109 Comments

• Maccy | Oct 23, 2012, 05:22 PM EDT

  Please stop calling people like this 'Irish American'..it gives all Irish a bad name.

• eiriamach | Oct 22, 2012, 10:29 AM EDT

  There can be no constitutional religious test for public office, BrianO, but the US Constitution strenuously protects religious liberty for ALL, including the right not to worship or join with any religion. That means that when religions vie with each other for control, or lobby for control, over gov't policies and legislation-- as the USCCB has been doing-- the religious liberty of all others is in danger. I do not expect the German pope to see that his political ambitions are a form of would-be tyranny, but it's shameful, absolutely shameful, for the American bishops, who should know better, to exploit their freedom of religion and conscience, under Constitutional protection, in an effort to deprive non-Catholic women and families of their freedom of conscience. That's tyranny, freedom's opposite! And yes, the Constitution prohibits the "establishment" of a religion, whether attempted by government officials or by your Church officials!

• eiriamach | Oct 21, 2012, 11:27 AM EDT

  All your catterwalling will not change the fact that the only protections of the Constitution is against the ESTABLISHMENT of a state religion. And the free exercise of an individuals religion. Your argument is that a person's religion disqualifies him from public office, which is entirely incorrect.

• eiriamach | Oct 20, 2012, 09:10 PM EDT

  It's not only politicians like Fitzgerald. The Catholic Association is trying to persuade voters, especially in the swing states of Ohio and Pennsylvania, that Obama is against the Catholic Church. This group is distributing in churches a "score card" that compares Obama's record with Romney's and scores Romney "A" and Obama "F." The score card cites Romney's opposition to gay couples adopting children when he was governor of Massachusetts and Obama's HHS mandate for insurance companies to cover contraceptive services for female employees. Former Bush campaign director for Catholic outreach, Leonard Leo, who oversees the effort, says, “This is not simply about the contraceptive mandate; this is about the Obama administration yanking grant money to Catholic Charities.” Of course it's about money! And the price we'd all pay for that money going to Catholic agencies is suppression of freedom of conscience.

• eiriamach | Oct 20, 2012, 06:58 PM EDT

  In obedience to the hierarchy, Fitzgerald jettisons his duty to represent the interests of all the people. On Jan 20, 2012, Benedict XVI told the American bishops, "I would mention with appreciation your efforts to maintain contacts with Catholics involved in political life and to help them understand their personal responsibility to offer public witness to their faith, especially with regard to the great moral issues of our time: respect for God’s gift of life, the protection of human dignity and the promotion of authentic human rights" (available at conservatore romano.va site and others). Note the modifiers that Ben XVI routinely places before words like "rights": "authentic" human rights, by which he means to exclude women's access to contraceptives and efforts to end discrimination against gays and lesbians. Another of his favorite modifiers is "just" civil rights, which carries the same bias. The pope wishes "to preserve a civil order clearly rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition" and "the evangelization of American culture," in other words, to violate separation of church and state and freedom of conscience as protected by the US Constitution. It does not require "radical secularism" for us finally to respect fully the equal moral worth of all our citizens; it requires only protecting our basic freedoms from theocratic churchmen!

• readabook | Oct 20, 2012, 03:55 PM EDT

  brianO@readabook, "try getting your nose out of the communist manifesto and try reading the Constitution, it really is a very straight forward document" And Bri don't think for a minute that we don't appreciate the depth of your scholarly interpretation of the Constitution which 'obviously' in the name of "freedom of religion" would sanction a duly elected member of the Legislative Branch as defined by the Constitution to assume the "Mantra" of "Father Fitzgerald" to preach to his Catholic constituents that only the Republican Party is commensurate with their Beliefs. Sorry Sir,I just have to go with James Madison's interpretation. Bri you seem to be losing your cool. Perhaps you're having difficulty with all these facts. Gotta Run Lenin,Trotsky,Stalin and the 'Boys' are waiting for me.

• StevieVirginia | Oct 20, 2012, 01:56 PM EDT

  Steve Fitzgerald, you are a horses ass! This Irish American Catholic is voting for Obama 2012 because of idiots like you!

• redhand32 | Oct 20, 2012, 01:45 PM EDT

  Anyone of Irish Catholic background especially (more than other ethnic groups ought to kiss the feet of those Founding Fathers who assured that there must remain a wall of separation between Church and State. This has largely held until recently with the ascendency of right wing Republican wing nuts like Fitzgerald, and other Irish Americans such as Paul Ryan, and Joe Walsh, and their ilk. The Wall of Separation is our only barrier that all may worship (or not if they choose) according to their conscience. Yet, this 2 bit politician radical Fitgerald has taken on the miter to excommunicate Catholic Democrats, with the implication that they are "unAmerican" as well. If Fitgerald and his ilk studied his people's history of the religious teats, land confiscations, martyrdom, penal laws, mandatory tithes, the grim sectarian tainted last several decades of carnage and destruction in the 6 counties, he and his minions would humbly shut their ignorant traps about the beliefs and religious purity of others. Jefferson and Madison and others appreciated Europe's sorry history of religious wars, killing and torture all in the name of God. How is it that Fitgerald, Walsh, Ryan and their ilk are the Cromwellian Roundheads of their time. If these people succeed will descend into the same sectarian, racist, bigoted pit that consumed our ancestors, and will threaten the freedom to practice our own beliefs for a long time to come. Fitzgerald's or for that matter many of the Bishop's partisan comments have no place in the American body politic.

• BrianO | Oct 20, 2012, 11:38 AM EDT

  @readabook, try getting your nose out of the communist manifesto and try reading the Constitution, it really is a very straight forward document.

• BrianO | Oct 20, 2012, 11:36 AM EDT

  Dear condescending idiot. The founders of the constitution had debate and came to consensus then wrote law. Their fear was that a government would force them to practice a religion they did not want to. Church of England comes to mind. Since their fear of a large federal governmental body would control their lives they put in restrictions of power so the GOVERNMENT would not establish a GOVERNMENT religion. INDIVIDUALS are free to practice their religion and they can hold office. If a muslim says " I am a muslim and I support sharia vote for me" and he is voted into office he can write legislation to be considered by the congress, as long as he does not establish Islam as a Government sponsored religion.

• readabook | Oct 19, 2012, 01:19 PM EDT

  readabook | Oct 19, 2012, 10:00 AM EDT @ EIriamach, please read."Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;" ---THE US CONSTITUTION. That is what the law states, the congress can not establish a religion or stop exercise of a person's religion. So you somehow resent your earlier message to Eiriamach "falsely" under my name. Once again brianO shows us another of his guideposts to being a "Good Catholic". Perhaps you'll provide us the portion of the Bible that sent you forth.

• readabook | Oct 19, 2012, 01:00 PM EDT

  @BrianO- You have a real problem with "Cognitive Dissonance" Eiriamach sends you an clear and concise interpretation from President Madison who drafted the constitution which was signed off by the Founding Fathers. "Entire abstinence of the government from interference in any way whatever beyond the necessity of preserving public order and protecting each sect against trespasses on its legal rights by others" The self righteous Fitzgerald usurped his duty as an elected official to "uphold the Constitution" by trying to cajole voters via his Personal beliefs. But BrianO in the true Republican spirit attempts to "Wow Us" with his superior legalese and for good measure throws in a gratuitous personal insult to our elected President. Oh Brian! Please "Stop Blowing Smoke" into all of our hard to reach areas. xoxoxo

• readabook | Oct 19, 2012, 10:00 AM EDT

  @ EIriamach, please read."Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;" ---THE US CONSTITUTION. That is what the law states, the congress can not establish a religion or stop exercise of a person's religion.

• bunchesofun | Oct 19, 2012, 09:49 AM EDT

  For a party that purports to be "for the average person", how can they condone murdering the most innocent? I agree those most adamant about being "pro choice" are the first to protest when a serial killer is going to be executed, or jump in to action to save a whale that has beached itself. It makes no sense. Either you are for life, or you are against it. I agree one can not call ones self a good Catholic (one who follows what is taught) and be a Democrat who condones murdering babies.

• seamus60 | Oct 18, 2012, 06:33 PM EDT

  All good Catholics began their calling when at an age of Catikism they are informed that all the wealth and worldly possessions on the planet do not equate to one single life. Yet they sit on all their wealth whilst thousands of children die dailly of starvation etc. Probally more than the number who die via abortion. Some will compare it to abortion whilst others will concede that it is worse due to the suffering of the inocent child starving to death. Time the church practiced what it preechs.

• Brnmar1 | Oct 18, 2012, 05:57 PM EDT

  Democrats may support the so-called "gay" agenda, but the majority of Sodomites in America are Republicans.

• eiriamach | Oct 18, 2012, 02:08 PM EDT

  BrianO, look to the founders who helped draft the Constitution to understand the meaning of separation of church and state. James Madison: "Strongly guarded . . . is the separation between religion and government in the Constitution of the United States" and "The purpose of separation of church and state is to keep forever from these shores the ceaseless strife that has soaked the soil of Europe in blood for centuries." And "The tendency to a usurpation on one side or the other or to a corrupting coalition or alliance between [religions] will be best guarded against by entire abstinence of the government from interference in any way whatever, beyond the necessity of preserving public order and protecting each sect against trespasses on its legal rights by others." Then take a look at Pope Pius IX's "Syllabus of Errors," which condemns separation of church and state, a stance that the current pope embraces. See, for ex, Ben XVI's Jan. 19 speech to American bishops during their ad limina visit-- "Pope reaffirms the right of the Church to intervene publicly ... in the face of radical secularism." Scylla and Charybdis to American Catholics, but you think it's not a problem for you?

• BrianO | Oct 18, 2012, 01:53 PM EDT

  @pillbox4, with the state of the country why would any one want four more years of this misery, might need that cave, it would be better than barracks brother who is still living in a hut in Kenya. Makes you laugh out loud, the man who preaches taking care of your brother, won't even help out his own brother who lives in poverty

• pilib04 | Oct 18, 2012, 01:35 PM EDT

  Jews in Ohio are voting overwhelmingly for Sherrod Brown over Republican (and Jewish) Josh Mandel according to the "Open Zion." Religion simply is not the main reason for voting. Irish Catholics will vote for President Obama and it won't be because Mittens is a Mormon. It's because he is the right person for the job. The Republicans posting here only have 19 more days until they crawl back in their caves.

• BrianO | Oct 18, 2012, 01:27 PM EDT

  show me where the constitution says there is a seperation of church and state. the constitution states that no government sponsored religion can be forced onto the citizens. You might want to check out some of George Washington's speeches, or Lincoln, or Kennedy. And you might want to brush up on your sarcasm.

• readabook | Oct 18, 2012, 11:17 AM EDT

  BrianO@readabook, "Yea who would want truth, or justice, Or the American way" Of course we all do BrianO and my response was sarcastic meaning NOT the version so espoused by Sen Fitzgerald and his blind cadre of holier then thou religious nut jobs.Your apparent incredulousness that anyone would NOT equate your version of being a "Good Catholic" with the "American Way" is telling. By the way I'm not Catholic but please name me one major religion whose doctrine "sanctifies" abortion or gay marriage and who doesn't have their minions of judgemental crazies sho believe it's their job to interpret their faith and act as defacto ex communicators for any member that doesn't buy into the "full boat". A Congressman of any religion elected to who serve a country who's Constitution specifies the separation of church and state using his publc platfom to preach, judge,intimidate,etc members of his own or any other faith to get them to vote his or her Political Party is NOT representative of the "American Way"

• eiriamach | Oct 18, 2012, 10:19 AM EDT

  It's amazing to me that Irish-descended Americans like jetsnoone, HermitTalker, and Gearoid4 have learned nothing from IrishCentral about the tragic consequences in recent decades of Church-controlled and Church-influenced politics in Ireland. Can you imagine an Irish politician saying that Catholics cannot vote for Sinn Féin or Labour? Separation of Church and state is in Amendment One, Article One of the US Constitution, but some Catholics still think they can in effect vote the pope, with his "the Church is not a democracy" culture-wars agenda, into political power. The self-delusion and ignorance of history and civics in evidence here is more than Halloween-night scary!

• paddyo | Oct 17, 2012, 09:20 PM EDT

  I like the dumb comment that he makes it seem that he wants everybody to be a right wing republican.

• seanomelb | Oct 17, 2012, 06:50 PM EDT

  Sell that line to the Jewish community Jetsnoone

• jetsnoone | Oct 17, 2012, 06:34 PM EDT

  Far better to be a fascist than a communist....Catholicism may be dying in Ireland but growing much stronger in the USA....

• chocolatesauce | Oct 17, 2012, 06:23 PM EDT

  I absolutely agree with the statement - good Catholics cannot be Democrats. Thankfully Catholicism is dying on the vine in Ireland - I've never met a so-called "good Catholic" who wasn't also at least partly fascist. Indeed, from fascist Portugal, Spain, Germany and Italy, across Europe and into Ireland with Fine Gael and FF to a lesser extent, all you need to do to tie them all together is rename them "right-wing Catholic parties". Who wants to be a good Catholic? Why associate oneself with a secretive totalitarian child-raping organisation?

• twoeagles | Oct 17, 2012, 05:31 PM EDT

  There are those who support the murder of unborn babies but God forbid some convicted murderer be executed. "If "is a big word , particularly in an argument that if the unborn is allowed to go full term that it will become a person that is disenfranchised financially , will be malnourished , be neglected and will turn to crime .

• Gearoid4 | Oct 17, 2012, 04:24 PM EDT

  @Joeg2028, I agree that pro-lifers should care about the child who exits from the womb, as well as during his/her duration in it. But artificial birth control and it's logical corollary abortion are indicative of a wider anti-life culture and it is no use talking about catering for children while they are growing up, while there is widespread toleration for the cruel destruction of nascent life in the womb. You can point to the economic hardship involved for some families to raise children, but where is the justice in wiping out innocent lives in the womb on the back of such a spurious argument? If society cannot guarantee the inviolability of the life of the child in the womb, it is sickening hypocrisy to talk about securing the lives of growing children,teenagers or adults.

• anglo-norman | Oct 17, 2012, 03:25 PM EDT

  That criminal church should be outlawed

• rugbyplayer | Oct 17, 2012, 01:09 PM EDT

  Fitzgerald is a typical GOP jackass but let's be clear about one thing: he is merely mouthing what jibberish the US Conference of Catholic Bishops with Vatican backing is promoting. These RC dictators are no better than their fanatical Islamic fundamentalist counterparts.

• BishopSean | Oct 17, 2012, 12:46 PM EDT

  This article has certainly generated some interest. As well it should—even Catholic democrats are at least reluctantly aware of the moral ambiguity of supporting the political party most promotive of: euthanasia; “post-birth abortions,” partial-birth abortions and all other abortions, including embryonic stem cell research which kills the embryo or blastocyst (and still doesn’t produce cures as do adult stem cells); gay marriage; and cozying up to radical islamists while at the same time keeping God and Christian references out of the public plaza, schools, military hospitals, parks and eventually graveyards, etc. If Catholic democrats have been thinking the Democratic Party is the lesser of two evils, vis à vis the Republican Party, perhaps the time has come when they should seriously reconsider registering as independents.

• joeg2028 | Oct 17, 2012, 12:35 PM EDT

  If Fitzgerald is correct, the outcome is predictable: a lot of Democrats will leave the Catholic Church--and take their money with them. I was a Cathoic for over 60 years, but luckily a demogogic bishop in Denver enlightened me enough before the 2008 election to drive me away. What a relief. And to those of you who've commented about Democrats being prodeath or for abortion and contraception, they are more realistic than the antiabortionists, who want all fetuses brought to term and then, when their parents can't afford to raise those children, turn their backs on those families and say, "not our problem." And when some children born into poverty grow up and turn to crime to feed their own families, the prolifer Republicans are more than eager to build more prisons rather than spend the money when these people are children and provide the education, nurturing, and love that they need. Where's the logic in THAT? Hence, Dems try to solve that conundrum by allowing people to PLAN their families through contraception and by allowing a woman to decide whether, when pregnant, she can afford to raise that child at that point in time, knowing that she has a constitutional right to end a pregnancy. Those who call themselves "prolife" in this context are misrepresenting themselves because they are that only until the time the child leaves the womb. They have charity only for the unborn, not the living--and especially not to those women who decide that abortion is the best choice for her and her family.

• twoeagles | Oct 17, 2012, 10:40 AM EDT

  I cannot perceive any Christian voting the Democrat ticket because the Bible condemns both homosexuality and the killing of innocents. It's not a position the Catholic church has taken but God's word. I am pro life , pro gun , pro traditional marriage and pro death penalty for people who commit heinous crimes.

• BrianO | Oct 17, 2012, 09:57 AM EDT

  @readabook, Yea who would want truth, or justice, Or the American way. My earlier post simply points out that if you rail against the positions of the Catholic church on abortion, Marriage, suicide, then you are a Catholic in name only. Fitzgerald point is that a person who is pro abortion, pro gay marriage,pro assisted suicide would be against the Catholic Church and it's stances. All are free to express their opinions still in this country(unless you post a youtube video about islam) but don't claim to be Catholic and then rail against what they stand for.

• eiriamach | Oct 17, 2012, 09:42 AM EDT

  Catholics like Fitzgerald are committing political suicide in the USA.

• IrelandNorth | Oct 17, 2012, 06:02 AM EDT

  In Ireland (26 county proto-republic of) there are Fianna Fail (FF)/Republican Party - Fine Gael (FG)/Christian Democrats - Sinn Fein (SF)/Centrist - Labour (Lab)/Centre Left - Socialist Party(SP)/Left - Socialist Workers' Party (SWP)/Far Left plus numerous independent deputies forming a United Left Alliance (ULA)/Technical Group (TG). In Ireland (6 county neo-province of) there are the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) - Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) - Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) - Sinn Fein (SF) - Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) - Traditional Unionist Party (TUP), ie a party for every country in the neo-province. That is 12 political parties for a poopulation of circa 6 million people. If that ain't representativeness, I don't know what is? Coalition governments of tow or more parties often form which for some of us at least, are actually a paragon of the representative democratic paradigm, in that they moderate ideological extremes. PS Some of us are adverse to homosexual unions whilst also believing in distributive justice.

• IrelandNorth | Oct 17, 2012, 05:40 AM EDT

  Real question is, can good Catholics support the ecclesia which styles itself the Holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church within which there has been consistent evidence of institutionalised clerical child sexual abuse. Perhaps its time for a third political party in the USA for those who are economically liberal yet morally conservative. We could call them Remocrats or Depublicans.

• cillowen | Oct 17, 2012, 12:12 AM EDT

  what a moron lyin cultist figure Romney is about slicing and dicing - his remarks clearly show that his Jesus(white)lucifer(browns) thinking on 47%ers whom he deems shiftless and lazy fits his mormon belief. With all the drinking by Ryan at his debate I wonder if he was wearing depends to hide his peein

• Tedmiller | Oct 16, 2012, 09:38 PM EDT

  Ethics and morality should never be trumped by dogma. By what authority does Mr. FitzGerald speak for all Catholics?

• phinsman | Oct 16, 2012, 09:37 PM EDT

  Fitzgerald's perspective is totally inaccurate... I would guess a significant percentage of Catholics are very liberal and open minded. Would liberal Catholics say that every Catholic can't be a Republican? No!

• curtisjohnson | Oct 16, 2012, 09:16 PM EDT

  It's a rough choice between amoral and souless secular progressives and neocon war mongers.

• Bocktherobber | Oct 16, 2012, 08:08 PM EDT

  Good girl, Nicoletta. Nobody died in the invasion of Iraq, right?

• Nicoletta | Oct 16, 2012, 07:46 PM EDT

  Fitzgerald is right. How could you be a Catholic and support Obama, probably the most pro-death President the US has ever had.

• christinao't | Oct 16, 2012, 06:50 PM EDT

  Most Irish are literate in some way. We just need to remain free thinkers. This group think that the Dems are good and Repubs are bad is simply childish. Meanwhile your dear Dem party keep moving farther away from anything you ancestors ever dreamed of in their wildest nightmare! Communism is not cool! Your Prez is a communist weather he wants you to know it or not. Look at his history and what he has done. Most people are smart enough now not to rely on the alphabet soup tv stations and dinosaur papers to get the truth! Obama voted 4 times that any child who survived an abortion should not be assisted in anyway to live, basically left to die. You think he cares about you or anyone? I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you!!!

• Magdaleno | Oct 16, 2012, 06:45 PM EDT

  Fitzerald you better take another look at our US Constitution especially Article 14... you tea baggers and GOP cannot select what you consider correct for yourself and impose your ideas on people. All of us are free to think for ourselfs and i would not dictate what people should be... it's on each one of us to know what is correct in our Christian life. I believe that life is at conception and man and woman are one at marrige. You might want to take a look at the Mormon church... it is not Christian but a cult. "Just one of their ideas -- The holy spirit is different from the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is not God, but is an influence or electricty like emanation from God [ or" light of Christ'"] "They also believe that Jesus was married". Now do i tell you that you cannot belong to the GOP because another man has a different religion and is running for office which you support-- No you are free man and you have a right to support whoever you want... i fought two wars that you might live in FREEDOM.

• christinao't | Oct 16, 2012, 06:42 PM EDT

  abortion is a human rights issue. Since roe v wade we have technology to see into the womb...to see that the baby is not a "blob" of tissue . There is no where to hide . We as humans cannot keep denying the humanity of the pre born human child just like humans can no longer speak about other races or cultures or classes as being less than human. I am proud that as an Irish woman and Catholic I can be on the side of rights for ALL!

• michealcollins | Oct 16, 2012, 06:23 PM EDT

  For the love of Mike!!!! I left the north of Ireland to get away from all this. I got fed up living in the 17th Century, because people were discriminated for their religious beliefs. In my 26 years in this country, we have stopped advancing intellectually, and the fundamentalists are to blame. If Mr Fitzgerald thinks he can gain votes from Catholics in Kansas by claiming that his opponent is not a Catholic, well I guess he must be desperate enough to have adopted this tactic. A Catholic is a Catholic, and if conservatives claim that people like Mrs Kultala are not because of their stand on abortion, then I want to know where he was when sex scanals surfaced and Bishops and cardinals (like that Prince of the Church Cardinal Bernard Law) were found to be "hiding" priests who were involved in abusing God's children? Where was your outrage, or for that matter Catholics in general? The crack up is, that abortion is an emotional issue, which will bring people out to vote every two four or six years, but yet nothing changes???? Wonder why that is?

• Bocktherobber | Oct 16, 2012, 05:52 PM EDT

  I can't think of another western democracy, Ireland included, that's so obsessed with religion. Are you sure you're not Iran?

• RosemaryKelly | Oct 16, 2012, 05:47 PM EDT

  I agree with Mr. Fitzgerald 100% - not only because of the democrats stance on gay marriage but also because they are so anti-life!!!! It is murder and a marriage is between a man an woman, period. Good Catholics should NOT be democrats.

• seanomelb | Oct 16, 2012, 05:38 PM EDT

  another right wing Catholic forcing his ignorant views on others.

• merefalow | Oct 16, 2012, 05:26 PM EDT

  keep theocratic influence out of politics or you end up with a medi evil concept like sharia law.

• christinao't | Oct 16, 2012, 04:51 PM EDT

  um homosexuality has not been in any way proved to be a genetic condition. Abolition of slavery movement was begun by Christians, as was the civil rights movement here in U.S. by MLK.

• jamthecat | Oct 16, 2012, 04:46 PM EDT

  Considering all the things the Catholic Church used to support and has since stopped -- slavery, anti-semitism, slaughtering those who do not believe the pope is God's secretary -- Fitzgerald's comments are limited, to put it kindly, and totalitarian, to be blunt. I'm not Catholic so I can't speak for those who are, but this SOB need to be kicked to the curb for his intolerance and stupidity.

• irishrose524 | Oct 16, 2012, 04:24 PM EDT

  Um...homosexuality in men is genetic. So if God created humans, including all their genetics I'm pretty sure He doesn't have issue with gays or lesbians (Especially not lesbians since there is nothing mention about two WOMEN sleeping together, lol) Not to mention those sheep you guys keep mentioning on being like? 1 in 10 rams prefer other rams over ewes. Everything isn't black and white, so maybe Catholic doctrine needs to be updated.

• christinao't | Oct 16, 2012, 04:19 PM EDT

  Unlike Joe Biden's lame excuse for faith, one cannot separate faith from the "rest" of their lives. Ryan is right on this. Too many call themselves "Catholic" when it suits them. There are non negoitiables like abortion and same sex marriage. If "Catholics" cannot understand the reason behind these please make an effort to understand. If you still do not want to accept these, then join another church.

• seamus60 | Oct 16, 2012, 04:08 PM EDT

  God must be a democrat as he`s made so many gay people.

• sthosdkane | Oct 16, 2012, 04:06 PM EDT

  It makes sense that a Republican candidate would say this, he wants votes. But that doesn't make what he says right.

• nicgearailt | Oct 16, 2012, 03:41 PM EDT

  I am assuming that this man has had a chat with the man above recently...it is amazing that there is a Republican in Kansas telling us what religion we may choose...I rather hang with my God, who is understanding,forgiving and allows our free will to make choices. I choose to be inclusive and to love mankind..we are our brothers and sisters keeper

• kilgara | Oct 16, 2012, 03:22 PM EDT

  Gay marriage is unnatural and immoral. It has nothing to do with any particular religion.This was an accepted fact since the beginning of recorded time.It is the wisdom of the ages. It is extremely unfortunate that some present-day knukleheads were able to seize control of most media and convince a large population of sheep-like people otherwise.

• joreilly | Oct 16, 2012, 02:39 PM EDT

  MR. FITZGERALD ANYBODY CAN BE A GOOD CATHOLIC,INCLUDING YOU, BUT PLEASE TRY BEING A GOOD CHRISTIAN sometime.......

• Nicomax | Oct 16, 2012, 02:20 PM EDT

  People make up what Jesus may or may not have said all the time, just to suit their own beliefs. Recently there has been a controversy as to the possibility that Jesus was married, and also that some of the Apostles were women. Up to that point others were wondering if Jesus may have actually been gay since he surrounded himself only with men, and was particularly close to his mother. it's all an unknown, so the Kansas 'blow-hard' is on very shaky ground.

• hoytjt0922 | Oct 16, 2012, 02:10 PM EDT

  Well, I guess his comments have given this "blow-hard" his brief moment of publicity. And, though I am not in favor of gay marriage (legal union OK) or abortion of ANY kind, I do not think we can legislate morality or pick one issue to define either a political party or candidate. I am in favor of the 99%, 47% or whatever we, the middle class, poor and/or elderly are, and not returning to the Bush years that got us into this mess to start off with. We may not be "doing fine" yet, but the "slide" caused by prior Republican administrations has been stopped and is headed in the right direction without going back to the "immorality" of the Republican' way of government.

• readabook | Oct 16, 2012, 02:06 PM EDT

  Sorry Bill Doherty, my comment was meant for BrianO

• readabook | Oct 16, 2012, 02:02 PM EDT

  @Bill Doherty I can't make up mind who's "scarier",the Republicans or those self ordained "Good Catholics" (or any religious extremist virw)like you,Fitzgerald and other self righteous commentators in this thread with their "truth justice and the american way"

• Joe Kelsall | Oct 16, 2012, 02:02 PM EDT

  Good Catholics should not become paedophiles. Would Mr Fitzgerald like to address this issue? And, whilst he's at it, could we have his thoughts on celibacy?

• rickduff | Oct 16, 2012, 01:49 PM EDT

  Christ never said that!

• readabook | Oct 16, 2012, 01:47 PM EDT

  That's our Republican politicians ,preaching that ones personal religious views give them the right to "ordain" which country club (political party) you can join.The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholics United to name a couple have excoriated the "Devout" Republican Sen Ryan for helping develop a Republican financial platform which is out of line with church teachings.What Hubris,on the part of Fitzgerald, I'm sure that former Republican(s) Pres Reagan and Congressmen,O'Neill,Warner,Kemp,Rockefeller,etal are turning over in their graves wondering "who are these guys?!?!"

• BrianO | Oct 16, 2012, 01:44 PM EDT

  Cathholic church supports gay marriage, yes or no. Catholic church supports abortion yes or no. Catholic church supports assissted suicide, yes or no. Democrats support all of the above yes or no. So a good Catholic wouldn't be a democrat, a not so good Catholic might be.

• Bill Doherty | Oct 16, 2012, 01:40 PM EDT

  Rosie, lunch bucket dem here our party has lost its way and become the party of MAYBE. we should stop being sheep and stand for something more than fringe issues.

• rose528 | Oct 16, 2012, 01:31 PM EDT

  there you go repulsive party of NO (republicans)always thinking of money an ways to get it away from the people

• Bill Doherty | Oct 16, 2012, 01:28 PM EDT

  How can anyone take IC serious on these stories,Kansas State politics they are part of the Obama communications dept. What next Obama girl is Catholic and speaks for the church.

• pilib04 | Oct 16, 2012, 01:13 PM EDT

  Currently,Paddy Powers has Obama 2/5 and Romney 15/8. If you are so sure about Robme, here is your chance to make a lot of money!

• Prevailer | Oct 16, 2012, 01:02 PM EDT

  To BippyBelitto: Judge Not. It only takes 1 bad apple to spoil the barrel. Your argument is conflated and without facts. The answer to your bewildered question is certainly YES.

• pilib04 | Oct 16, 2012, 12:53 PM EDT

  SheilaSB, I believe that the Republican plan those already born is the same as their healthcare plan: JUST DIE.

• christilcaugh | Oct 16, 2012, 12:42 PM EDT

  THIS is why I am no longer a Catholic!

• SheilaSB | Oct 16, 2012, 12:32 PM EDT

  I agree that the Holy Scriptures say marriage is between one man and one woman. Some believe gays should have their relationships made legitimate through gay marriage, but, according to the scriptures, they are living in sin anyway. So, I believe "gay marriage" is a moot point as far as morality is concerned. As for marriage being between "one man and one woman," what are the Republicans doing with a Mormon like Mitt Romney for a candidate? Is not the Morman doctrine a violation of the scriptures accepted as canonical books by Christians? Aside from the marriage issues, what really bothers me is the lack of concern the Republican party has for the poor, the working class, the middle class, and American business and industry in general. Whatever happened to belief in the verse that says, "The LOVE of money is the root of all evil?" Romney and his kind have gotten rich through lying, cheating, and stealing, and these sins obviously are fueled by the love of money! The Republicans are promoting big business that has no regard for the American worker and no loyalty to the American public in relation to providing jobs, adequate wages, safe working conditions, and public safety in the environment. Frankly, I do not see how anyone who calls himself a Christian in any sense can be a Republican. I believe the Democrats have far more compassion for the common man and are willing to give actual help to people who are struggling to survive and to provide for themselves and their families. I urge people to look beneath the surface of political candidates and their parties and see what REALLY is going on! It is commendable to be pro-life, but how do the candidates propose to treat the already born?

• pilib04 | Oct 16, 2012, 12:32 PM EDT

  Here they go again. Republicans telling us who can be a "Good Catholic." Well, first of all, it can't be someone who hides pedophile priests or pays them $20,000 to leave.

• Smyrnian | Oct 16, 2012, 12:25 PM EDT

  Weeknocky - quite true. Democrats in name only for a long time now. They carry the socialist message now via wealth redistribution through taxation.

• weeknocky | Oct 16, 2012, 12:08 PM EDT

  As a Democrat and a Catholic(not a very good one) I cannot agree with the gentleman. That being said, the current crop of Democrat politicians in power act more like Socialists than Democrats. Class warfare, constant handouts, tax, tax and more tax. Give me a Moynihan Democrat anytime/

• Maureen15 | Oct 16, 2012, 11:59 AM EDT

  Does Steve Fitzgerald understand when a Catholic is voted into office...he/she are not elected to preserve, protect or defend the the beliefs of the Catholic faith. They are elected to do what is best for the constituents, regardless of faith, color, size, ethnicity. Steve Fitzgerald would never get my vote. I would want a person who thought about all when he voted and not about abiding by Catholic laws.

• LasVegasRocks | Oct 16, 2012, 11:48 AM EDT

  Steve Fitzgerald is a bone-headed politician who espouses complete MALARKEY!

• blackstone | Oct 16, 2012, 11:24 AM EDT

  Fitzgerald is absolutely right. If you don't follow the teachings of the Catholic church, you are not a Catholic, so go join another church that reflects your personal beliefs. I'm sure many of these pro choice/gay mariage Catholics will leave the church and that's a good thing. And to those who see this as an issue of tolerance, they are misguided.True, no one should ever judge another human being,all should be treated with kindness and respect, but that is not the same as supporting institutionalized murder and deviance. "Tolerance becomes a crime when it apples to evil" Thomas Mann

• The Commentator | Oct 16, 2012, 11:08 AM EDT

  What a bunch of malarkey. A politician espousing a political affiliation due to religious beliefs. Since he's a politician, he probably lies; so using the same analogy as Steve Fitzgerald, he can't be a member of a religious organization. He probably also doesn't measure to commandment # 1. I am fed up with the number of people trying to garner favoritism and influence in the government through religion. THE GOVERNMENT IS SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT ALL CITIZENS REGARDLESS OF THEIR STATION IN LIFE. The rich Republicans don't have to be concerned with the availability or costs for medical procedures because if the USA doesn't offer the services, they can go to another country and obtain the service. It is the poor who will suffer. We have a moral responsibility to help those who cannot help themselves. Keep religion out of politics and politics out of religion.

• slainte9 | Oct 16, 2012, 11:08 AM EDT

  Devout Catholic cannot be Republicans, either, because as Paul Ryan acknowledged: Ryan and Romney support abortion in the case of rape, incest and to protect a woman's life. As all devout Catholics know, the Church defends life from moment of conception, regardless of how that conception took place. I presume this makes Fitzgerald a cafeteria Catholic, in addition to a knucklehead.

• OmahaSeamus | Oct 16, 2012, 11:02 AM EDT

  We can find a passage buried in Leviticus that condemns homosexuality. But we can't find those 4 words "Thou shalt not kill." No footnotes. No fine print. No exceptions. Just 4 words.

• RootsPursuit | Oct 16, 2012, 10:57 AM EDT

  Recall who Jesus spent his time with (sinners and the poor), and who he condemned (lawmakers and the rich). He taught TOLERANCE, something it appears many of us (including fellow commenters) need to learn.

• PiperMac52 | Oct 16, 2012, 10:51 AM EDT

  Considering that the Democratic party embraces every perversion and debased lifestyle that are roundly condemned in Sacred Scripture and 2000 years of Church teachings....I would say that Mr. Fitzgerald is correct.

• Gearoid4 | Oct 16, 2012, 10:50 AM EDT

  While, not beholden to political parties to implement a political program which is influenced by religious, moral values, I think that the Democratic party have put clear water between themselves and Catholicism, by their radical platform to support "same-sex" marriage and abortion-on-demand. The GOP, while containing libertarian politicians who may have no issues with these positions, by and large has been more sympathetic to the "Pro-Life" positions. Although I do not agree with every suggestion that the Romney camp have put forward concerning "social justice" issues, there is plenty of room for disputation regarding the best approaches to these areas within the broader field of Catholic Social Doctrine. No such wriggle room exists for such practices as abortion or subverting the traditional nature of marriage.

• markday | Oct 16, 2012, 10:49 AM EDT

  Oops! here is a corrected version of my comments Make no mistake about it. This line of crap is coming directly from Pope Benedict and the U.S. Catholic bishops, led by Cardinal Timothy Dolan. They are campaigining for Romney and they claim to be "men of conscience." Now that is a lot of malarkey. If these prelates had conciences, they would not be defending priest sexkual predators. As it is, they have zero credibility and fortunately, most Catholics will ignore their rants on

• markday | Oct 16, 2012, 10:46 AM EDT

  Oops! here is a corrected version of my comments Make no mistake about it. This line of crap is coming directly from Pope Benedict and the U.S. Catholic bishops, led by Cardinal Timothy Dolan. They are campaigining for Romney and they claim to be "men of conscience." Now that is a lot of malarkey. If these prelates had conciences, they would defend priest sexkual predators instead of protecting them. As it is, they have zero credibility and fortunately, most Catholics will ignore their rants on Nov. 6.

• markday | Oct 16, 2012, 10:44 AM EDT

  Make no mistake about it. This line of crap is coming directly from Pope Benedict and the U.S. Catholic bishops, led by Cardinal Timothy Dolan. They are campaigining for Romney and they claim to be "men of conscience." Now that is a lot of malarkey. If these prelates had conciences, they would defend priest sexkual predators instead of protecting them. As it is, they have zero credibility and fortunately, most Catholics will ignore their rants on Nov. 6.

• righton | Oct 16, 2012, 10:43 AM EDT

  You can call yourself a Catholic, but if you don't follow the dogma of the Church you're not. What's wrong with going to the Episcopalian Church - (Catholic Light?) In terms of malarky: Many "Catholic" Democrat politicians tout their Irish Catholicism, but believe abortion is okay and gay marriage.. . How about. . I'm a "fallen away Catholic" although that wouldn't have the same impact when you're bragging about your Irishness and Catholicism in the same breath.

• JimmyJK | Oct 16, 2012, 10:42 AM EDT

  Fitzgerald needs to have his head examined! Catholic Social doctrine and the incredible social services Irish Americans have provided to our Nation do not align with the heartless policies that romney/ryan would like to have in place. They would cut off all those in need... survival of the fittest or wealthiest is their strongest philosophy....but this is what seperates humans and especially humans who believe in a loving God from lower forms of animals....

• OmahaSeamus | Oct 16, 2012, 10:41 AM EDT

  Jesus clearly favored the separation of church and state. "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and render unto God the things that that are God's"

• BippyBellito | Oct 16, 2012, 10:40 AM EDT

  This is very dangerous Democrat party. Certainly not the party of my parents. Today, the Democrat Party has embraced the Muslim Brotherhood, Illegal Mexican Drug Cartels, Gay and Lesbian Dominant Agendae, and are anti-Christian in every aspect. They believe in partial birth abortions, selective infanticide. and are of dubious moral character. You tell me if a Good Catholic can be a Good Demoncrat?

• tundish45 | Oct 16, 2012, 10:33 AM EDT

  I think the US bishops have decided to use one issue, birth control, as their excuse for backing a political party. I think that in reality they have decided their institutional survival (not their religious role) is best supported by the Republican Party's right side fringe.

• Bocktherobber | Oct 16, 2012, 10:13 AM EDT

  It's hard to see much difference between people like Steve Fitzgerald and certain Islamic nutcases in Iran.

• beaumax99 | Oct 16, 2012, 10:11 AM EDT

  I totally concur with racallahan & Rootspursuit..."NO ONE", I repeat, "NO ONE", other than GOD, has the right to judge another living being. I go to church to pray and praise GOD and let him know that I believe in him. As for our bishops, priests, pastors and preachers, they too are just human beings and definitely have their failings. I do not believe that GOD is very happy with them judging others. Their purpose is to help people, and not condemn them.

• mjsgaelach | Oct 16, 2012, 10:10 AM EDT

  And yet, Frazettagirl, you can be Catholic and be a Republican and support capital punishment, which the Catholic Church opposes, start an unnecessary war in the middle east, because, after all, mostly just Muslims are being killed, and abandon the poor and needy and hungry in this country? You begin your comment by saying, "You don't get to choose what to believe," yet that is precisely what you are doing. Personally, I find both parties to be in conflict with various teachings of the Church and don't find the Republican party to hold the moral high ground, when all issues are considered.

• RootsPursuit | Oct 16, 2012, 09:55 AM EDT

  I am a practising life-long Catholic, 3/8 Irish. I don't believe that I have the right to judge others for their moral beliefs or actions, nor the right to impose my beliefs on them. I do not condone abortion or euthanasia. I also do not condone heating up and polluting this planet so that it becomes uninhabitable for my grandchildren, with oil obtained by war. Most of I will not follow rapture-believing so-called Christians who care for no one else but themselves, and if my church leaders follow that path I'll find a truer Christian church.

• CitizenWhy | Oct 16, 2012, 09:48 AM EDT

  Yes, Catholics must be Republicans and worship Ayn Rand and take as their true Gospel the turgid and narcissistic speech of the drama queen John Galt.

• historynw | Oct 16, 2012, 09:40 AM EDT

  And Jesus said...vote Republican really.

• Frazettagirl | Oct 16, 2012, 09:31 AM EDT

  You don't get to choose what to believe if you're a Roman Catholic. You can leave the church if you want, that's your free will. But you don't get to say "I believe in abortion and I'm still a Catholic," or "I believe in gay marriage and I'm still a Catholic." You're not. The bishops are very clear on this issue: If you are a Catholic and you vote for a politician who holds views that violate the teachings of the church (that would be Democrats), you are putting your immortal soul in peril. If you vote for someone who believes in killing babies, you're going to have to answer to that someday, to One who is greater than us all.

• Prevailer | Oct 16, 2012, 09:24 AM EDT

  Ok Steve of Kansas? You think that the devil might be in the details of what the Dear Lord made? Do you suggest exorcisms in private or public burnings at the stake?

• racallahan | Oct 16, 2012, 09:22 AM EDT

  As an Irish Catholic Republican, I have a problem with that statement. I have many friends who are "good Catholics" and staunch Democrats. They may not believe in all of the Democratic platform, as I do not believe in all of the Republican platform, but to have anyone other than Christ judge me or you for the party you belong to is arrogant and very non-Catholic!

• eiriamach | Oct 16, 2012, 09:05 AM EDT

  @Phlutie, I certainly did not say that "Christ condoned polygamy"! Christ warned us not to judge the sexual morality of others, and refraining from such judgment is a consistent theme of both Old and New Testaments. The pope is in no position to decide or legislate about the morality of any sexual relationship, certainly not of gay or lesbian partners. That, of course, is the relationship that Fitzgerald condemns--and stupidly tries to indict Christ with Fitzgerald's own pope-inspired bigotry.

• PhlutiePhan | Oct 16, 2012, 09:04 AM EDT

  In 1976, I finished four years of shipboard service in Charleston. As I was ready to leave, I talked with a friend from Kansas City. There are two KCs, one in MO and the other in KS. He told me to follow the career of Jerry Litton. Jerry Litton was a conservative Democrat who made millions in Chillicothe with computerizing DNA on cattle. He was running for the Missouri Senate. I had been raised on the tradition of Stuart Symington and Scoop Jackson of Washington. I wrote Symington a number of times as Secretary of Defense and he saved my bacon. As is known, Litton won the primary against the son of Symington and Warren Hearnes. He then died in a tragic plane crash which had some mysterious aspects to it. The political climate in Missouri drastically changed. The well known scalawag Hearnes replaced Litton on the ticket and his corruption was wiped out by John Danforth and the conservatism of the Republican Party. The point is that the Democratic Party has swung way to the left and that is why conservatives have turned to the Republican Party. Missouri is only one example where this was not always so.

• PhlutiePhan | Oct 16, 2012, 08:56 AM EDT

  @eiriamach: What have you been smokin' (Obama dropped g)? You say that the Christ condoned polygamy and that Benedict just "didn't get the memo"! Give me a break from a pile of "malarky".

• eiriamach | Oct 16, 2012, 08:21 AM EDT

  Another religious test for public office? Have the self-appointed theocrats gone bonkers? And he thinks he has scriptural support! Mr Fitzgerald says, "Christ said marriage is between one man and one woman." One woman? Jesus the ancient Hebrew knew that Abraham practiced polygamy, Esau and Jacob also, the kings Saul, David, and Solomon, Gideon, and several others. Having multiple wives was subject to moral rules: Exodus 21:10. And in 2 Samuel 12, we read that multiple wives were a king's gift from God. If polygamy-- specifically, the marriage of one man to more than one woman-- had not been practiced in Jesus' own time and beyond, why would Paul write in 1 Timothy 3:2 “a bishop must then be blameless, the husband of one wife”? Jesus spoke against divorce and adultery, but did not change existing marriage customs to "one man and one woman." Marriage 'dos' and don'ts' have been a specialty of Fitzgerald's pope, not a concern of Jesus'.