G. Tracy Mehan on Catholic Democrats on National Review Online

Reader L. comments on this post about the 55 Catholic Democrats' recent statement of principles:

And at the very least, we owe it to the 55 signatories to evaluate their entire declaration when they release it, and not take the word of yet another MSM pundit in his "preview!"

She brings up a fair point. Let the Foolables speak in their own words:

Statement of Principles By Fifty-Five Catholic Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives

As Catholic Democrats in Congress, we are proud to be part of the living Catholic tradition -- a tradition that promotes the common good, expresses a consistent moral framework for life and highlights the need to provide a collective safety net to those individuals in society who are most in need. As legislators, in the U.S. House of Representatives, we work every day to advance respect for life and the dignity of every human being. We believe that government has moral purpose.

We are committed to making real the basic principles that are at the heart of Catholic social teaching: helping the poor and disadvantaged, protecting the most vulnerable among us, and ensuring that all Americans of every faith are given meaningful opportunities to share in the blessings of this great country. That commitment is fulfilled in different ways by legislators but includes: reducing the rising rates of poverty; increasing access to education for all; pressing for increased access to health care; and taking seriously the decision to go to war. Each of these issues challenges our obligations as Catholics to community and helping those in need.

We envision a world in which every child belongs to a loving family and agree with the Catholic Church about the value of human life and the undesirability of abortion—we do not celebrate its practice. Each of us is committed to reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies and creating an environment with policies that encourage pregnancies to be carried to term. We believe this includes promoting alternatives to abortion, such as adoption, and improving access to children=s healthcare and child care, as well as policies that encourage paternal and maternal responsibility.

In all these issues, we seek the Church=s guidance and assistance but believe also in the primacy of conscience. In recognizing the Church's role in providing moral leadership, we acknowledge and accept the tension that comes with being in disagreement with the Church in some areas. Yet we believe we can speak to the fundamental issues that unite us as Catholics and lend our voices to changing the political debate -- a debate that often fails to reflect and encompass the depth and complexity of these issues.

As legislators, we are charged with preserving the Constitution, which guarantees religious freedom for all Americans. In doing so, we guarantee our right to live our own lives as Catholics, but also foster an America with a rich diversity of faiths. We believe the separation of church and state allows for our faith to inform our public duties.

As Catholic Democrats who embrace the vocation and mission of the laity as expressed by Pope John Paul II in his Apostolic Exhortation, Christifideles Laici, we believe that the Church is the "people of God," called to be a moral force in the broadest sense. We believe the Church as a community is called to be in the vanguard of creating a more just America and world. And as such, we have a claim on the Church's bearing as it does on ours.

Having read this, I still maintain my assertion that these Democrats engage in the oldest struggle with institutional Catholicism's history. They want to dictate the terms of the Faith to the Church in order to enhance their authority. In the American political context, that means they want to secure the Catholic vote, even if their policies defy Catholic--and moral--teachings.

G. Tracy Mehan expresses their problem far better than I can:

Returning to the 55 Catholic House Democrats, they state, "[W]e work every day to advance respect for life and the dignity of every human being. We believe that government has moral purpose." They are committed to "making real" the basic principles of Catholic social teaching which they identify as "helping the poor and disadvantaged, protecting the most vulnerable among us, and ensuring that all Americans of every faith are given meaningful opportunities to share in the blessings of this great country."

Abortion? "We envision a world in which every child belongs to a loving family and agree with the Catholic Church about the value of human life and the undesirability of abortion — we do not celebrate its practice." One might question whether the death of millions of innocent unborn Americans merits only recognition of its "undesirability" or the good manners not to celebrate such a catastrophe. Recall that abortion is routinely described as "a grave sin" in Vatican pronouncements.

The Catholic Democrats also claim, "[W]e seek the Church's guidance and assistance but believe also in the primacy of conscience." They "acknowledge and accept the tension that comes with being in disagreement with the Church in some areas." Yet, they believe they can speak to the fundamental issues that unite them as Catholics.

They state, with unintended irony, "We believe the separation of church and state allows for our faith to inform our public duties." Why they take so little advantage of this allowance, especially on matters that are gravely sinful in the eyes of the Church, is not addressed.

There is much to be said about the theology and the politics behind this remarkable document. But the most interesting question is why a number of truly pro-life Democrats, who signed on to this document, would provide this sort of political camouflage for the pro-choice advocates among them. One can only imagine how precarious their position is in the party once embraced by the majority of Catholic Americans, that they would feel compelled to legitimize members who cannot find it in their consciences to actively support the right to life of the unborn. Unfortunately, this statement only calls into question just what their principles are. (emphasis mine)

The willingness of prolife Democrats to undermine their Church's authority over the very issue with which they part company from their pro-abort political colleagues boggles the mind. Just what are they thinking?

Regaining political power in Washington. They may not believe they have a shot at moving a prolife agenda through the national party unless they can secure electoral victories in '06 and '08. The Democrats know they can't do that without Catholics. The party can't afford to have the Catholic Church in the US nationally denying communion to pro-abort Democratic office-seekers. Therefore, Catholic Democrats--faithful and apostate--issue this "statement of principles." They're trying to pre-empt any action that the Bishops might take that threatens Democrats' prospects.

Sad. Unsurprising, but sad.