Catholic Right

Originally posted at Talk to Action.

The Catholic Right, Part Sixty

On June 13, 2008 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops approved a declaration condemning embryonic stem cell research. Bill Donohue's Catholic League issued an immediate statement of support, proclaiming, "The life issues, then, are of preeminent importance to Catholics. To discuss social justice, for example, while being dismissive of the life issues is profoundly un-Catholic."

But as a Catholic who both actively supports and would benefit from this research, I began to wonder, what does it take for something to truly constitute a life issue for the princes of the Church?

Originally Posted at Talk to Action

This past January, my wife and I learned that The Diocese of Brooklyn-Queens plans to close St. Finbar, where my son attends Catholic elementary school, in June. Among the factors to its closing, the one that stands out to me is the Church's refusal to be accountable over the most basic matters of integrity and concern for the safety and well being of Catholic families. This, combined with distorted doctrinal and political priorities, are the underlying causes of a declining membership, and the hemorrhaging of Church funds.

St. Finbar's is a parish with Catholic school located in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn. Throughout its history it has provided students from Pre-K through the eighth grade with a Catholic elementary school education. In recent years it had smaller class sizes (my son's second grade class has five other students besides him). But we didn't mind because it kept him on his toes while providing him with a lot of personal attention from the teacher.

Over the next ten days or so I shall be posting a multi-part series on why Hillary Clinton is my choice for President.

I know that many of you will greet these postings with responses that range from doubt to open hostility. As unwarranted as I believe such reactions to be, that is your right. I too have my doubts about some of her past positions, not many, but some (the flag burning legislation for example). But overall, I will outline the case for her nomination and election. And while Senator Obama and former Senator Edwards talk about change, Hillary has been actively engaged in making it happen—often in the face of fierce Right-wing hostility. All I ask is that you give me the courtesy of stating my peace and then for you to reflect upon what I offer as proof.

This was originally posted at Talk to Action.

An Unholy Alliance: How Neoconservatives and the Religious Right Have Joined Forces to Fight Stem Cell Research.

This originally appeared at