Comment

Comment by Patricia M. McBride on October 17, 2010 at 8:18pm

Tamara, I was, as I said, not really taking a stand on this issue at all. I did watch the videos, and they are well done by a group that appears to be quite above board, and strongly believes they have proved the case the Catholic Campaign for Human Development may not be as staunchly supporting the stance of the church. Several of the commenters went to churches where they felt there had been some softening and change in the church's stance. Since it never hurts to know what others are thinking, I just put this together to share. Thanks for your clarification, and I do remember them trying to get this group on board when they were talking the health care bill in congress and seem to remember the abortion funding was an issue.

Comment by tamara stephenson on October 17, 2010 at 7:32pm

I will admit that I did not watch the clips. However, the Catholic church did not support Obama in his presidential bid. In my church, parishioners chose their candidate, and our priest never advised us how to vote, one way or the other except to vote our conscience. As for health care reform, the US Conference of Bishops was against the legislation because they believed it would provide federal funding for abortions. that was the official stance of the church. There were a group of Catholic nuns who run the Catholic hospitals who were for health care reform because they believed the benefits outweighed any language which may reflect the federal funding issue. The Catholic church is and has always been pro-life, which includes anti-death penalty and anti-war unless the war is "just". The church has always been a huge proponent of social justice, including providing aid to the poor and disenfranchised around the world.