John Forbes Kerry claimed to be a Vatican II type Catholic, one whose fondest Pope was Pius XXIII.

Well then, what does Lumen Gentium have to say about lay Catholics and their works which prove that their faith isn't dead?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church quotes LG in numbers 897-900:

"By reason of their special vocation it belongs to the laity to seek the kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs and directing them according to God's will...it pertains to them in a special way to illumine and order all temporal things with which they are closely associated that these may always be effected and grow according to Christ and may be to the glory of the Creator and Redeemer." (LG 31).

And how exactly has this good Catholic, former altar boy, John Forbes Kerry carried out his Catholic mandate to direct his Senatorial affairs according to Christ when he admits that he can't impose his Catholic faith on anyone - except when it has to do with "health care, education and the environment"?

And if it's OK for one's faith to influence one's voting and public policy in those minor things why is it verbotten or anti-American for the same faith to influence one's voting and public policy on topics of life?

-- Joe (joestong@yahoo.com), October 27, 2004

Answers

Well I can see a poitn of sorts. Just disagree with Kerry. I am a Christain. If I helpd public office, I coudl not legeslate my values and religion into law, neither codl I impose my faith upon the populace. However, I could vite in acocrande to my concneince on social and poliitcal maters, maintianign a vite that is in similitde of Jesus if he where a senator/presedent/congressman/judge/govenror/ect...

I woil voe agint baoriton and Gay Marirage, and for other needed social thigns like healthcare, inducsrtyy, ect...

whereas I woidlnt force my moral choices on anyone, I woiuld make reaosnable laws in keepign with my faith.

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), October 27, 2004.

If you did not legislate your values and religious beliefs into law, you would be legislating someone else's values and beliefs into law - values and beliefs that you consider objectively false (assuming that you consider your own values and beliefs to be true). What would be the point of that?

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), October 27, 2004.

I agre eto an extent. But I woudl only legeslate what I can legislate mroally. for instance, I owudl never make a law that said eveyone had to be christain or else. I beleive also in freeodm of choice. Likewise, I beleive in freedom of speech, wichmeans the KKK can air there own networks and radio ads if they like, and statiosn can refuse to run them.

I woidl uphold my moral principles, but not enforce them on others, unless this i an issue where others rights are removed for the sake of the oens who want the legeslation. IE, Abortion. The baby's rights are curently removed, the mother determiens rather the chidllives or dies. this is clealry wrong, and must be stiopped, as it imporses on the right of the child to life.

Govenrmet exists to ensure rights, and only limits rights in cases whre social, communal, national, or private safety is concerned.

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), October 27, 2004.

The abortion issue is closest to my heart. When will the clergy go all out to help us?

If Kerry wins, the pro-life movement in America becomes a hopeless cause for a generation.

John Kerry is the beau ideal of the National Abortion Rights Action League, an implacable foe of the pro-life position of the Catholic Church. Yet, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington, who heads the panel of bishops debating what sanctions to impose on Catholic politicians who champion abortion rights, says, "I have not gotten to the stage where I'm comfortable in denying the Eucharist."

Let us hope His Eminence reaches his comfort level soon, before his silence contributes to the victory of a candidate committed to the death of a pro-life cause the cardinal professes to lead and love.

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

-- Meyer (Tradsky@aol.com), October 30, 2004.

Imagine the candidate whose political platform is strictly in accordance with Catholicism. He wouldn't pull any punches and would certainly not worry about anyone's non-Catholic beliefs. Would he get elected?

Next, imagine this country's government being totally Catholic. What do you think would happen? It has happened before.

..................

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), October 31, 2004.

Imagine a country with St. Louis IX governing.

-- Meyer (Tradsky@aol.com), October 31, 2004.

Interesting young boy this St. Louis IX.

............

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), October 31, 2004.