Catholic Democrats Organizing in California

The following is something my organization started sending to the press this morning.

---------------------------------

The Catholic Democrats, a national organization of Democratic Roman Catholics, are now organizing in California. Led by Democratic activist Bill Roth of San Jose, this group hopes to build a broad-based organization of California Catholics who are seeking to represent Catholic policy perspectives within the State Democratic Party, and to accentuate the ways in which the Democratic Party is working to advance humanistic goals so well-articulated in Catholic Social Teaching.

"California Catholics voted overwhelmingly for the Democratic Presidential candidate in 2004," said Dr Patrick Whelan, Executive Director of the Catholic Democrats.  "We are excited to build our local organization in California as a voice for faithful Catholics who focus on Gospel values like ministering to the poor, welcoming immigrants, and working through non-violent means to solve the world’s problems."

Support is in evidence from prominent elected officials. "As a devout Catholic, I believe faith instructs the public forum.  I support the efforts of the Catholic Democrats and welcome their efforts on the critical issues of our time:  the war in Iraq, families, health care, economic justice and environmental stewardship.  I see this organization as helping to further the noble goals for our country and our Party," said Congresswoman Anna Eshoo.

"We as Catholics are at home within the Democratic Party precisely because it has long championed the ideals of Catholic Social Teaching: supporting worker's rights, stewardship of the environment, care for the sick, and equality of opportunity for all, to name a few," said Roth, who will be the group's initial state director.  "In our view, the Democratic party is actually doing something to advance religious values.  In his latest encyclical, Pope Benedict makes it clear that we must not only practice charity, but also actively work for justice. I see this organization as the response to this call."

The Catholic Democrats of California will also be forming an advisory board to provide advice an counsel to the group. Some of the initial members include Jerl Laws,  Director of Interfaith Outreach, California Democratic Party, and Chris Stampolis, DNC Member, and Immediate Past President of the California Democratic Council. Additional members will be added in the coming months.

For more information on the national organization, see http://www.catholicdemocrats.org/... For more information on the California organization, see http://www.catholicdemocrats.org/...

About Catholic Democrats

Catholic Democrats is a national non-profit organization of concerned Catholics, based in Boston. The organization was founded in 2004 as an outgrowth of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' "Call to Faithful Citizenship," which is rooted in "a consistent moral framework anchored in the scriptures and expressed in the teachings of the Church." The Catholic Democrats have members in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, with active local groups in a growing number of states.

                                              - 30 -

•  It's about time

  that there is a serious counter to the right wing conservatives in the Church.  The conservatives accuse us of being cafteria Catholics but I always point out that so are they by ignoring the poor, supporting the war and capital punishment, and not caring for the sick and aged.

  by sobermom on Tue Aug 28, 2007 at 07:21:22 AM PDT

  •  Christian Democrats?

    That's the European party based on Catholic social teachings, originally the encyclical Rerum Novarum and later the encyclical Quadragesimo Anno. I used to be a Catholic and we studied them to know what kind of politics we should support. I heard Michael Moore interviewed on the BBC, and was a little surprised that he was a practicing Catholic who spouted similar ideas about the social responsibility of employers to their employees. In Europe it's rightwing, but in the US it's on the left, since the US doesn't have a socialist left.

    by Danjuma on Tue Aug 28, 2007 at 07:52:17 AM PDT

  •  Join our group

    We're gathering folks on Yahoo Groups:

    http://groups.yahoo.com/...

    by wgroth2 on Tue Aug 28, 2007 at 08:34:46 AM PDT

•  I see a Separation of Church and State conflict.

  If churches want to be involved in politics, then pay up in taxes, or stay out of the political arena.  

  This is what Rove did, and look where we are.

  I admire the mission of any religion that wants to do humanitarian, charitable works, but it still needs to be done w/o political sanction, from any political party.

  by panicbean on Tue Aug 28, 2007 at 07:27:37 AM PDT

  •  I see no conflict

    I am not a priest, nor do I represent the Church in California or anywhere else. I am however a Catholic. As I started reading Catholic Social Teaching, it became clear that I had to act. I have written about my conclusions here:

    http://roth.lunarpages.com/...

    In essence, what good is Faith, if you do not act? (See James 2:17) I choose to act in the context of Catholic Social Teaching, and I believe that the most effective way to work for Good in the world is through politics.

    I understand your concern, and if I was a member of the Clergy, then you would be justified in your concerns.

    by wgroth2 on Tue Aug 28, 2007 at 08:40:06 AM PDT

•  How long will this last?

  1. abortion

  2. stem cell research

  3. male-only clergy

  4. many, many other fundamental incompatibilities

  Oterwise the two organizations are in sync with their social goals.

  by shann on Tue Aug 28, 2007 at 07:31:20 AM PDT

  •  agree to disagree

    Catholics are more pro-choice and pro-stem cell than are evangelical white protestants.

    many lay Catholics do not agree with the male-only clergy, but still love their Church. they also disagree on contraception.

    but the Democrats are a bigtent party. i welcome any Catholics who are pro-life, anti-gay if they also care about the poor, the war, the enviro, etc...

    by ihlin on Tue Aug 28, 2007 at 07:34:39 AM PDT

•  moral values

  i don't think Dem Catholics can get away from the fact that many Catholics, while supporting the Dem's typical agenda, are also pro-life and anti-gay marriage. telling people to just ignore those issues in favor of working on poverty or ending the war is not the right message. i think saying that Dems care about reducing abortion and strengthening marriages thru social support programs (paid leave, etc) needs to be part of the agenda.
  but i am so happy to finally see Catholics organizing in the party! if there is one key swing vote we need, it's Catholics!!

  by ihlin on Tue Aug 28, 2007 at 07:32:20 AM PDT

•  What about Nancy Pelosi?

  She's Catholic, right?

  by BruinKid on Tue Aug 28, 2007 at 07:56:01 AM PDT

•  It's about time

  But first they will have to organize against the Bishops, who have cut an unholy bargain with the likes of William Donohue for protection and polical power. Not all the Bishops of course, but way too many.

  By prioritizing abortion policy not only as the highest--but the only issue that counts--these bishops have endorsed torture, war, poverty and bigotry. It's time for Catholics to return to their roots.

  by MrMichaelMT on Tue Aug 28, 2007 at 08:13:38 AM PDT

•  Catholic Church Politics

  are all over the place. They are are at their worst when they get too focused on sex, birth control, gay issues, stem cells, etc. Refusing to give communion to pro choice candidates or excommunicating members of Masonry is the epitomee the worst of Catholicism here in the U.S. They are also against Capital Punishment, but would they refuse Communion to a pro death penalty candidate? I think not.

  But they are doing great work in support of immigrants. JusticeforImmigrants.org  
  and many parishes are doing great work on a wide range of social issues. I just wish the Catholic Church would go back to being a big tent church with room for more "Love God and Love your neighbor" and less about devicive "between the legs" politics.

  by immigradvocate on Tue Aug 28, 2007 at 12:37:31 PM PDT