro-lifers are most certainyl up for grabs. Pro-life Catholics would greatly appreciate Brownback as a VP choice...the "social justice" crowd (the kind that, like a harcore pro-lifer, may vote third party if they don't like their choices enough) will need to hear speeches like the one from tonight, which effectively law to rest the idea that McCain is a virulent Americanist who cares not about the principle of subsidiarity on the international stage.

Nowhere else to go? Have we become that conditioned that we can't see another option? I would encourage every thinking Catholic (and Christian) to really looking into Ron Paul. Plug his name into Wikipedia and check it out. Please. Let's send a message to the two parties that we are not a bunch of sheep and are not going to put up with their mediocrity. Blessings.

Yes, there is the casualities in the War in Iraq. We do not know how many more will happen if the war continues. Maybe hundreds, or thousands.
One thing I can tell you- is millions of inocent preborn have been slaughted in the war on the pre-born and millions more willbe killed if this holocaust is allowed to continue. I have been in the trash of abortoin mills and let me tell you--to hold a little pre-born in your hand so violently killed , it sure strips away the retoric!
Obamba and Hitlary, ( no, it is no typo, it how I see her,) are rabid lovers of a woman's right to chose to kill the life of her unborn child. It is a child, not a choice. they call it "tissue". Well part of a poem I wrote was'

The only tissues I saw were yellow and blue,
But the babies were flesh, blood and bones--it is true.

It IS and matter of life and death who you vote for. Choose life!

Miguel Miramon].....It would not surprise me to see concocted evidence against the Iranians similar to what the Bush administration did to the lead-up to the Iraq war.... Really?? Dumb George Bush concocted evidence that fooled not only the public but the vast majority of Congress?? Really?? Now I believe that war is wrong, but the current situation being put at the feet of George Bush alone is letting several people off of the hook. Now I don't know if our President lied or not and I seriously doubt anyone commenting here has hard evidence of such. As Catholics, we can't simply choose the lessor of two evils, can we? If a person running for office promotes two positions that agree with the Church, but one that doesn't can we really vote for them? Staying home is distasteful to me as well, but my question is valid, still.

I see no candidate with any backing from either The National Right to Life or The International right to Life groups. Why is that?

I would like to see ANY of the candidates address the morality collapse int his country and the general disregard for each other that is becoming so prevalent in this culture. Nobody has commented on the fragmentation of our founding fathers' principles that this great nation had been constructed upon.

What this country needs is to follow the directives of Our Lady of America. Then, the first of many miracles will happen in our country and it will naturally extend to all countries around this beautiful earth. Learn what She said in 1956 in this canonically-approved apparition (the ONLY one in the United states history) at www.oltiv.org Your children's futures may depend upon how you respond. Will you answer Her call? BRING ME MY CHILDREN....

Dear Mr Reilly,
Couldn't you make an appointment with Mr. McCain to urge him to do exactly what is present here in your article.Your association with President Reagan would most surely be a catalyst for Mr.McCain to listen to what is proposed in this excellent article.

However,if 63% of Catholic's list themselves as democrats, Mr.McCain may not view the Catholic vote as very important.How many pro-life democrats in Congress & the Senate are there?Couldn't we count them on one hand? I would bet that most of the 63% changing to that party have the cafeteria syndrome & put abortion at the end of their list. If all US citizens don't recognize the killing of pre-born human beings,as former embryos themselves & act accordingly by voting on the "ONLY" person running who is union with our Creator, this presidential race will make no difference. How long Lord, before you remove all Your protection, and this nation falls.
The war in Iraq is important, this cry of the number of our dead now numbering 4000 is heartbreaking,BUT these + + +'s on a daily basis, numbering 4400 deaths, each & every day in this country is undefendable.It is the most inhuman crisis this country has ever been guilty of.The urgency of removing this practice of killing preborn human beings is the only criteria I will use in my choice for "any" official I will vote for.
Respectfully,
Mrs.Vail

How can you compare McCain with Bush? One thing Catholics can not deny is that President Bush has been 100% PRO-Life and his stance against partial birth abortion and embryonic stem cells is well documented. The president has also given America two PRO LIFE judges in Roberts and Alito. As far as the Iraq War goes, I agree with your statement about McCain being Bush on steroids, but comparing him to the president when it comes to fighting the horrors of abortion, McCain can't hold a candle to the president. I have become a one-issue voter. I will NEVER EVER vote for a candidate for any office who supports abortion. NEVER.

If not McCain - then who will you vote for? Both Dem's running are PRO-ABORTION! We can only hope for McCain to win (who has always voted pro-life) and that he choose a moral, pro-life V.P. Better you people that want Hillary or Barak Hussein Obama as President sit home and don't vote! I'm with Julie - I will NEVER EVER vote for a candidate for any office who supports abortion. NEVER!

Our USA is the country of my choice. I have lived my forty years in relative comfort and I have felt quite "free". Until recently! It has come to my attention that Democracy has a sour and murderous side. Really, it is only as good as it's majority. Under Democray, "we" have slaughtered more victims than all the other "isms" combined. From abortion to abortificients to embryonic experimentation, we have surpassed the Masters of Death; Hitler, Stalin and Mao-all fallen-away Catholics, btw. We now as a country "embrace" gays and illegals...we love porn and the seduction of minors. We sanction executions of the handicapped and elderly, without a trial. Now, Democracy is verged on a path to create more havoc on human lives. We have finally been degraded to a point when the "choices" we have been given are all bad ones.
McCain cannot be considered pro-life unless he admits that experimentation upon embryonic persons and their "useage" is evil. In our Democracy, we seem to have fallen for the "outta sight, outta mind," when it comes to our innocent victims. Each and every life lost to Satanic worship of hedonistic Democracy is piling up against our beloved and formerly righteous country!
Do I want Obama or Clinton? Most certainly not.
McCain is not pro-life either. If he can call human beings expendable in one catagory, his value for any of us fails as well.
We need to be begging God to fix this monsterous situation so we may vote for someone we REALLY trust and can stand behind-NOT someone forced upon us by the enemies of God. NOT someone by default. NOT someone we have to settle for and mold to look like a candidate our consciences can live with. To vote for this type of candidate, is to move to the left and from here on we'd never get a true conservative.
As a real Catholic, who lives as one, follows the rules and obeys like one, I vote pro-life first and foremost. That's the sensible thing. Secondly, I require a pro-traditonal family stance and a pro-USA stance. The UN is evil and I don't think the USA should have entanglements with foreign powers. Let's see, who fits this? None of them on the future ticket.

I have to beg God for His Divine Intervention on this one!

Mrs. Maureen Braun

It is time for all Catholics to test their own faith by putting their trust in God rather than our own weakness as mortals. Even if the majority of the electorate seeks their own will instead of God's will we Catholics can show the the rest of the nation and the world what we stand for, regardless of who is elected. We can demand publicly that all presidential candidates defend the innocent unborn. We can demand that they return our nation to moral sanity by ridding our public airwaves of pornography, indecency, profanity and blasphemy. We can demand that they put our own house in order before we marshal our military forces to tell the rest of the world how they should live. We can demand that they return this nation to fiscal sanity with a "pay as we go" policy instead of a "put it on the tab of succeeding generations" attitude. We can demand that the "family" be returned to its sacred position as the fundamental unit in our society and that marriage between a man and a woman is the only marriage that is pleasing to God. All of this and more, of course, requires genuine faith and the humility to admit that without God we cannot attain anything because our pride always gets in our way when we trust our own limited powers more than we trust God. Yes, someone else might still get elected, who doesn't believe in these principles. He or she might still defy God and lead America in the wrong direction, but until we Catholics refuse to compromise our belifs and stand up for what we believe in, our voices and the voice of Holy Mother Church will be stifled and remain silent.

I enjoyed this column very much. I think, as the column stresses, that McCain would be wise to get face time on Catholic TV, in print, and even on Catholic blogs. I think it is an established fact now that the Catholic electorate can make or break an election. I think many Catholics will be uncomfortable (to the say the least) with Obama, but McCain should not take that for granted.

As for McCain's position on the War in Iraq, I think he have the most humane solution. McCain seems to me to be a more astute Commander-in-Chief than Mr. Bush. I think McCain is correct in advocating for the surge. I don't think the Holy See wants to see the U.S. pull out now, because certainly chaos would reign. I don't think I need to point out that would be a disaster particularly for Christians in Iraq, a constituency the Holy See is very concerned about. I think McCain needs to re-assure Catholics in the US (and the Vatican) that he would do more to protect Christians in Iraq, reduce the violence, and work toward a stable turnover. At this point, we need not debate the morality of the War in the first place, rather McCain would do well (as he seems to be doing) to focus on the future of the War.

You cannot be in the same time against abortion and in favour of the Irak war's continuation since both issues are built on lies:
1/ The lie that a baby in his mother's womb isn't a human being
2/ The double lie that Sadam was in connection with Al Qaida while building MDWs
There was a clear demonstration that there was no connection with Osama nor any evidence of MDWs in Irak.
ARE THE AMERICANS BLIND PEOPLE?
I think so

Bottom line: McCain is the lesser of two evils and a far cry better than the other options of Clinton or Obama. Dem's are only offering socialism, which Pope JPII fought so hard all his life to stomp out. Pope Benedict knows well the evils of socialism as well.

We catholics do have somewhere to go- the Pope said we are to take many things into consideration for our votes- and when we do it all boils down to ___
the most prolife and person capable for this office is Hillary Clinton- she has worked for the poor -the downtrodden and has christian values- she WILL bring home the troops, STOP the killing- her and her husband own NO company that is making profits off this massacre.
ARMEGEDON MCCAIN who WILL invade Iran and all the Middle Eastern countries as he has talkeds of will bring nuclear holocaust to us- he is not right still from his days of torture---
The criminal activity - indictment pending of obama with his islamic radical supporters tell us he is NOT good for anything- he is a do nothing senator as it is. ONLY CHOICE IS HILLARY!!!! When ALL is truly cosidered and weighed it is only possible to vote for HIllary.

I agree completely with the person that says that Ron Paul would have been the right choice: he is pro-life and he is anti-war. I am saddened that I cannot vote without feeling guilty on the issue of war, since McCain the only pro-life candidate left is also so much pro-war. Of course, Obama and Hitlary (I like that spelling for her) the worse nightmire for any person who cares for the sanctity of life, so they are not in my list and I pray on my knees that they will not win. However, McCain's stance on the Iraque war and his eye on Iran make me very upset. I hate to have to vote for him. I am so disappointed with the American conservatives who did not pay more attention to Ron Paul's proposals. He was right on everything: first, on the pro-life issue, second on ending the war immediately and then on the fiscal and other social issues. He also pays so much attention to the economy and how it is going to the drain with the current policies set by the Federal Reserve. The American people need to wake up and demand more of its candidates. The Democrats are a no-no for anyone pro-life, but the on the other hand, we need to make sure the conservative, pro-life candidate also does a good job in fixing this country's economic and social problems as well. McCain is a real disappointment to me and voting for him will be a hard act for me because I know he will keep this stupid war forever and cause even more damage to other sectors of the economy, already in bad shape.
I can only place this on His Divine Mercy and ask Our Blessed Mother to pray with us for this country's secularization to be fixed and go back to its Christian roots.

As a Catholic myself, I am not so sure that there is a such thing as "the Catholic vote". To make that claim is to believe that all...or even most...Catholics in the U.S. adhere to the teachings of the Church in matters of faith and morals, and that simply is not true. Look at contraception use among Catholics. Look at how many do not believe in the Real Presence. Look at how many vote for pro-abortion candidates time after time because these candidates have a "D" by their name. Like it or not, the fact is that a huge percentage of "Catholics" say they are, but in practice they are not. They will, like most other Americans, vote with their pocketbook. Sad, but true.

RG - you do not "have" to vote for McCain, or for anyone else. You can vote for Ron Paul. If he's not on the ballot, write him in. If they don't let you do a write-in, then you don't have to vote. The mentality that we have to vote for the lesser of two evils only invites more evil. If I "have" to chose between McCain and either Obama or Clinton, then I won't vote. Once they give me someone decent to vote for (like Ron Paul), then I'll vote. Otherwise, I'm not playing their little game that keeps giving us candidates like the Clintons and Bushes.

In a recent article by Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests For Life, he wrote that sometimes voting is nothing more than an exercise in "damage control." In the case of Senator McCain, I agree. He's far from the perfect candidate but he's better than Obama or Clinton.

Miguel, I can tell that you're very concerned about the civilians being killed in Iraq but remember that the Catholic Church officially teaches that abortion is always wrong and evil. The Church gives governments the right to wage war if those governments believe war is justified. The Church still gives the state the right to execute criminals. However, if I understand official Catholic teachings correctly, we never have the right to kill an unborn child. The only exception might be if the mother's life is in danger. That's very rare.

Even though the Vatican and both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI disagreed with the U.S. invasion of Iraq, that was a disagreement over foreign policy. Pope John Paul II wasn't crazy about Reagan's military build up either but we later found out that the two men worked together to defeat communism. In fact, some at the Vatican have urged other countries to help the U.S. rebuild Iraq even though they disagreed with the war.

In short, let us all remember that the Church teaches that some things are always evil while others are not. Finally, let's not confuse the Church's teachings on sin with her statements on policy issues. Let's always obey her official teachings. Even if those teachings are hard for us to understand and accept. As I understand it, we're free to disagree with the Church when it comes to certain policy issues.

Go for the one who is going to make America" the beautiful one". Folks, look around and see the state of our world. America is being slaughtered by so much evil and it must stop. Vote for the one that is practicing "TRUTH'America look for this person. By their fruits you will know them. Listen with the heart when the pope speaks in NY next month. This is wake up time for America. All catholics listen to the pope and then judge what is right.America needs a truly Faith and spirit filled person to change for a better world for everyone.

ictor states: "The Church gives governments the right to wage war if those governments believe war is justified."

Where can that statement be found in the Catechism? That does not seem to be the teaching of the Catholic Church. It may be something that Fr. Pavone said at some point, but that would not make it official Church teaching.

Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan believed their warmongering was justified. Saddam thought he was justified when he invaded Kuwait. That in no way made their actions right, and the Holy See certainly did not condone their invasions simply because those governments believed their actions were justified.

Do we have any hard evidence whatsoever that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction? No. Did Iraq have the capability to attack the U.S.? No. Was al Queda active in Iraq prior to the US-led invasion? No, but they sure are there now. Catholic neocons may not like these truths, but truths they are, nonetheless.

A true pro-life position is one that is concerned with abortion and embryonic stem cell research, AND with capital punishment that is not absolutely necessary, AND with innocent victims of a war that is questionable at best. It seems that some who call themselves "pro-life" are concerned with abortion and that's about it. I agree that abortion is by far the most horrible product of the Culture of Death, but it is not the only one.

I wish more Christains would have voted the way Jesus intended. Ron Paul would have been a great president.

Chris Cox would be a great VP. We have voted for him many times here in The OC (Orange County, CA)

Great article. To be 100% honest, though, I'm voting for Sen. McCain only because he's all we, as Catholics, have left. I honestly don't perceive him as the most straightforward guy I've ever seen. But, as I've said, what choice do we have?

P.S. I'm a member of the Catholics for McCain group on Facebook.

At one time I was a Democrate but not any more both candidates are for Abortion. Life is of no value any more or there would be no consideration of taking a human life for any reason. We have become a selfish Nation. I have had a wonderful long life and now as a senior citizen I wonder when the decision may be to eradicate the senior population? This is the first time in my life that voteing is a real chore. It is going to be with many prayers and much thought that I will decide. We have excluded God from our lives in so many ways over the years. I pity the youngsters that have inherited all our mistakes.
I will continue to say "God Bless America" and "In God we Trust" & "One Nation under GOD" until my dying day.

It is unconscienable to me that any Catholic could vote for anyone but McCain since the other 2 candidates fully support abortion, including partial-birth abortion. That equates them with being killers. Don't abortion supporters realize that they are going to have to answer for this one day? A nation that kills its children is a nation on the downfall. Mark my words. . .you will see.

After he was disillusion with "communism" in the Soviet Union, Antonio Gramsci returned to Italy and was ultimately imprisoned under Mussolini. Before his release, then death, Gramsci wrote much. He reflected on his experience in Russia and the failed "revolution". The reason he believed was that the peasantry, in spite of the propaganda, still loved the Church, their icons, their religion. He realized that there was a connection between capitalism and culture and in order to destroy the former (instead of a frontal assault) communists must work slowly to destroy the culture. This, in turn, would lead to the destruction of first, the family, then religion. The leaders of the Frankfurt school (cultural Marxists) fled Nazi Germany and came to America. They became the leaders of the New Left - those people who now control the media and all facets of our culture. Their influence has affected our families and churches. The elite (written about by C. Wright Mills and eluded to by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in his farewell address) have iron-fisted control over the banks (thus the economy), the "Federal" Reserve (it's actually an illegal private banking cartel), the media, Planned Parenthood (is that an oxymoron? Ans: "Yes") and everything else. This is why the media all but ignored Ron Paul. He doesn't play their game. He speaks the Truth. Please, research Ron Paul and write him in this November. Blessings.

Untlil further notice, the Godless-Socialist agenda of the Democrat Party will continue to be the best reason to vote Republican.

Did you ever stop to consider that if Bush lied to get us into the Iraq war, why then didn't he follow up by planting WMD where it would be found and used as proof that he war justified all along?

The fact is, after 9/11 he had no other choice! Had he not gone to war all the critics who now condem him would have been screeming for his impeachment. Take a look at all the documents that have come out of Iraq since the war began. They prove that even Sadam's generals all believed he had WMD. In addition he had corrupted the UN and was all set to reconstitute his programs once the sanctions were lifted. Bush's only sins are a lack of elequence and poor planning in the aftermath of Sadam's fall.

Let us be still and know that Our God reigns!
Our Lord has everything in control. Things have been changing daily. there is still much time before the actual republican candidate is chosen.

Believe that Our Lord will raise up a candidate that we can truly get behind. One who will represent the issues according to God's word.

Pray, and give thanks.

As a Roman Catholic, I can't vote for McCain because of his stance on embryonic stem cells.

What a problem: Obama is radically pro-abortion, and McCain not only wants embryos experimented on, he has a sword in his hand. Remember the warning of Christ at Gesthemene to those who lived by the sword?

This is no choice; I will stay home and pray, which is American enough.

Jeff, my brother in Christ...there is another option. You can write in Ron Paul. Go to his website. Go to Wikipedia. Check it out. He's pro-life - very pro-life. Yes, pray, but don't stay home. Spread the word about Ron Paul.

First I would like to comment on some of the messaging here. Normally, I pass over hateful blogs with distaste, but not much else. But here, on a Catholic website, I think it is unacceptable. I don't care how much you dislike Hillary or Obama, casting them as evil is not right or Catholic. Obviously, you have a right to say what you want, but I think Catholics should hold themselves to a higher standard.

Second, I think that many people in this campaign are too divisive. There is an us against them mentality. I will admit, that most of my views about faith and Catholicism line up with the Democratic side. (mostly for the theoretical support on issues of social justice). But I think all Catholics have a real duty to examine both parties and both candidates, for everything they promote. To say that a democrat is not a viable option for presidency because he supports abortion is akin to saying that a republican is not a viable option because he supports the death penalty.

I know that there have been some arguments that the Iraq war costs much less in lives than does abortion. But I think that is an incorrect assumption. First of all, only 4,000 American soldiers have died, but how many other Iraqis or terrorists have died as well? Isn't blood on America's hands for them too? I strongly disagree with the idea that an infants life is more valuable than an iraqis or terrorists. All life is valuable and we all have the stain of sin on our souls, even infants.

Second, I really don't believe there is a political solution to abortion. We had a Republican Congress and President and nothing was done. The only change will happen through the courts.

I think Catholics should really challenge the meaning of pro-life. To me, pro-life means life is good and best in all situations. This means that there is no rape exception to abortion. This means that there is no death penalty. This means that we do everything we can to stop killing in our countries, like taking guns off the streets. This means that we stop promoting a foriegn policy of death. Killing someone to stop killing is an absurd idea.

Jesus could have killed the Jews that persecuted him, but he died instead. Isn't that the path that we should take, one that offers our life before taking anothers? If I am wrong about this, then maybe I don't want to be Catholic. Because I thought Catholicism was about loving our neighbors and God. I don't think it has anything to do with winning an election. And I certaintly thinks it means reaching out to women who are having abortions, not chastising them as sinners.

No matter what Catholics think of John McCain overall, only the Republican Party as a whole maintains the core values of Catholics: protect and save the unborn and vote no to promoting alternative "lifestyles" that are contrary to nature and the Bible. Selecting Rich Santorum as a VP would be miraculous. Let us actively pray for such a decision. Pray, pray, pray!!! In Jesus and Mary.

Yes, many of us are suspicious of John McCain, but what is our alternative? We KNOW that Clinton and Obama will appoint liberal,pro-choice judges only but at least we have a shot at moderate to conservative judges from McCain. Both of the Dems have lifetime LIBERAL voting records(2007) of (HC) 79.4 and (BO) 88. John McCain has a lifetime CONSERVATIVE voting record of 82.3.

The appointment of the judiciary has long term ramifications for this country not just 4 or 8 years but 20 or 30 years and more. Since McCain is the presumptive nominee (not Brownbeck, Romney, or Huckabee) he is our only option and he is still far better than either democrat.

You have to be kidding me. What a dumb ass posting!

Catholics voting for a man who is sooo soo pro 104 bucks a barrel oil and pro war where 4,000 Americans have died?

Get real. Shove it.

Hi,

Please go to the Mike Huckabee website.
www.MikeHuckabee.com and once there, click on issues and it will explain in detail how Mike stands on all the issues. Check him out if you haven't yet had a chance to see his values.

He supports a passage of a constitutional amendment to the constitution to protect the right to life. Mike still has his delegates and is not completely out of the race.

I too, will not vote for a democrat. I am a pro-life gal.
Its too early to make a decision. We haven't even got to the convention yet. Things change daily and we don't know what may happen as we get closer to the convention and November. I'm new to our policital process, but one thing I have learned is how fast everything can change.

I'm sure we will all continue to pray and ask Our Lord's guidance as we place our vote for our country to Be One Nation UNDER GOD. Every vote does count.

God Bless you.

Deal Hudson chides Miguel Miramon that few Catholics will agree that the Iraq war is not a good enough reason to reject McCain. He also dismisses the "neocon conspiracy theory thing". He and so many other Catholics refuse to acknowledge what our past and present popes have put forth, that the Iraq war is unjust. All three candidates, especially war-man McCain, will happily send more troops to "defend our freedom". What, in fact, we are defending is the treacherous leadership of Israel, whom we blindly support, irregardless of how many of our soldiers die and how many innocent Arabs are butchered. ALL THREE candidates have sworn unwavering support to Israel which means Iran, then Syria and thousands more dead soldiers and trillions more in debt. The rightous jews and gentiles that point out the hypocrisy of our one-sided foreign policy and know the difference between Old and New Testament Israel are drownded out by the likes of so many in this blog.
Yep, Ron Paul is too heroic and truthful for most Americans.

John Forester





John Forester

I agree with Tom Valois. The only man worthy of my vote is Ron Paul, and I'll be writing his name in on my ballot come November.

First off, the catechism says that we have a moral obligation to vote. Staying home is NOT an option on election day.

Secondly, the Catholics here who are offering the argument that the Iraq war/death penalty Republican stance is morally on par with the Democrat abortion stance need to do some reading on chruch teaching. Not only does Cardinal Ratzinger's letter from 2004 unequivocally state that abortion and euthanasia trump these issues, countless bishops before and after this time (including "liberals" like Cardinal Bernadin!) have said the same. There is absolutely no way a vote for Obama or Clinton is morally acceptable; they are two of the most pro-abortion presidential candidates in US history, which is saying alot!

At the same time, McCain is far from ideal in this situation, and while Catholics can indeed legitimately debate the merits of war and social policies of this man, there can be little doubt that just on principle alone he does not support Catholic teaching. His continued statements that the war was justified even by what we know now is disturbing to anyone who know about the just war theory, and his refusal to accept a human life amendment speaks volumes even with a 24-year (mostly) pro-life voting record.

Since there really is no one else who has a shot, I think it's fair to say that McCain can qualify as a "lesser of two evils" choice, but voting third-party is certainly an option, too. In my case, I'm waiting for McCain to announce his VP. If by some miracle its Brownback, I might just hold my nose and vote for him. Otherwise, I'm writing in the Constitution Party candidate or Huckabee or maybe even Ron Paul (although I don't buy most of the "Ronulan" propoganda out there, he's still an excellent candidate as far as Catholic moral teaching is concerned).

As Cardinal Bertone said to the Knights of Columbus, America is a CONTINENT not a president's private club:

"The Holy Father underlined the unique challenges posed by the contemporary world to the lay vocation during his Pastoral Visit to Brazil. Noting that America is a “continent of baptized Christians,” he asserted that “it is time to overcome the notable absence – in the political sphere, in the world of the media and in the universities – of the voices and initiatives of Catholic leaders with strong personalities and generous dedication, who are coherent in their ethical and religious convictions.” The Pope insisted strongly that it is necessary for Christians who are active in these social and cultural milieus to strive to safeguard ethical values."

and, no offense to intended to Mr. Reilly's career accomplishments, but the "notable absence" that the Holy Father refers to amongst American Catholics is NOT to alleviated by the hackneyed amateurishness of VOA broadcasting or Raymond Arroyo on EWTN.

We are called to EXCELLENCE not mediocrity...

Where were the American journalists risking their necks to report on the new St Mary's Catholic Church in Dubai? The BBC was there, and I was blessed to hear excerpts of the Faithful singing at mass... courtesy of the WorldService and British tax payers pounds sterling, where were the private US dollars?

Shame on us if Mr Brownback cannot corral Catholics to stand up to their convictions, where are the other successful lay voices on PBS, ABC, NBC, et al? Where are Sheen's disciples at CNN Atlanta, or BET Washington DC et al? The baby's most at risk from the abortion mills aren't in homes that watch EWTN for sure... we're a lazy bunch, too eager to pursue our financial freedoms...

The heroic Egyptian Copts Father Zakaria Botros — named Islam’s “Public Enemy #1” -- so NRO tells us.

I personally would prefer to vote for Ron Paul, since I think Peggy Noonan is onto something - Americans need to relearn thinking and discussing philosophy again, and Obama's potential to appeal to those of like mind is much greater than Mr McCain's (I'm sorry but he's just as bad if not worse than the anti-intellectual "confederacy of dunces" we've had to endure for the last 8 years)

...because Ron Paul's philosophy is much closer to the Catholic view and he still didn't get the Catholic vote in the primaries. Why not?

Now we are effectively left with the Catholic vote-John McCain. He doesn't have to do anything for the Catholic vote; he's already got it.

Nick,

I think it had more to do with the fact that he came out in support of Arlan Spector for the Republican nomination for the senate seat against a pro-life republican who was running against him.

So you are not a partisan Deal - as you have accused Catholics in Alliance? I think this statement says much about who you are. You seem to trivialize two important issues to Catholics and the Church. I would be interested in your credentials to make such a claim. Is it always about Republicans for you?

We need further clarification.

I love you guys who only have one issue: abortion and excuse all others. You're all in the "Amen corner" when it comes to the war in Iraq, but don't see any contradition with the Holy Father's admonitions against the war. And if McCain doesn't publicly repudiate Hagee, he wouldn't get my vote, anyway.

All of you who act like an alliance with the evangelicals on issues like abortion trumps Catholic teaching should revisit the Catechism. And have some self respect: don't endorse a candidate who would ally himself with someone like Hagee.

C.I.N.O.'s will vote for B.O. or H.C.

Those true to the Catholic Faith cannnot vote for either of them.

I see nothing from the March 25th date on the original article to suggest that McCain has since developed a Catholic outreach game plan or followed any of the advice given him. In fact on May 7, the Washington Post quoted him saying that he voted for Stephen Breyer and Ruth Bader Ginsburg "because I believed they were qualified."

Saddam Hussein Obama will champion the Murder of the Unborn he will be the next Stalin controlled by the most evil forces that exist in the world. He is the devil!|!!!!!!!!. John McCain is the only one who will protect Catholics in Iraq Champion the pro life movement. United Catholics can make the headway we need in the United States a unmovable Political Rock against the religious zealots and false profits that dominate the political spectrum

Go John McCain