This election season can’t end early enough. It seems like it has been going on forever and that almost every second of it has been a nasty affair. As we have written in these editorials several times, neither candidate has values and policy which can be considered in complete accord with our Catholic social teachings. Both candidates have also exhibited serious character flaws, which can cause the voter to truly question whether or not either is fit for the office of the President of the United States.
Editorials
Be Informed, Vote
The Al Smith Dinner is an annual opportunity, for the benefit of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, for a little good-natured fun on the parts of candidates for public office. Hosted by the Archbishop of New York, the Democratic and Republican contenders usually put aside their differences, have some laughs at the expense of each other and generally allow their “better angels” to shine. This was not the case this year.
The Catholic Vote
Neither presidential candidate from the major political parties has proven to be entirely decent and moral.
New Cardinals
At the conclusion of his weekly Papal Angelus, on Sunday, Oct. 9, Pope Francis, announced the creation of several new Cardinals from around the world. Among those to be created will be three U.S. Bishops.
Heart of Ignatius
The priests of the Society of Jesus have long been leaders in the Catholic Church. Founded by St. Ignatius Loyola, they wish to “set the world ablaze,” and from the long list of saints which this order has produced: Francis Xavier, Isaac Jogues, Robert Bellarmine, and the list goes on and on, we can see that they have indeed been among the chief evangelizers and educators in the world over the past 500 years.
Here Are the Issues
Now that the first debate between the major presidential candidates is over, we hope that the dialogue will improve beyond whether Donald Trump had the sniffles and whether Hillary Clinton looked smug.
A Star That Shines
It’s good when you hear about film stars that take their Christian faith seriously. Chris Pratt, the star of TV’s “Parks and Recreation,” and Marvel Comics’ film, “The Guardians of the Galaxy,” and the movie, “Jurassic World,” is a practicing Christian.
If You See Something…
This week, the ugly face of terrorism once again hit our city with the explosion of a pipe bomb in Manhattan and the placement of several others in the tri-state area.
Kaine Misspeaks
This past week, Tim Kaine, the Democratic vice-presidential candidate, gave the keynote at the national dinner for Human Rights Campaign, an LGBT advocacy group, in Washington, D.C. In it, he said the Catholic Church was bound to eventually change her teaching on same-sex marriage.
Saint of Our Times
This past Sunday, we watched the canonization of a saint of our lifetime, Mother Teresa of Calcutta. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that she was a living icon of the love and mercy and peace that is our Lord Jesus Christ.