PERHAPS IT WAS being “overcome with Paschal joy” (as the Prefaces for Easter put it). Maybe it was my guardian angel whispering in my ear. Perhaps I’m just getting older and thus less crotchety. But for a brief moment, at around 7:30 EDT on the morning of May 3, I felt a blush of sympathy for Hillary Clinton for the first time in 25 years.
Dear Editor: In regards to Patricia Kenney’s letter (Nov. 5), I beg to differ in all aspects.
In perhaps the biggest surprise in American politics, Donald J. Trump was elected as president of the United States. Most of the polls, almost every one in the media, had been indicating that Hillary Clinton would be elected. It seemed like it was done deal. And yet it wasn’t.
Dear Editor: Some years ago, my colleague Louis Bolce and I published an article entitled “Our Secularist Democratic Party,” using survey and poll data documenting the drift toward secularism of the Democratic Party. The trend has only been accelerated in recent years.
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.
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.
What is the thoughtful Catholic voter to do when neither presidential candidate is even minimally committed to human dignity, the common good, subsidiarity and solidarity, as the social doctrine understands those concepts?
Dear Editor: Is anyone really surprised that there are so many ethical and political issues circling Hillary Clinton’s candidacy for president? Yes, one can make the case for her credentials, I admit, but during her time in politics she and her husband have created the very real perception that they are above the rules.
Hillary Clinton recently demonstrated a warped view of religious freedom. While speaking at the Sixth Annual Women in the World Summit, Mrs. Clinton clearly stated: “Rights have to exist in practice – not just on paper,” and “Laws have to be backed up with resources and political will… And deep-seated cultural codes, religious beliefs and structural biases have to be changed.”
