A Memo to Senators McCain and Obama

Catholic Online addresses Questions to Both major Political candidates for the Presidency of the United States.

CHESAPEAKE,VA (Catholic Online) - At the beginning of the primary season for the Presidential race in the United States, on behalf of Catholic Online, I asked all of the Presidential candidates in both major political parties to answer a series of questions.Only a few responded.

A memorandum was sent to each of their campaigns which is set forth below with minor alterations reflecting the change in the current Presidential race. We now issue those questions at the beginning of the General election campaign to draw out of each of these two candidates their positions on issues of significance so that informed and faithful Catholics can consider their candidacy:

Dear Presidential Candidate:

Every four years, the media is filled with talk of a "Catholic vote". However, as I have written on many occasions in the past, there is no "Catholic Vote"; if by the expression one means a bloc of Catholics who, like other interest groups, vote with one party or another.

In fact, demographic patterns of voting among Catholics in America have gone through significant changes in the last twenty years. There is a rapidly growing body of Catholic voters, Democrat, Republican, Independent and non-aligned voters, who are politically active and will turn out in great numbers for the Presidential primary and general election in 2008.

They may decide this election.

These voters are increasingly issue focused and seek to inform their conscience and their social, cultural, economic and political participation by the great truths so clearly articulated in what is called Catholic Social Teaching.

This Social teaching is not "left" or "right", "liberal", "conservative" or "neo-conservative." It is also not only for Catholics, other Christians or even just "religious people". It is for all people, offered by the Church to all who seek to build a truly just society. It is called "social" because it speaks to human society and to the formation, role and rightful place of social institutions.

Catholic Social teaching maintains that there are some unchangeable truths, such as the dignity of every human person and the inalienable right to life, from conception to natural death; the primacy of authentic marriage and the family founded upon it; and our obligation in solidarity to one another, and, most especially, to the poor and needy in our midst.

The Catholic position is that these truths can be known by all men and women because they are revealed in the Natural law and written on all human hearts. They are also expounded upon in Revelation. However, one does not need to be "religious" to come to understand these truths and all men and women are obligated to obey them.

Human Freedom is properly exercised only with reference to the truth. Our choices must alays consider our obligations in solidarity to one another. We simply are "our brother's (and sister's) keeper". For example, we simply should not take innocent human life. It is always and everywhere wrong to do so. That includes all human persons from conception to natural death.

Any authentic understanding of human freedom must also promote religious freedom because it is a good of the human person and a fundamental human right.

Finally, the compass that is to guide us all as we seek to be both faithful citizens and faithful Catholic Christians is our commitment to the Common Good.

Catholics do not accept the notion that these truths, revealed by the Natural Law, such as the fundamental right to life, are "religious" positions, in the sense that only religious people need assent to them. They obligate us all.

We reject the notion that our commitment to respect every human life from conception to natural death is a "single issue" approach. Rather, it presents a framework, a lens through which we must evaluate every other issue. Children in the womb are our first neighbors. They are also, in the words of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, the 'poorest of the poor'.

Any candidate who claims to care about the poor while stopping their ears to a whole class of people simply betrays their own claim. Similarly, any candidate who believes that all human life is sacred and deserves to be protected but then supports deadly research on human embryonic life, is, at least inconsistent.

Catholic Social teaching also offers ordering principles for good governance. Because these are "principles", they leave room for the application of prudential judgment. Included among these principles is the principle of subsidiarity which, simply stated, says that government is best when it is closest to those being governed and that it should begin with, and defer to, the smallest governing unit, which is the family.

In fulfilling its mission to the Catholic community, other Christians, other people of faith and all people of good will, Catholic online provides "fact driven, faith informed", news and views. The upcoming Presidential is of deep concern to all Catholics.

That is why Catholic Online provides our readers and viewers with full coverage on all of the positions taken by the candidates for President. Our goal is to provide the material people have a right to know so that they can make such an informed decision and be the "faithful citizens" which our Bishops call us to be.

I compiled a list of questions which, though certainly not exhaustive, touch on areas of deep concern to Catholics. They are drawn from Catholic social teaching, recognizing that there is a hierarchy of values in its application.

I also know that there are issues of concern where no real front runner holds the position preferred by Catholic social teaching. One example is the issue of Capital punishment. The Church rejects its use no longer justified to protect society. Since bloodless means are available, the Church calls for mercy to trump justice.

On the Republican side, the only candidate who openly opposed Capital punishment was Ron Paul. On the Democratic side, all major candidates seem to favor its continued use. That is also the case on the Republican side.

We issue a challenge to both presumptive nominees to respond to these questions. We will publish your responses.

QUESTION: What do you think is the biggest challenge facing America today?

QUESTION: What is your position on the dignity of every human life from conception to natural death and the fundamental and inalienable right to life?

QUESTION: How have you lived that commitment personally, as well as in your years of public service as an elected official?

QUESTION: What have you done to build a new "culture of life" and defend the right to life against the encroachment of what the late Pope John Paul II rightly called a "culture of death"?

QUESTION: Because of our obligation to respect the good of human life and our obligation to hear the cry of the poor, what is your plan to help us as a Nation ensure the availability of health insurance coverage for all Americans, including the poor?

QUESTION: Many Catholics opposed the initial decision to enter Iraq, not believing that the incursion fit a "just war" analysis. In fact, the leadership of our Church made their opposition to this War clear.

However, most people currently believe that we have an obligation to do what is right for the struggling people of that Nation and to support our troops. What are your thoughts on the way forward in Iraq? How will you bring our troops home while assisting the Iraqi people in their transition?

QUESTION: What would you do to protect and defend authentic marriage and the family founded upon it as the first institution of society?

QUESTION: How would you expand participation in the great promise, opportunity and bounty of America to those less fortunate?

QUESTION: Catholics believe that parents are the first teachers of their children and that they should be able to choose how to extend their own teaching office from among all of the available alternatives; public schools, charter schools, private and parochial schools and home schools. What is your position on parental choice in education?

QUESTION: What are your plans to improve the economy and expand participation in the market economy to more and more Americans?

QUESTION: What is your position on illegal as well as legal immigration? How do you propose the United States move forward on this issue in a manner which protects its borders while respecting the fundamental human rights of all persons?

QUESTION: What will be your position with regard to the growing threat of extremist acts of terrorism at home and abroad and our cooperation on the International level?

Thorough and helpful responses to these questions came from several candidates during the Primary season. None of those candidates are in the race any longer.

Unfortunately neither the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party, Senator Barack Obama or the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party, Senator John McCain answered our questions.

Neither even responded to our repeated requests.

We reissue these questions and challenge both candidates to respond. These questions are only the beginning.

We also welcome interviews with each candidate and will publish those interviews.

Catholic Online is structured as a for- profit business. We have no restrictions on political inquiries or political activity. We believe that the current election for the Presidency of the United States is too important to not engage both of these candidates regularly and persistently.

We simply will not avoid controversy or conflict over "hot button" issues. We will raise them over and over until we are satisfied that we understand these candidates positions.

Our commitment on the fundamental human right to life is unqualified and we are unapologetic about it.

Our commitment to marriage as between one man and one woman for life, always open to life, ordered to having children and the formation of a family, is unqualified and we are unapologetic about it.

Our commitment to our obligations in solidarity to the poor and the needy is unqualified and we are unapologetic about it

Our commitment to pursuing authentic peace between Nations and bringing an end to both the death penalty and unbridled militarism is unqualified and we are unapologetic about it

We reject the continued efforts to box all of these issues in to the narrow framework of the current political terminology such as "liberal", "conservative, "neo-conservative", or even Party labels such as Republican" or "Democrat".

We are first, last - and all in between - Catholic. Catholic is not an adjective it is the noun, the ground from which we will make our evaluations, with an informed conscience examining the vital issues.

We promise our readers and viewers that we will stay vigilant throughout this Presidential camapign and we will not back down.

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