A Continued Look at Politics

I suppose I should first discuss why I am a Republican. First I am Republican because of the pro-life and pro-family issues. The conservative ideals stand for the baby in the womb and for the "traditional" family. There is only one type of family, namely a husband and wife and anything other than that is not a family even if we called it an "untraditional" family. It kind of like Thomas Aquinas on laws... if it doesn't fit the definition of a law it is not an "unjust" law, it simply isn't a law. These are givens to any Catholic and I think I will leave them at that.

Often people will tell me I am only a Republican because of the life issues. This is not true. I am Republican economically as well. It is objectively wrong to take money from a person who has earned it and give it to someone who has not. The government is not a charity. That is the churches job. The churches have regrettably given up this job because, well honestly, they don't want to do it. This has led to people taking advantage of the government. Are all people on welfare like this? No. But there used to be a time when if you were down and out, could make ends meat you would do little odd jobs for the church. Americans used to be ashamed to take charity, now we reward people who do not work. The Republican party is not a party that gives hand outs, and maybe that's why we call it a "party of the rich" but that is not the Republican parties job, that is the job of the churches. Own your own business and you will become a Republican.

Environment. We are called as Catholics to protect the environment and Democrats make it a big campaign issue that they are for the environment. There is a difference between protecting the environment and just being ridiculous. It is ridiculous when there are so many law prohibiting you from building a fence because you might upset some bullfrogs. Every time we cut down a tree we plant two new ones. How is this not protecting the environment? You get too many environment restriction and it because insanely difficult for people who want to start new businesses.

Immigrants. Illegal immigrants do not deserve to live in the United States. If they legally enter the United States and become a U.S. citizen then they deserve to live here. That's really all there is too it. It is irresponsible for any government official to reward illegal immigrants.

Death Penalty. When talking with a fellow student he said if I was so pro-life was I apart of the Republican Party if it support capital punishment. First, I do not support capital punishment. The belief in capital punishment is one with out hope for redemption that being said, it is not one of the five non-negotionables. As Pope Benedict XVI said, "Not all moral issues have the same weight as abortion and euthanasia. For example, if a Catholic were to be at odds with the Holy Father on the application of capital punishment or on the decision to wage war, he would not for that reason be considered unworthy to present himself to receive Holy Communion." I am not very knowledgeable about politics, I will be the first to admit, but I do firmly believe that the Republican party does not conflict with Catholicism. Unfortunately, it is falling away from its ideals and thus we must pray and "voted" it back to the way it was meant to be.

Many people will not claim to be part of a certain political party because they think it is some sort of stigmata but I will say that I am Republican until the time that its philosophy no longer coincides with mine.
~Emma