However, the reasons for which the Catholics originally opposed the Republicans still remain. A great many Catholics are still opposed to or at least uncomfortable with Republican policies regarding workers' rights, big business and social welfare, in addition to more modern policies relating to the environment and the corrupt atmosphere between corporate leaders and powerful politicians. Many also oppose the death penalty which is more acceptable to Republicans as well as the confrontational foreign policy of recent Republican leaders. Not all Catholics stopped caring about these issues, however those immoral standpoints adopted by the Democrats simply became too many and too numerous to ignore. As a result, most devout Catholics now vote Republican, but hold their noses while doing so and do not really have a political option they can embrace whole-heartedly. The simple solution would be a specifically Catholic political party, as were once common place in Europe, and which would also embrace many of the values held by our Seperated Brethren as well. This is one suggestion as to what such a party would look like.
I) Authoritas - Legitimate authority is traditional, sacramental and must be single, final and unifying. There must be a respect for traditional authority, in recognition of Christ's example that we be one flock with one shepherd with no divisions among us. This is a universal concept and for ages had provided those who accept it with a unity of purpose from the pater patria to each pater familias. Only such unity will allow great things to be accomplished.
II) Pietas - Piety had a somewhat different meaning to the ancient Romans than it does for us today. At that time it was meant more as loyalty to the Emperor, today we know it as holiness, but we can use our modern definition to stress our loyalty to Christ the King. Faith comes first and we must not let political considerations overtake our devotion to Holy Mother Church nor can we compartmentalize our religion but we must accept the rule of Christ the King over every aspect of our lives and our nation.
III) Dignitas - Dignity is the virtue to balance out the previous two. We are Catholic Christians who recognize the inherent dignity of all persons from conception to natural death. We are all made in the image of God and must never lose sight of the dignity and significance of the individual in all we do. We all have inherent dignity, rights and responsibilities as children of God.
*The party is not theocratic. As the Bible teaches us to "fear God and honor the Emperor" and to "render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's" who do not advocate religious rule for the USA or any country. Rather we wish to bring our secular government more into line with the social teachings of Jesus Christ and the Holy Catholic Church.
*The party is a pro-life organization. As part of our belief in the inherent dignity of all people we stand for the protection of all human life from conception to natural death. This means we oppose abortion and euthenasia absolutely as well as embryonic stem-cell research, human cloning and any policies which endanger or degrade human life and human dignity. We support greater emphasis being placed on adoption, support for single mothers, adult stem-cell research and care for the elderly and infirm.
*The party in favor of religious freedom. Christians have always made up the majority of the American populace and Americans should have the right to recognize this fact of our history and culture. All religions should be respected, but so should the religion of the majority of Americans. Displaying the 10 Commandments should never become a federal issue and it should never be against the law for anyone of any religion to pray.
*The party believes in a foreign policy of peace through strength. The USA should deal peacefully with all nations and only engage in hostilities when America and American interests are directly threatened. We cannot and should not try to act as a "global policeman" or involve ourselves in the affairs of others. Regarding the War on Terrorism, no effort should be spared to elminate those radical elements which attacked this country and who have announced openly that our total destruction is their only goal.
*The party supports the corporatist economic system as called for in the social teachings of Pope Leo XIII. We propose the re-institution of an organization along the lines of the National Recovery Administration of the FDR government which would bring business owners and labor leaders together to work out a common standard of pricing, quality control and worker benefits. Americans would then be encouraged to support those products and businesses which comply with these regulations.
*The party supports a clean and healthy environment. In keeping with the humanitarian teachins of St Francis, we should view all of God's creations as the gifts they are and work to preserve and protect the world God gave us to live in. We support strict laws and enforcement for cleaner air and water regulations. This also means we oppose US dependence on foreign oil and support the use of bio-diesel to end that dependence and give new opportunities to American farmers.
*The party supports more educational choices for American children. The public school system often fails to make the grade and public school students are constantly being outperformed by private and home school students. The party favors vouchers to enable more parents to send their children to private schools as well as helping parents who teach their children at home.
*The party is opposed to "marriage" for homosexuals. Obviously, what adults do in the privacy of their own homes is virtually impossible to regulate, however, the government, as the representative of the will of the people, cannot and should not legitimize such unnatural behavior. Repeated studies have shown that children will develop best in a stable home with a mother and father. Obviously, this is not always possible, but it should be what we strive for. For the same reasons the party also opposes extending adoption rights to homosexuals.
*The party opposes illegal immigration, which is, after all -illegal and Christ and the Apostles were quite clear that we should be a people who obey the laws of the land so long as the laws of God are not contradicted. It is not difficult to enter the US legally, furthermore, illegal immigration degrades the dignity of those involved, both by fostering the activities of the human smugglers who resemble the slave traders of old as well as the corrupt businessmen who exploit illegal aliens who they can hire for little pay and who will not demand the benefits and fair treatment that legal American workers would.
*The party supports the American middle class which has long been the backbone of American prosperity and the focus of the American dream. Some of the ways the party believes the middle class can be helped include those already discussed such as a corporatist system to put labor leaders and businessmen on the same page and opposition to illegal immigration. The party also opposes unfair trade agreements with foreign countries which undercut American business and workers as well as the "out-sourcing" of American jobs to foreign countries. The party also believes in doing business only with those countries who share our basic values about justice, fairness and political and religious freedom.
These are just some of the issues the party supports, which can convey a general picture of what I think a Catholic Center Party would be like. On most of these issues, I can imagine such a party also attracting some considerable support from the Protestant Evangelical community. Of course, considering the anti-Catholics which still exist in their number some cosmetic changes might be needed to bring about the most cooperation possible. However, a party such as this, that is Catholic, would also benefit from the added ability to hold elected officials to account should they act in a way contrary to the Catholic faith. For example, the well known case of the professed-Catholic John Kerry voting in favor of partial-birth abortion only to defend himself by saying that he must represent his constituents, would not work for any politician elected by the CCP as it would be quite obvious that something so grossly against Catholic morals would never be what the people favor who vote in a Catholic party candidate.
Catholic political parties once existed in quite large numbers around the world, in Catholic countries as well as largely Protestant countries like Germany and Holland. Today, the vast majority are long gone and that is unfortunate. There are roughly one billion Catholics in the world today. The Catholic Church is the largest single group of human beings to ever exist in history. The Church has given us very clear guidelines as to what is moral, just and right and if we would only stand together there is no earthly power that could oppose us. If every Catholic was Catholic in fact as well as in name, there is nothing we could not accomplish. We could change the face of the world for the better and transform our communities into shining examples of the wisdom of Christian teaching and the holiness of God's people. All that is lacking is the will.
Catholics of the world, unite!
