Thomas J. Reese

Thomas J. Reese

Senior fellow Woodstock Theological Center, Jesuit priest

As editor of the Catholic weekly magazine "America" (americamagazine.org), Rev. Thomas J. Reese promoted discussion on current issues facing the Catholic Church and the world. The "On Faith" panelist is author of Inside the Vatican: The Politics and Organization of the Catholic Church. Father Reese is frequently quoted as an expert on Catholic issues. He is a senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University, where he is working on religion and politics. Besides his theological training as a Jesuit priest, he has a doctorate in political science from the University of California Berkeley. He once worked as a lobbyist for tax reform. Close.

Thomas J. Reese

Senior fellow Woodstock Theological Center, Jesuit priest

As editor of the Catholic weekly magazine "America" (americamagazine.org), Rev. Thomas J. Reese promoted discussion on current issues facing the Catholic Church and the world. The "On Faith" panelist is author of Inside the Vatican: The Politics and Organization of the Catholic Church. He is frequently quoted as an expert on Catholic issues. more »

Main Page | Thomas J. Reese Archives | On Faith Archives


Obama and the Catholic Vote

The slow move away from Clinton gives us another theory: perhaps Catholics are just slower to switch their loyalties than other Americans. After all, they stick with the church through thick and thin.

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All Comments (13)

John:

I personally do not understand how any Christian, one who follows Christ, can vote for Obama, Clinton, Kennedy, or support the Democrat Party in any way. That group is firmly behind the woman's right to choose abortion. Rationalization of any kind does not work with this subject. Its equivalent would be for one to say that in 1942 I was opposed to the extermination of Jews but I respect someone else's right to do that if he chooses. There is no wiggle-room with this topic.

John:

I personally do not understand how any Christian, one who follows Christ, can vote for Obama, Clinton, Kennedy, or support the Democrat Party in any way. That group is firmly behind the woman's right to choose abortion. Rationalization of any kind does not work with this subject. Its equivalent would be for one to say that in 1942 I was opposed to the extermination of Jews but I respect someone else's right to do that if he chooses. There is no wiggle-room with this topic.

John:

I personally do not understand how any Christian, one who follows Christ, can vote for Obama, Clinton, Kennedy, or support the Democrat Party in any way. That group is firmly behind the woman's right to choose abortion. Rationalization of any kind does not work with this subject. Its equivalent would be for one to say that in 1942 I was opposed to the extermination of Jews but I respect someone else's right to do that if he chooses. There is no wiggle-room with this topic.

Daniel in the Lion's Den:

Karen Hall

I do not believe that live babies are thrown into dumpsters to die. You are passing along lies. Is that what your entire religious belief system is based on, lies?

Wake up time:

The GOP found out the Bible is a proved hoax and dumped the evangelicals, kinda gentle like. They also realize that religion is the great enemy of democracy and in turn civil order. A lack of order in the public square eliminates the possibility of democracy.

What's left to find out is if the GOP plan will work, trade the idiot fringe for the safe and sane middle of the road types. They've picked a time when their fortunes are unfortunate to do the test. By being covert about it they can always get the evangelicals back with another 'abortion' like that great communicator Regan and a few well spent tax dollars for the ministry.

Godless communism as a political commodity has gone the way of buggy whips.

Will McCain win against Obama? Right now he won't carry a single state. Huckabee would fare worse. So the laboratory is open, beakers boiling, steam rising and the test tube about to be dumped into the stew.

Evangelicals have become so irrelevant they are relevant. Heard from God recetly -to make the point only of course?

Will McCain play the 'burning bush' card? He has nothing to lose and the office of president to gain?

The 'burning bush' card: http://www.hoax-buster.org/sellyoursoul You be the judge, God or Devil? That's the sort of thing Obama might just stub his toe on.

Viejita del oeste:

Karen, you and I both know that those who see abortion as the most serious problem in our society are never going to vote for a Democrat. Emily's List, the premier reproductive rights (i.e. pro-abortion) PAC has strongly endorsed Clinton. So Clinton's and Obama's positions on that subject (which I'm guessing are similar) are not at issue in the primary.

Criminalizing abortion isn't going to solve the problem. Personally, and this may make me a bad Catholic, I feel the best way of eliminating abortion is by eliminating the conditions in which women think it is their best option. If you don't want to "throw live babies into medical dumpsters," then help build a society where young women feel valued beyond their sexual desirability and where men and women take pride in bearing and raising children. Access to birth control and prenatal care might also help.

Karen Hall:

I find it absolutely stupifying that the word "abortion" is never used in this article. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Obama voted to throw LIVE BABIES into medical dumpsters to die. The "Catholic voting block" not racing to support that?

Thank God.

Concerned The Christian Now Liberated:

When Obama et al finally admit to the flaws in Christianity (and all religions), then I will listen.

Athena:

Surprise... Catholics for the most part aren't a voting "block" the way that they used to be. I hate to tell you this, Father, but Catholics are actually starting to think for themselves and not vote for whomever the person up on the altar tells them to.

Paganplace:

Yeah, that smear, along with the others, was debunked a long time ago, anyway.

Maybe this time we can count on the Catholic Churches not to choose war and execution over other things they don't like, when it comes to endorsing candidates.

Terra Gazelle:

Garbage...

If you look for it with it on your mind, you will find it.

Peddle it else where.
terra

OBAMA and His NATION OF ISLAM and OPRAH's "THE-SECRET" CULT:

Just In:

"February 5, 2008 – Syndicated columnist Debbie Schlussel broke a story on January 30, on Senator Barack Obama’s close ties with the Nation of Islam (NOI), headed by black racist and anti-Semite Louis Farrakhan.

Schlussel interviewed a former Obama insider on the condition of anonymity and learned that contrary to Obama’s recent statements distancing himself from Farrakhan and his anti-Jewish views, the Senator actually has staff members who are NOI members.

According to Schlussel, “… a former Obama insider says that Obama’s sudden aversion to NOI and Farrakhan is belied by the fact that Obama employed and continues to employ several Farrakhan acolytes in high positions on his Illinois and U.S. Senate campaign and office staffs.”

One of those NOI members is Cynthia K. Miller, who served as Treasurer of his Senate campaign. Another NOI member is Jennifer Mason who currently serves as Obama’s Director of Constituent Services and who oversees the hiring of interns for Obama.

The insider also told Schlussel that Obama’s Illinois State Senate district consisted of prime Nation of Islam territory, including Hyde Park where Farrakhan’s mansion is located. According to Illinois politicos, no one can win that district without the blessing of Farrakhan.

Obama’s relationship with recently arrested Tony Rezko is problematic. Rezko is a Syrian Arab who helped Obama purchase his home. In addition, Rezko was in partnership with NOI founder Elijah Muhummad’s son, Jabir.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nation_of_Islam

The Nation of Islam & the OBAMA Nexus!

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NAACP

The Black Islamic Businees World Connection & Foreign intervention.

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Please Yahoo/Google/Vista "THe SECRET" OPRAH WINFREYS "WHiTE WOMAN" Mezzmerizing zero laws of Attraction but Brain-Washing Oprah's mostly 'House-Wives' and playing 'DOUBLE-AGENT" with NOI et al!

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