VPs On Religion

In the October 11, 2012 Vice Presidential debate Martha Raddatz, the moderator said for the first time we have 2 Catholic vice presidential candidates and asked them to say how their religion plays a role. Paul Ryan said he can’t see how a person can separate his public life from his private life or his faith; the policies of the Romney administration will be against abortion except for rape, incest and the life of the mother. He went on to talk about ObamaCare infringing on our freedom of religious and assaulting the Catholics (he still doesn’t get that the government is NOT to have a religious bias).

Joe Biden said he’s been a practicing Catholic his whole life and Catholic doctrine teaches us to take care of those that can’t take care of themselves; with regard to abortion he (like Kennedy) doesn’t let his religion’s position to be imposed on Christians, Muslims, Jews or other people; I’m not going to tell women that they can’t control their bodies – this is between them and their doctor and I’m not going to interfere with the Supreme Court’s decision; as far as the assault on Catholic Church – no institution is being required to supply birth control and I guess Ryan has now come around to Romney’s point of view (on abortion). Ryan said – all I’m saying is if you believe that life begins at conception that doesn’t change the definition of life, that’s the basic principle. Martha asked if people should be worried if Romney is elected – Ryan said – we don’t believe that unelected judges (the Supreme Court) should make this decision, we believe the people through their elected representatives in reaching a consensus in society through the democratic process should decide.

Ryan’s position is that we should leave civil rights issues to Congress instead of the Supreme Court. This in my opinion violates the Constitution. But, it appears that today’s Republicans have no respect for it and want to toss it aside with our democracy and replace it with capitalism. This is evident by their continued support of the rich would used to pay 65% in taxes and now are yelling about paying 35%. Each of these takes away from the average American. The one thing the church and the Constitution has in common is the idea that we are to help those less fortunate but this is also going away with today’s Republicans.