2012 Presidential Candidates on Catholic Issues

As I did for the 2008 Presidential campaign, I have used the US Catholic Bishops' criteria published in the US Conference of Catholic Bishops document on Faithful Citizenship to evaluate the top candidates for the 2012 Presidential election.

I recommend that Catholics choose freely between Rick Santorum and Ron Paul for the Republican presidential nomination.


Newt Gingrich's problem areas were his lack of opposition to the use of human embryonic stem cells for research and human cloning and his willingness to use torture.

Mitt Romney's problem areas were his support of assisted suicide and so-called mercy killing, willingness to fund abortions and abortifacient drugs in healthcare, support of human embryonic stem cell research, and willingness to use torture.

Rick Santorum lost some points for not opposing the use of torture, and Ron Paul lost some points for his unwillingness to outlaw abortion and human embryonic stem cell research at the federal level.

There are eight incontrovertible issues where there is a clear correct choice involving serious matter:

• Oppose abortion;
• Oppose assisted suicide and euthanasia;
• Oppose research resulting in the destruction of human embryos;
• Oppose human cloning;
• Oppose the use of torture;
• Oppose the targeting of non-combatants;
• Oppose all forms of racism;
• Support marriage as between one man and one woman.

The candidates I considered were:

• Newt Gingrich (R);
• Barack Obama (D);
• Ron Paul (R);
• Mitt Romney (R);
• Rick Santorum (R).
  

I gave a weight of 15 points to each of the big eight issues (120 possible points), and there was a clear split in the candidates:

• Rick Santorum (R) - 115;
• Ron Paul (R) - 115.

In the middle of the pack were:

• Newt Gingrich (R) - 91;
• Mitt Romney (R) - 80.

And bringing up the rear:

• Barack Obama (D) - 45.

Here are how the candidates fared on each of the big eight issues:

1. Protect All Unborn (no exceptions; protected under the Constitution from conception to natural death):

• Santorum: 15
  
• Gingrich: 15
  
• Paul: 13
  
• Romney: 8
  
• Obama: 0

2. Oppose assisted suicide and "euthanasia":

• Paul: 15
  
• Santorum: 15
  
• Gingrich: 15
  
• Romney: 0
  
• Obama: 0

3. Oppose research resulting in embryonic destruction:

• Santorum: 15
  
• Paul: 12
  
• Gingrich: 11
  
• Romney: 10
  
• Obama: 0

4. Oppose all human cloning:

• Paul: 15
  
• Santorum: 15
  
• Romney: 15
  
• Gingrich: 0
  
• Obama: 0

5. Oppose the use of torture:

• Paul: 15
  
• Obama: 15
  
• Santorum: 10
  
• Romney: 10
  
• Gingrich: 5
  

6. Oppose the targeting of non-combatants (use of nukes, landmines):

• Paul: 15
  
• Santorum: 15
  
• Gingrich: 15
  
• Obama: 15
  
• Romney: 7

7. Oppose all forms of racism:

• Paul: 15
  
• Santorum: 15
  
• Gingrich: 15
  
• Obama: 15
  
• Romney: 15

8. Marriage is one man, one woman, protected under law:

• Paul: 15
  
• Santorum: 15
  
• Gingrich: 15
  
• Romney: 15
  
• Obama: 0

Totals for the "Big 8":

• Santorum: 115 (96%)
• Paul: 115 (96%)
• Gingrich: 91 (76%)
  
• Romney: 80 (67%)
  
• Obama: 45 (38%)

There are 22 other issues that, while important, do not hold the weight that the big eight issues hold. These issues I gave a maximum of 5 points each, and they only become important in distinguishing between candidates who are strong on the big eight issues above:

• Oppose capital punishment;
• Responsible transition in Iraq & Afghanistan;
• Work to avoid war & promote peace while dealing with terrorism;
• Ethical treatment for undocumented immigrants;
• Support temporary worker programs & clear path to permanent residency for immigrants;
• Secure borders from illegal immigration;
• Support responsible use of media;
• Affordable & accessible health care;
• Health care policies allow for conscientious objection;
• No contraceptive or abortive mandates in health programs;
• Support choice in education;
• Support for private and religious schools and teachers;
• Support fair wages & programs to decrease unemployment;
• Support safe and affordable housing;
• Welfare should reduce poverty & lead to financial independence;
• Encourage abstinence, child birth, and adoption over contraception and abortion;
• Support sustainable agriculture and food security;
• Support environmental policies that respect God's creation;
• Preserve faith-based groups;
• Work to alleviate global poverty;
• Promote religious liberty and other basic human rights worldwide;
• Promote peaceful resolution in the Israel, Palestine & Lebanon conflict.

Ron Paul, Rick Santorum, and Newt Gingrich all scored between 86-87 points on these issues (78-79%).

Mitt Romney scored 75 (68%)

Barack Obama scored 54 (49%)

Therefore, based on my research, analysis, and the US Catholic Bishops' guidelines on the issues, faithful Catholics should pick between Rick Santorum and Ron Paul for the 2012 Presidential election.

If you have any input on the candidates' positions on these issues, please let me know. I did my best to research their positions, but some of the issues are difficult to discern.

You can view my full spreadsheet analysis here.

Exposing Planned Parenthood's Cover-up of Child Sex Trafficking

Caught on Tape: Planned Parenthood Aids Pimp’s Underage Sex Ring

Contact: Colleen O'Boyle, media@liveaction.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , (323) 454-3304

NEW JERSEY – February 1, 2011– A Planned Parenthood manager in New Jersey coaches a man and a woman posing as sex traffickers how to secure secret abortions, STD testing, and contraception for their female underage sex slaves, and make their whole operation “look as legit as possible” in an undercover video released this morning.

Clinic manager Amy Woodruff, LPN, of Planned Parenthood Central New Jersey’s Perth Amboy center, warns the pimp and his prostitute to have their trafficked underage girls lie about their age to avoid mandatory reporting laws, promising, “even if they lie, just say, ‘Oh he's the same age as me, 15,’…it's just that mainly 14 and under we have to, doesn't matter if their partner's the same age, younger, whatever, 14 and under we have to report.” She says, “For the most part, we want as little information as possible.”

Woodruff also recommends how the pimp can get his prostitutes cheaper contraception by claiming they are “students”: “If they're minors, put down that they're students. Yeah, just kind of play along that they’re students--we want to make it look as legit as possible.”

If one of the young trafficked girls needs an abortion, Woodruff refers the pimp and prostitute to the Metropolitan Medical Association, where “their protocols aren’t as strict as ours and they don’t get audited the same way that we do.” The prostitute in the video asks how long after the abortion until the girls can have sex again, and when Woodruff says “minimum of 2 weeks,” she asks what sex acts the girls could still do to make money. Woodruff advises, “Waist up, or just be that extra action walking by” to advertise sex to potential clients.

Sex trafficking is punishable under federal law and carries a potential life sentence. The new video is released by Live Action, a pro-life new media organization led by 22-year-old Lila Rose. The video airs just days after Planned Parenthood’s leadership suspected the sting operation and sought an FBI probe of Live Action in order to deter the release of the exposé. Live Action is sending full footage to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, NJ Attorney General Paula Dow, officials at the Federal Bureau of Investigations, and other law enforcement officials, requesting federal and state investigations into Planned Parenthood’s sexual abuse and sex trafficking cover up.

The abridged 11-minute video is available at: LiveAction.org

“This proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Planned Parenthood intentionally breaks state and federal laws and covers up the abuse of the young girls it claims to serve,” said Lila Rose, President of Live Action. “Time and time again, Planned Parenthood has sent young girls back into the arms of their abusers. They don’t deserve a dime of the hundreds of millions they receive in federal funding from taxpayers. Congress must cease funding and the Department of Justice should investigate this corrupt organization immediately.”

Live Action has previously released more than a dozen hidden camera videos from ten states and shows the alarming trend of illegal Planned Parenthood activity including cover-up of sexual abuse of minors, the skirting of parental consent laws, citing unscientific and fabricated medical information to convince women to have abortions, and Planned Parenthood’s willingness to accept donations earmarked to abort African-American babies.

The new undercover video can be viewed at: http://liveaction.org/traffick
To learn more about Live Action, visit: LiveAction.org

###

Infamous Abortionist Carhart to Relocate to Maryland

Third-trimester abortionist Leroy Carhart has announced plans to relocate his late-term abortion practice from Nebraska to both Maryland and Iowa. Carhart is the plaintiff who challenged the federal Partial-Birth Abortion Ban all the way to the Supreme Court.

This is a sad indictment on our State. We have legitimate businesses leaving our State at an alarming rate and late-term abortionists relocating here. Maryland already has the third highest abortion rate in the country and has some of the most permissive abortion laws in the USA.

Maryland:

• has never banned partial-birth abortion,
• is one of only 16 states without a meaningful parental notification law for minors,
• is one of only five states that voluntarily pays for abortions with State Medicaid funds,
• is one of only four states that does not collect any data on abortions,
• is the only state in our nation that gives civil immunity to abortionists who fail to obtain proper informed consent.

We still have a lot of work to do.

Link to LifeSiteNews.com article: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/nov/10111505.html

Peace,

Joe Healy, MEV

Archdiocese Focuses on Ending Abortion in Catonsville

The Archdiocese of Baltimore is focusing its resources on a coordinated pro-life prayer campaign that will mobilize hundreds of Marylanders to pray outside of the Hillcrest abortion facility in Catonsville from September 22nd through October 31st. The campaign is called "40 Days for Life" and is united with 238 other locations across the US, Canada, and around the world.

40 Days for Life is a focused pro-life effort that consists of:

* 40 days of fervent prayer, coupled with some type of fasting, if possible;
* 40 days of peaceful vigil at Hillcrest or another abortion facility.

We Pray for:

* Women and their babies who are in danger of abortion;
* Healing of men and women who carry the pain of a past abortion;
* Workers at abortion clinics, and local, state and national leaders who misguidedly support abortion.

Hillcrest is the longest-operating abortion facility in Maryland, having been in operation since shortly after the Roe v. Wade decision allowed for nationwide abortion on demand in the US in 1973. This specific facility is responsible for the deaths of 30,000 to 60,000 American babies and the wounding of just as many mothers and families through abortion.

For more information, go to http://www.40daysforlife.com/baltimore/. You can also register to participate in the campaign and sign up for specific time slots to pray outside of the Hillcrest facility.

Winners and Losers in Annapolis - 2010 General Assembly

In Maryland, it's obvious the truth has been exchanged for a lie, at least among a majority of our lawmakers. Read Delegate Impallaria's assessment of the recently concluded legislative session, and pay close attention to who the real winners and losers were...

"As the 2010 General Assembly session comes to a close, first let me say that it has been an honor to represent you and be your voice of common sense in the House of Delegates.

"The past eight years have been quite an eye-opener for me. I originally believed that the General Assembly as a body worked to protect and defend the citizens of the State of Maryland. What I have learned is that in reality they are working to have more control, power, and oversight into our everyday lives, and are more proficient in creating problems than in solving them.

"Even though session ends tonight at midnight, we can already name some winners and losers. Let’s start with the WINNERS.

"FELONS, including murders, rapists, and child molesters, whose voting rights have been restored and defended

"GANGS, who have a strong voice in Annapolis protecting their rights to operate their criminal organizations

"ILLEGAL ALIENS, who once again have been given funding by the State of Maryland. All legislation to crack down on them has been blocked.

"ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES, which will receive government subsidies at the expense of the ratepayers for their economically unproven methods of creating energy

"TRIAL LAWYERS AND THE UNIONS have been given increased power and authority over business interests.

"Now some of the LOSERS.

"THE CHESAPEAKE BAY. Funding from the flush tax, which was intended to improve Bay quality, has been stolen to balance the budget, and no meaningful legislation to prevent runoff from major cities like Baltimore from polluting the Bay has been passed.

"LAW ENFORCEMENT, which will see funding cuts, and who have had more regulations placed on them in order to defend and help the criminal element

"BOTH LARGE AND SMALL BUSINESS, who, rather than being aided in creating jobs, are being hit with even more regulation, making it harder for them to operate and create jobs in the State

"CHILDREN, who are always touted by the leadership of the majority party as coming first, but when it comes to protecting them from predators, they rank last in the General Assembly

"VETERANS. Financially hard-pressed VFW’s and American Legion Posts depended on gambling machines for operating funds. These machines were peremptorily removed by county governments. Bills which would have permitted them to use them were killed. Funding bills for them were also killed.

"THOSE WHO SUPPORT TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE AND THOSE WHO SUPPORT GAY MARRIAGE. Both sides of the issue are losers, because the General Assembly has refused to act in this matter, denying the electorate their say.

"And finally THE TAXPAYERS OF THE STATE, who once again will have to give their hard-earned money and savings to fund this year’s budget.

"A word about the budget. The powers-that-be promoted how they have reduced this year’s budget by $12 million from the previous year. But after the cameras and the media left, they immediately stuck the $12 million back in. It is part of the continuing shenanigans which go on in Annapolis.

"Over the past eight years I have voted against the budget seven times. Having a family and a business, I clearly understood that the citizens of Maryland could not afford the continuing expansion of the budget. I knew seven years ago that the economy could not grow fast enough to sustain their spending.

"At the end of the day, this year’s budget will be the same as last year’s, which needed cutting them. The major difference is that this budget is now being funded by raiding numerous special funds and by one-time federal dollars. There were a total of 56 funds raided, some of which are: Highway User Revenue, Bay Restoration Fund, University System of Maryland, Injured Workers' Insurance Fund, Waterway Improvement Fund, Injured Workers' Insurance Fund (State Liability Reserve), Ocean Beach Replenishment Fund (Local), Board of Physicians Fund, Injured Workers' Insurance Fund (State Administrative Costs), and the Board of Nursing Fund. This means that next year whoever is Governor will have a tough job because the special funds will be gone and the federal money will be nonexistent.

"In short, all this will result in higher taxes, so to vote for this budget was clearly a vote to raise taxes next year. That is why I voted against it.

"I wish that I could bring you good news. Fortunately there is an election this year, and the citizens will have the opportunity to make some changes. Being a fiscal conservative in Annapolis is like being Custer at Little Big Horn."

Rick Impallaria
Delegate, District 7
Baltimore and Harford Counties
Rick.Impallaria@house.state.md.us

Death Camp in Our Backyard

Since 1973, the Hillcrest Clinic in Catonsville, MD, has been the location of at least 700 deaths per year on average by abortion, and possibly twice that number. That equates to between 25,000 and 50,000 innocent lives ended, never even given a chance to be born, robbed from the very womb that should have been the most secure and safe place in the world.

50,000 lives; think about it. Picture Oriole Park at Camden Yards filled to capacity. That's a lot of human souls, never given a chance at life. And as every day goes by, more lives are ended at Hillcrest. The cost to our own community of the so-called right to choose is beyond words. What value do you put on a human life? How do you multiply "priceless" by 50,000 and come up with a value?

There are also tens of thousands of women whose lives have been ruined at the Hillcrest Clinic because they felt they had no choice but to abort their child. Think of the milestones in their aborted child's life that make their hearts ache: the day the child would have been born, the child's first birthday and every subsequent birthday, the anniversary of the day of the abortion, the child's first steps, the child's first day of school, and so on. Abortion leaves a huge hole in the life of a mother.

What did the residents in the vicinity of Dachau do during the 1940s while 27,839 people were put to death there? How about those near Buchenwald where 31,408 people were executed?

This is happening in our own backyard. The Hillcrest Clinic is located at 5602 Baltimore National Pike, Suite 600. It's next to the Burger King and near the old IHOP on Route 40 in Catonsville.

You know where the killing is taking place, now what are you going to do about it? Get involved in pro-life work. Contact me for suggestions (joe@defendlife.org) and visit Priests for Life for a wealth of pro-life information (www.priestsforlife.org).

Better yet, stop by the Hillcrest Clinic and say some prayers, especially during the 40 Days for Life that runs from today through Palm Sunday. Visit www.40DaysForLife.com/baltimore for more information.

Why I Stopped Blogging

I ran out of words during the first six months of the Obama/Pelosi/Reid administration. I think I'm starting to get them back again and will resume writing in the next week or so.