How GOP got Catholicized

[ohheckyeah]

This pretty much explains why birth control and abortion are the key issues the Republicans are pushing.

There was a time when the Republican Party was strictly for White Anglo Saxon Protestants. It was an alliance between Country Club Episcopalians and twice born followers of the Old Time Gospel, all firmly opposed to mass Catholic immigration from Europe. The nativism of the GOP drove Catholics into the welcoming arms of Al Smith, Jack Kennedy, Tip O'Neill and the Democratic Party.

But this year's GOP front-runners are a Mormon and two Catholics -- Rick Santorum (a cradle of Italian descent) and Newt Gingrich (a convert). Roughly one-quarter of Republican primary voters are Catholic. Notable Catholic GOP leaders include John Boehner, Paul Ryan, Christine O'Donnell, Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush. Six out of nine justices of the Supreme Court are Catholics, and five of them are Republicans.

The GOP is undergoing a quiet process of Catholicization. It's one of the reasons why this year's race has focused so much on social issues -- and sex.

REST OF ARTICLE

[Fresh_Start]

1. If we spread the meme that the Pope controls the GOP

that ought to scare off a few of their supporters

[ohheckyeah]

2. Good point -

I don't answer to the Pope and I resent the hell out of the attempt to make me subject to the dictates of the Pope.

[liberal N proud]

7. Oh you are devious

[Marrah_G]

3. My very Catholic parents are horrified by this.

Especially my mom. She thinks Gingrich is scum and Santorum is a lunatic.

[ohheckyeah]

6. Hopefully

they aren't the only Catholics horrified.

I'm so sick of religion - anyone's religion - in politics.

[Marrah_G]

8. Maybe its a Massachusetts, Irish thing

But they have never wanted the church involved in politics or in reproductive rights. I remember being really nervous about telling them I was getting my tubes tied. I though they would be upset because of the churches view. They're response was "I'm pretty sure God would agree you have enough kids" LOL. Also my father went to Boston College. It's a Catholic college run by the Jesuits. He spent his life as a Math, Science and computer science teacher. Evolution was never in question in my home.

I grew up in a very Catholic area and frankly I can't see any of this being accepted here. People here sort of feel like you don't wear your religion on your sleeve. It's private, separate.

Also, in this very Catholic area of the country I feel completely safe being a Wiccan Priestess. When I travel away from here, I don't feel so safe. As a Bisexual woman I feel very safe here, but again, when I travel, I don't feel so safe.

[CanonRay]

4. Make that "Crazy Catholicized".

Mainstream Catholics think they're all nuts. There's only a couple of hundred bishops who can vote.

[Dawson Leery]

5. Dangerous people.

[a kennedy]

9. This is my brother and SIL, Catholic on all the social issues.....AND they voted for Walker

and now they're sorry they did....she's a teacher for gosh sake. Ugh.

[hifiguy]

10. The repukes are in thrall to the crazy,

sex-obsesssed and retrograde RCC hierarchy. I don't think the average Catholic is terribly impressed with the likes of Frothy or Gingrinch.