Unrequited Love: American Catholics and Barack Hussein Obama

From the desk of Jackie:

It’s no secret that President Obama has enjoyed consistent support among a majority of Catholics in America. In the 2008 Presidential election, Catholics voted for Obama over McCain 54% to 45%. More recently, in the 2012 Presidential election, Catholics preferred Obama to Romney by a margin of 50% to 48%. The differences in these percentage points are not overwhelming, but they still represent a significant number of Catholics who voted for President Obama in each election. As of 2010, there were an estimated 75 million Catholics in the United States. Moreover, Catholics make up close to 25% of the American electorate. This substantial Catholic support for President Obama is not all that surprising when one considers Catholics and the Democratic Party generally. Traditionally, Catholics were staunch Democrats, giving way to the election of the United States’ first and only Catholic President, Democrat John F. Kennedy, in 1960. Since the time of JFK, Catholics are not so clearly Democratic. Today, Catholics are considered a major “swing vote” population and, as 2008 and 2012 illustrate, often split close to 50/50 on Democrat and Republican candidates. However, Catholics still usually gravitate toward the Democratic Party more so than the Republican Party. This inclination is most likely explained by many Catholics’ perception that the Democratic Party stands on a platform of just treatment of the poor and weak, as well as economic policies that are fair for ordinary Americans. (I maintain that none of this is true and that Democrats’ continued attempts at “social justice” and “economic fairness” are, in the words of “Catholic” Vice President Joe Biden, a bunch of “malarkey.”) In any case, while it is one thing for Catholics to support run-of-the-mill moderate Democrats, it is quite another for them to support the far left radical that is Barack Hussein Obama. Throughout his political career, and most prominently during his time as President, Obama has proven to be arguably the most anti-Catholic mainstream politician this country has ever seen. Obama’s opinions and policies show that he enjoys doing nothing more than wooing the Catholic vote and then casually thumbing his nose at his supporters’ beliefs and right to religious freedom. Three clear cut examples of this outrageous behavior are set forth below:

1. Obama’s Disgraceful Crusade to Mandate Birth Control Coverage

As his landmark piece of legislation, the act that would define his presidency, Obama has foisted the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, AKA Obamacare, upon us. Prior to knowing the details of the Act, many Americans (surely Catholics included) apparently thought this was a great idea – Free health care for all! Quality medical care for every American! Lower insurance costs! Free contraception provided by Catholic institutions! Oh wait, the first three items in this list are lies, and the last one is in direct contradiction to basic tenets of the Catholic faith! Indeed, under Obamacare, employers covered by the law are required to pay for female employee access to contraceptives, abortifacients, and sterilization procedures. This requirement would apply to Catholic organizations, such as schools, colleges, charities, and hospitals. (The government was kind enough to later carve out an exception for actual churches.) So much for freedom of religion! This mandate is an unprecedented overreach of the federal government into matters of discretion that should be left squarely with the religious leaders of religiously affiliated organizations. It is severely unsettling that the Obama administration would take their ridiculous “war on women” rhetoric so far as to require Catholic organizations to provide for birth control methods that are clearly against the teachings of the Church. Perhaps Obama’s next legislative overhaul could demand that churches offer free marijuana and cocaine to their employees, because some folks might need that. (Since, as Obama notes in his “autobiography” Dreams of My Father, “a little blow” is not always affordable.) At this point, I wouldn’t put it past him.

2. Obama’s Sickening Disregard for the Unborn

Obama’s voting record on the issue of abortion is truly nauseating. Evidently, he takes greater issue with waterboarding foreign terrorists (droning is ok!) than he does with snipping the spines of unborn infants. During his time as an Illinois State Senator, on not one, not two, not three, but FOUR occasions, President Obama voted against the Born Alive Infants Protection Act. The Act would have protected the lives of babies who survived abortion attempts. Then-State Senator Obama would prefer that these babies die. Heartwarming. This horrific point of view may explain President Obama’s silence during the recent trial of abortion “doctor” Kermit Gosnell. (Though Obama had plenty of time to speak out on pressing issues such as the announcement by NBA player Jason Collins that he is sexually attracted to males.) Additionally, three days into his first term as President (also known as three days into the official demise of the United States), Obama signed an executive order overturning the so-called “Mexico City policy” signed into law by President Reagan in 1984. The Mexico City policy prohibited the federal government from providing funding to programs that promote or perform abortions in foreign countries. Thanks to Obama’s order nixing this policy, it’s an abortion free-for-all worldwide! Thanks, Obama! Oddly, the President did not invite the press to watch him sign this order into law while he was surrounded by a myriad of American children. And it’s not only foreign organizations that President Obama ensures are given sufficient funding for their baby-killing operations. The President has been a very vocal supporter of America’s very own abortion giant/sex trafficking cover-up organization, former Liberal Loser, Planned Parenthood. Under Obama, Planned Parenthood receives hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars annually ($542 million in 2012). Planned Parenthood also performed over 300,000 abortions in 2011 – the equivalent of one abortion every 94 seconds. Despite these blatant acts of atrocity on the part of PP, Obama delivered a recent speech in which he pledged his continued allegiance to the organization and also stated “God Bless, Planned Parenthood!” (A move which prompted pro-life Baltimore Ravens player Matt Birk to skip his team’s celebratory White House visit.) Finally, just this week, the House of Representatives voted on a federal bill which would ban abortions after 20 weeks, except for cases of rape, incest, or where it is necessary for the health of the mother. The 20 week mark represents the time at which there is scientific evidence that a fetus may feel pain. The House was able to pass this bill due to its Republican majority. While it is unlikely to pass in the Senate thanks to Democratic control and, therefore, will probably not reach President Obama’s desk, he has already vowed to veto the bill if it does get to him. When it comes to gun control, let’s do whatever we can – even if it saves just one life! When it comes to the unborn or infants who survive abortions, the hell with them! President Obama – honorary Catholic!

3. Obama’s Idiotic Attack on Catholic Schools

And, Obama’s assault on Catholics doesn’t end there. In yet another incident just this week, Obama let his ignorance and contempt for religious liberties poke out from behind his big ears. During a speech in Ireland in the midst of the G-8 Summit, Obama offered the following enlightening comments: “If towns remain divided—if Catholics have their schools and buildings and Protestants have theirs, if we can’t see ourselves in one another and fear or resentment are allowed to harden—that too encourages division and discourages cooperation.” As a 12+ year veteran of Catholic schooling, I can personally say, Mr. Obama, that Catholic schools do anything but encourage division or fear or resentment. If what you want to say is that you hate religious freedom, then just say it! All are welcome at Catholic schools, regardless of faith or belief. Yes, the schools teach theology classes in the Catholic tradition, but students of all backgrounds may attend and are included. The schools teach tolerance, loving your neighbor as yourself, and recognizing everyone as God’s children. If any school programs are creating division and fear it is public schools obsessed with promoting “diversity,” labeling everyone, and allowing children to assign themselves new genders (causing a lot of confusion in the bathrooms). But I guess Obama prefers it that way (as long as the mothers have the unrestricted option to terminate the child’s life at any time during the pregnancy!).

Obama calls himself a Christian, although I am unfamiliar with other denominations led by pastors who enjoy shouting “God Damn America!”, like Obama’s long-time church leader, Reverend Jeremiah Wright. But, regardless of President Obama’s individual religious beliefs, it is his duty as the President to protect and defend the Constitution, which includes the First Amendment right to freedom of religion. It is clear that Obama does not wish to protect Catholics’ freedom nor is he in line with many of their beliefs. For these reasons, it is truly a wonder that Catholics support the man in droves. For now, I suppose we can enjoy whatever inkling of religious freedom remains. I can’t wait until the days when we Catholics will have to hide in our basements with our rosaries as drones circle above our homes (which will be marked with lambs’ blood)!