Many years ago , I received a frantic call from my then 85 year old mother!. “ I just heard that you are a Republican,” she said, “that can’t be true, is it ?”
Amazingly , now knowing the truth about her “first-born,” “doctor,” “crown-prince” son, how she managed to live another 10 years is truly a miracle.
You see, in our entire family, we are the only non-liberal Democrats.
Amazing.
There are two questions that need explanations. Why do Jewish (both my wife and I are Jewish) and Catholic voters overwhelmingly vote Democratic, even with the Democratic Party’s stated “balanced” Midastern policy, and with their pro-choice position?
This election may be different. November will really test their religious, moral and ethical convictions.
The election of the next president of the United States hangs in the balance.
This week was truly a turning point in the history of American politics.
But first, a quick review.
Hidden somewhere within the 2,700 pages of “The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ( ObamaCare) was a provision that employers must cover abortion, sterilization, the “morning after” pill and other forms of contraception in their workers health plans. This was a clear violation of Catholic teachings and principles.
The battle lines were drawn. President Obama claimed that this was “a woman’s right’s “ issue (how understanding was that ?) while the church felt that the government was forcing religious institutions to provide services that were clearly in violation of their own religious beliefs.
The reaction was instantaneous. The Obama administration said in February that it would “modify“ it’s requirements and allow employers to avoid “directly” providing these “services” in their insurance policies, as if deeply-held religiously convictions could be “modified.“
Well, this week, The University of Notre Dame, the Archdiocese of New York, and 41 other Roman Catholic institutions sued the Obama administration.
The battle lines are drawn. The comparison between the two presidential candidates couldn’t be clearer. Would the Catholic voters place their religious beliefs above their traditional Democratic support? Would the Jewish voters realize that Obama’s “balanced” Mideast foreign policy might seriously weaken Israel’s security? Would they now not automatically vote Democratic?
I think I know what my mom would do.
But it would have taken much “courage” on her part.
Dr. Stephen Morris DDS
North Hills
