I'm not going to spend too much time on this, but just for anyone who's not Catholic, the church today (and for a long time) is absolutely toothless, when it comes to politics.

this is not meant as a slur, it's just a fact.

Catholics are Catholics for a variety of reasons involving faith or heritage....but, contrary to any polls, etc., there is no Catholic Block. There may be an Hispanic block, there may be an Irish block (tho, I suspect not really..)....but the "glue" isn't Catholism........
The pope could say anything...but it would have very limited effect.
The pope could be, say, against birth control, or abortion....and that too, would have very little effect. Case in point, Italy has one of the highest (if not the highest) abortion rate in Europe.

The Catholic church did try to intervene in the recent elections in Spain, and the result was a resounding failure.

I don't expect anyone who's not Catholic to get it....and I admit, I don't totally get it myself.... but people are Catholic.......to a point.........and their Catholism is not based on what a bishop or a pope may do or say....and sometimes, it seems, they are Catholics in spite of those actions.

I would like to offer my insight, or maybe just opinion, on the reason.

There is no such thing as the 'Catholic block' because it is contrary to the American DNA. Remember, America's basic institution is based on one's individual persuit of happiness. Catholics, through decades of assimilation are like all other faith denominations in America. Fragmented and personalized. There is no 'Catholic block' because Catholics have been taught through social pressures that faith is personalized. Once that is accepted... it becomes one's own church and relative truth. Hence, the birth of the term 'Cafeteria Catholic'.

The 'Hispanic block', as such, is also grossly incorrect. Each latin country has it's own cultural heritage, traditions, music, food and race makeup. The one thing that they do share, the Spanish language, is also spoken differently. Central Americans speak differently than South Americans, Carribean Hispanics (Cuban, Puerto Rican, Dominican) speak differently than Mexicans, etc. As applied to politics, Cuban political vlaues are different from Mexican political values. Cuban trend towards conversative and Mexican more liberal.

That said, I wish these so-called media experts, aka Tim Russert, would get their facts straight before stereotyping and spreading propaganda.

I agree with "Catholic" to some extent. Many American Catholics identify themselves as Catholic but it effects the way they live their lives little more than being Irish or Polish or German effects their behavior. As with virtually every denomination in the US, the dividing line is not Catholic or non-Catholic, but Church-goer or non church-goer. Catholics who attend Mass at least monthly tend very strongly to vote Republican while those who rarely or never go to church tend strongly to vote Democrat. This has been increasingly the trend since the 1970s.

While I was born into my Catholic Faith, I have reclaimed it as an adult. I strongly disagree with the comment that being Catholic as little to do with how we live, behave, or vote. If you are a practicing Catholic, with an educated Catholic conscience, it indeed has a profound effect on your choices and prayer life.

I agree with Cradle Catholic's comments. I think the other posters must not be Catholic, and hence they state comments that being Catholic has nothing to do with the way Catholic's live their lives. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Catholic church needs to purge before it can reclaim it's roots. Liberal Catholics have overtaken the church with their liberal theology and relativism. It has been open season on Catholics for awhile, since most Catholics choose to remain 'luke warm' to their Catholicism.

Look at tv host Bill Mahr's comments about the pope http://newsbusters.org/blogs/matthew-balan/2008/04/14/bill-maher-pope-used-be-nazi-compares-church-cult-bear-stearns

Anti-Catholicism is accepted bigotry in the US.

See for yourself.

THe reason there is no Catholic block is that Catholic teaching does not fit just into one political party. On certain issues, mainly social Catholic teaching would appear to favor the Republicans, but on economic and foreign policy matters Catholic teaching would appear to favor the Democrats. This leaves a Catholic with the problem of weighing all the issues.

With teachings which vary across political lines it is no wonder that there is no solid Catholic block.

If we are Catholic, how can abortion not be our number 1 voting issue?

re: "If we are Catholic, how can abortion not be our number 1 voting issue?"

the same way, that if we are Catholic (or Christian) being anti war isn't our number one voting issue.

Jesus is much more specific about being anti war (love thy enemey)(turn the other cheek) than he is about being anti abortion (I cannot think of anything he said about abortion, can you?)

onwards Christian Soldiers is an oxymoron

you can be for war, or you can be Christian...but you cannot be both, not, if you really follow the teachings of jesus.

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/03/27/18384163.php

In light of the recent Pew poll that found the congregations of Catholic and mainline Protestant churches increasingly becoming older, I think these numbers are best understood through the lens of the age divide that is emerging as a major factor in this election.

2008 Presidential Election Weekly Poll

http://www.votenic.com

Check Out The Results!

Only 28 Weeks Left Until The Election!

I am a Catholic and am appalled by the number of Catholics who do not make abortion the number 1 issue. Can anyone imagine Our Lord Jesus Christ condoning the murder of children? In response to KC's remark about Jesus not saying anything against abortion, I would remind him of three very obvious points - two from the New Testament, and one from the Old Testament: (1) "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, all thy soul, and all thy mind, and thy neighbor as thyself" and his injunction that everyone is to be considered one's neighbor; (2) "Thou shalt not kill." (from the 10 commandments), and (3) "Inasmuch as you have done it unto the least of these, my brethren, you have done it unto me." Abortion is murder. Go to priestsforlife.org and research the topic. As long as we continue endorsing the murder of our unborn children, our country will continue to be afflicted by evil without the protection of the Almighty. Thank God the Pope is here for a visit. I hope and pray that he will address this important issue in a way that opens peoples' eyes.

clinton supports are california unions. vote clinton

Are the words of Pope Benedict enough to heal the wounds of child victims of sex abuse by Roman Catholic Priests?

http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=2151

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Anyone who allows something like this man to influence their vote (for their President) needs their head examined...FAST