The Mindset of Academia

"Dear Mr. Speaker,

We congratulate you on the occasion of your commencement address to The Catholic University of America. It is good for Catholic universities to host and engage the thoughts of powerful public figures, even Catholics such as yourself who fail to recognize (whether out of a lack of awareness or dissent) important aspects of Catholic teaching. We write in the hope that this visit will reawaken your familiarity with the teachings of your Church on matters of faith and morals as they relate to governance.

Mr. Speaker, your voting record is at variance from one of the Church’s most ancient moral teachings. From the apostles to the present, the Magisterium of the Church has insisted that those in power are morally obliged to preference the needs of the poor. Your record in support of legislation to address the desperate needs of the poor is among the worst in Congress. This fundamental concern should have great urgency for Catholic policy makers. Yet, even now, you work in opposition to it.

The 2012 budget you shepherded to passage in the House of Representatives guts long-established protections for the most vulnerable members of society. It is particularly cruel to pregnant women and children, gutting Maternal and Child Health grants and slashing $500 million from the highly successful Women Infants and Children nutrition program. When they graduate from WIC at age 5, these children will face a 20% cut in food stamps. The House budget radically cuts Medicaid and effectively ends Medicare. It invokes the deficit to justify visiting such hardship upon the vulnerable, while it carves out $3 trillion in new tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy. In a letter speaking on behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop Stephen Blaire and Bishop Howard Hubbard detailed the anti-life implications of this budget in regard to its impact on poor and vulnerable American citizens. They explained the Church’s teachings in this regard clearly, insisting that:

A just framework for future budgets cannot rely on disproportionate cuts in essential services to poor persons. It requires shared sacrifice by all, including raising adequate revenues, eliminating unnecessary military and other spending, and addressing the long-term costs of health insurance and retirement programs fairly.

Specifically, addressing your budget, the letter expressed grave concern about changes to Medicaid and Medicare that could leave the elderly and poor without adequate health care. The bishops warned further:

We also fear the human and social costs of substantial cuts to programs that serve families working to escape poverty, especially food and nutrition, child development and education, and affordable housing.

Representing the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishops Hubbard and Blaire have now endorsed with other American Christian leaders a call to legislators for a “Circle of Protection” around programs for the poor that you, Mr. Speaker, have imperiled. The statement of these Christian leaders recognizes the need for fiscal responsibility, “but not at the expense of hungry and poor people.” Indeed, it continues, “These choices are economic, political—and moral……”

Blah – blah – blah. You get the idea.

Sincerely,

Blah-blah and more blah

You can read the rest of this drivel and the long list of signers by clicking on: http://ncronline.org/blogs/distinctly-catholic/breaking-news-catholic-academics-challenge-boehner

TheFundamentals comments:

These "do gooders" have signed up with the catechism of the rapidly expanding Church of Obama. We suggest they turn over all their worldly goods to this new sect and dedicate their very being to its missions and messages. Fat chance, huh?

But signers, here are some fundamentals that your letter failed to mention:

1. The United States constitution prohibits the establishment of a state religion. Therefore the Church of Obama is illegal. And the governance system you wish to impose on speaker Boehner is duly illegal.

2. The “Circle of Protection” you admire must first be built on a “Foundation of Financial Responsibility.” Actually it needs even more than that. It needs an “Environment of Economic Growth.” You dopes don’t have a clue about either of those principles. The U S government is not a charity. It is a limited government gone wild (think of those movies about “college girls gone wild” (by the way, are most of you college academics?”) that is about to go broke. Please refer to US constitution for further edification.

3. Where do these you do gooders stand on vouchers for the parents of urban public school children who are being forced to attend crappy schools? Is that in your “circle of protection?”

4. Does you circle of protection include flat screen TV’s and mobile phones for the disenfranchised; internet connections and condoms; rap music and sugary treats; obese kids and numerous other forms of irresponsible behavior? Oh, and how about student loans to make sure your classrooms are filled with spongy minds to soak up your verbose drivel?

5. Closing comment. This essayist is Catholic. Thinks the church is top notch; does one heck of a lot more good than not good and seldom gets any credit from the left. The sooner these weak sisters move on to Obama’s church (aka Democratic Party), the better.