Answer: As much as any other truly progressive Democrat.
I've seen the lengthy post about "Appalling hypocrisy". The validity of the points trying to be made is now doubtlessly lost in the comments that followed, some of which seem to be the outlet of frustration from former Catholics and some of which sanctimoniously lay blame for the ills of the world solely at the doorsteps of those of us who continue to be Catholic.
Here was one particular comment which seems to cover the latter theme:
"And I will hold millions of Catholics accountable for the actions of the church they support.
And I will remind all of those Catholics that one man's death is miniscule when compared to the countless individuals whose lives have been ruined by the policies and doctrines of this church."
Should we as Democrats be held to the same standard as my Catholic brethren and I are apparently to be held?
If so, then I remind you that the leaders we have elected, supported financially, and volunteered for have "acted" as follows:
- Allowed the bankruptcy bill to pass.
- Allowed Condi Rice and Co. to be confirmed.
- Did not stand up for Terri Schiavo's decision to die with dignity.
- Sent thousands of American jobs elsewhere through NAFTA and other free trade agreements (and will probably roll over on CAFTA, too).
- Voted for the Iraq War.
Oh, but that was just what our leaders did, you say. We didn't know they would do those things when we voted for them. Etc, etc.
Yet millions of you (1) buy products made with foreign, non-union, slave or child labor when you could buy pay a few dollars more for the same thing made by American union workers (2) whine about the profiteering by big oil and the deterioration of our environment while enabling them by purchasing an SUV, (3) complain about those leaders we elected while refusing to run against them in the primary or refusing to vote for someone else who does have the courage to do so because they're "unelectable".
We ALL have a lot of work to do to make the world a better place. Some of you will choose to do it outside of the Catholic Church and some of us will choose to do it as a part of the Catholic Church. The only way that either the Catholic Church or the Democratic Party will change, is when their MEMBERS demand them to change. Otherwise, they will simply lose members till they no longer exist.