From Bishop Sheridan:
In November we will once again have the privilege of exercising our most precious right as citizens – the right to vote. Our choices will be made from among an array of candidates who take a variety of positions with regard to many important issues. In the midst of what could be a difficult and confusing exercise it is very important to remember that not all issues are of equal gravity. As men and women of good will we strive to achieve true justice for all people and to preserve their rights as human beings. There is, however, one right that is “inalienable”, and that is the RIGHT TO LIFE. This is the FIRST right. This is the right that grounds all other human rights. This is the issue that trumps all other issues.

The November elections will be critical in the battle to restore the right to life to all citizens, especially the unborn and the elderly and infirm. As a result of the pro-life efforts of countless Americans the number of abortions performed in our country is now declining for the first time since the appalling Supreme Court decision of 1973 that made it “legal” to kill our children. We cannot allow the progress that has been made to be reversed by a pro-abortion President, Senate or House of Representatives. Neither can we permit illicit stem cell research that makes use of aborted babies. Any movement to promote and legalize euthanasia must be halted. Our votes have the power to stop these abominations.

There must be no confusion in these matters. Any Catholic politicians who advocate for abortion, for illicit stem cell research or for any form of euthanasia ipso facto place themselves outside full communion with the Church and so jeopardize their salvation. Any Catholics who vote for candidates who stand for abortion, illicit stem cell research or euthanasia suffer the same fateful consequences. It is for this reason that these Catholics, whether candidates for office or those who would vote for them, may not receive Holy Communion until they have recanted their positions and been reconciled with God and the Church in the Sacrament of Penance.

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45-nospam@hotmail.com), May 15, 2004

Answers

bump

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45-nospam@hotmail.com), May 15, 2004.

You really need to read the whole thing. Print it off and hand it out.

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45-nospam@hotmail.com), May 15, 2004.

BUSH JOB APPROVAL NOW IN DANGER ZONE

May 15, 2004 (AP) President Bush's job approval ratings are hitting the lowest levels of his tenure as problems in Iraq crowd out other issues for voters.

A Newsweek poll released Saturday put Bush's overall job approval at 42 percent, the lowest yet in that poll. Other recent surveys have rated Bush in the mid-40s.

Gay marriage and other domestic issues appear to have faded from voters' concerns as the administration's problems mount in Iraq.

-- 1800-BADNEWS (Armageddon@November.2), May 15, 2004.

BADNEWS,
What does this have to do with the thread? It is wrong anyway. Rasmussan came out today with Bush's Job Approval at 51%. In fact: "For fifteen of the last seventeen days, the President's Job Approval has remained at 51% or 52%."

-- Bill nelson (bnelson45-nospam@hotmail.com), May 15, 2004.

Bush's poll numbers hitting danger zone

WASHINGTON - While President Bush remains essentially even with Democratic challenger John Kerry in new opinion polls, voters are slowly sinking into the kind of pessimistic funk that doomed other presidents, including Bush's father.

Several recent polls show Bush's approval ratings slipping below 50 percent amid growing doubts among voters about his handling of the war in Iraq and of the economy.

Growing majorities believe the country is headed in the wrong direction, a traditional early indicator of the electorate's mood and a clear warning sign for an incumbent trying to persuade the public to rehire him four more years.

"He is in dangerous territory now," pollster John Zogby said of Bush, although Democratic challenger John Kerry so far has failed to take much advantage of Bush's slump six months before the November election.

Frank Newport, editor in chief of the Gallup poll, said Bush's slowly sinking job approval rating, down to 46 percent in his latest survey, was similar to the dropping trajectory of the last three incumbents to lose their elections -- George Bush, the current president's father, Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford.

In contrast, the five most recent incumbent presidents who won their elections never dipped below 50 percent in their job approval rating at any point in the election year, he said.

"The Bush campaign has to be concerned and worried at this point," Newport said. "When you look at the trend, you certainly see that Bush is beginning to track the trajectory of the three losing presidents rather than the winners."

The 46 percent who approved of Bush's handling of the job in Monday's Gallup poll was the lowest of his presidency. An NBC/Wall St. Journal poll last week put his approval rating at 47 percent, with 49 percent saying he did not deserve re-election and 50 percent saying the country was headed in the wrong direction.

Undecideds often go to challenger.

Low approval and re-election numbers are particularly bad for an incumbent, who already is well known to voters. Undecided voters, who have had plenty of time to evaluate the incumbent, often break heavily for the challenger.

-- Gloom & Doom (OhNo!!!@bad.news), May 15, 2004.

Gallup and Zogby are not real polls. Fox News has Bush ahead by 30 pts.

-- Benecio (don'tbother@zzz.com), May 15, 2004.

You need to read these polls closely and you will find that the President's job approval rating over the last 2-4 weeks was tied very closely to Iraq. And Iraq was going to pot. If Iraq calms down (no more scandals or insergencies) then the polls will rebound. You can't compair what is happening today with what happened to candidates in the recent past because they have not had to contend with this sort of thing. If you are REALLY into polls, go to this page, and click on the individual polls for details.

I still don't see where this discussion relates to the original message in this thread.

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45-nospam@hotmail.com), May 15, 2004.

You need to read these polls closely and you will find that the President's job approval rating over the last 2-4 weeks was tied very closely to Iraq. And Iraq was going to pot. If Iraq calms down (no more scandals or insergencies) then the polls will rebound. You can't compair what is happening today with what happened to candidates in the recent past because they have not had to contend with this sort of thing.

Also realize Kerry wants Iraq to go postal, and our boys to die so he gets elected. This is true, as discusting as that sounds, it is true.

Anyway, if you are REALLY into polls, go to this page, and click on the individual polls for details.

I still don't see where this discussion relates to the original message in this thread.

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45-nospam@hotmail.com), May 15, 2004.

Also realize Kerry wants Iraq to go postal, and our boys to die so he gets elected. This is true, as discusting as that sounds, it is true.

Sure, Bill, sure it is. Whoda thunk that you and Kerry are such close buddies that he confides all his innermost thoughts to you -- including the "discusting" fact that he (an actual veteran!) is rooting for our troops to get killed.

Point of fact, Kerry doesn't need to bother wishing or hoping for anything to happen. Bush is such a pro when it comes to self destructing, all Kerry has to do is sit back, watch and wait.

-- Calvin Stewart (CXS@CXS.com), May 15, 2004.

I have no real problem with Kerry being a veteran, in fact I admire veterans. I don't like what he did when he came back from Vietnam, but that has nothing to do with this group. He is on the wrong side of the 5 non-negotiables so Catholics can't vote for him. In fact, Catholics should work hard to make sure he is not elected.

In Christ,
Bill

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45-nospam@hotmail.com), May 15, 2004.

I was of the opinion that separation of church and state was a good thing. Apparently not everybody agrees with me. Of course I was looking for a reason not to be Catholic. When you think the theology is a bunch of crap and is based on arrogant, faulty assumptions, of course you're looking for a reason to find the culture abhorrent as well. They just provided me with it (No communion for voting for pro- lifers).

So tell me guys, which Catholic edicts are you voting for. Does it make you uncomfortable to vote for someone who waged a war the Pope said was immoral? Does it bother you that Bush gives only lip service to helping the poor? Does it bother you that most "pro-life" politicians don't have any real intention of outlawing abortion? Enjoy your tainted Communion.

-- spudly (spud@yahoo.com), May 16, 2004.

Spudly,
The answer to your questions is being discussed on this thread.

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45-nospam@hotmail.com), May 16, 2004.

''I was of the opinion that separation of church and state was a good thing.''

Dear Spudly: --It's OK to have a different opinion. In fact, the constitutional clause everybody quotes has nothing to do with ''separation of Church & State'' but is misconstrued by the courts to mean that.

''Which Catholic edicts are you voting for--(?)''

Reply: We vote for candidates, not edicts. It's our government which issues edicts. Such as, work every year until May to pay taxes. After which, the govenment uses the taxes to fund abortion on demand and give entitlements. THOSE are edicts. And the candidate who supports edicts like these is exactly the one we will NOT vote for.

''Does it make you uncomfortable to vote for someone who waged a war the Pope said was immoral?'' Reply: The Pope never said that. And, for that matter, Sen. Kerry voted in favor of the same war.(You've a short memory.)

''Does it bother you that Bush gives only lip service to helping the poor?''Reply: Sure. It bothers me Kerry gives only lip service to serving his country. He in fact is a liar & an opportunist. He has never served the poor with anything but promises.

''--or Does it bother you that most "pro-life" politicians don't have any real intention of outlawing abortion?'' Reply: We realize it's an uphill battle. Most pro-lifers would abolish murdering the unborn immediately if they were able to. We'll settle right now for a socially conservative President & Congress able to appoint Supreme Court Justices and other officials who respect life. Sooner or later we'll try to change abortion on demand;

-- As we've managed to outlaw partial-birth abortion; an atrocity which Kerry was willing to defend, and fund with public money. He calls himself a Catholic, but sees nothing evil about killing an infant 99% outside his mother's uterus --by sucking out his/her brains and crushing the tiny skull. Not one or two a year; thousands of them a year. Fat lot of Catholic. Bush is a protestant and he defends innocent lives. I'll vote for a compassionate protestant this time around, Spuds.

-- eugene c. chavez (loschavez@pacbell.net), May 16, 2004.

P.S.,

Our Communion is HOLY. We don't ''enjoy'', we worship the Holy Son of God. Ciao, Bugley.

-- eugene c. chavez (loschavez@pacbell.net), May 16, 2004.