A Catholic Ultimatum to the GOP

Whilst I don't necessarily agree with every point Mr Schaetzel lists, he's on the right track, and the GOP needs to take notice or become a footnote in history.

From Complete Christianity

By Shane Schaetzel

I don’t speak on behalf of anyone other than myself. But I do speak from a particular demographic, and that demographic has a lot in common with another demographic, so I guess you could say I speak from that demographic too. While I can’t speak for these demographics, I do think a lot of people from these demographics will agree with me. Since the Republican Party (GOP) needs both of these demographics to win elections, and cannot win elections without them, this article may be of interest to the GOP and future Republican candidates.

I am a Faithful and Practicing Roman Catholic, meaning that I’m what you might consider “conservative” or “traditional” in a religious sense. I actually believe what the Roman Catholic Church has historically taught, and I’m not part of the Francis personality-cult that often presents itself as “Catholicism” these days. I look to the Bible and the Catechism as the standard of my faith, and insomuch as the pope and bishops affirm those things, they have my full support. If they don’t, well, not so much. I give my tithes and offerings only to those priests and bishops whom I believe to be following the Bible and Catechism, while I withhold them from all those who don’t. I vote in accordance with historic and traditional Catholic teaching, not the whims and proclamations of bishops councils or even the Vatican. This is what it means to be a Faithful and Practicing Catholic in the twenty-first century, which is in stark contrast to the Francis personality-cult that runs around showcasing their membership in the Catholic Church as some kind of “credential,” while supporting the wholesale slaughter of unborn babies in the womb. (An oxymoron if there ever was one.) My demographic has a lot in common with the Conservative Evangelical demographic which, on a political level anyway, we tend to align with more than some of our own bishops and brethren in the Catholic Church.

Keep this in mind, because it’s important. Just because a Catholic is wearing a miter, and holding a crosier, that doesn’t necessarily mean he represents the views of the Catholics in your state or district who may be voting for you. The Democrats have understood this phenomenon for decades, and have used it to their advantage in election after election. If you want to remain politically viable, I suggest you take a lesson from them on that. Only a handful of bishops represent my political beliefs and priorities. Most of them do not. They vote, but then, so do I. My demographic is growing. Theirs is shrinking. Keep that in mind too.

Practicing Catholics make babies, usually three or more, while the Francis personality-cult isn’t reproducing much at all. The Francis personality-cult is aging as well, slowly becoming a Church of senior citizens. While in Practicing Catholic parishes, the cries of babies constantly interrupt the liturgy, and parents are frequently seen corralling their large families into pews. The bottom line is this. The Practicing Catholic faction in the Church may be small at this time, but it is the only faction that’s growing. So, you do the math.

As a practicing Catholic, let me first give you a list of things I WILL NOT SUPPORT. If you, as a Republican, support any of these things, I will never vote for you. I will turn on you like a snake. I would rather stay home, and not vote at all, than support you. Even if you tell me the sky is falling, and this is the “most important election ever,” I will kick up my heels on Election Day, stay home, and drink a beer (yes, Catholics can drink), while I watch you go down in flames as the votes are counted. Don’t you dare support these things. If you do, you’re dead to me.

I WILL VOTE AGAINST ANY CANDIDATE WHO SUPPORTS…

• Abortion, Euthanasia, Fetal Stem-Cell Research
• Unnecessary Foreign Wars
• The New World Order
• Globalism
• Marxism
• Anti-Gun Laws
• Anti-Church Laws
• Anti-Religion Laws
• Anti-Homeschooling Laws
• Law or Policies that Attack the Sovereignty of American States

IN CONTRAST, I WILL LIKELY VOTE FOR ANY CANDIDATE WHO SUPPORTS…

• Pro-Life Laws and Policies
• Pro-Family Laws, Policies and Tax Incentives
• Laws that Support Religious Freedom of Individuals and Churches
• Laws that Support Conscience Protection, Especially for Religious Reasons
• “America-First” Laws and Policies in Trade, Immigration and National-Defense
• “America-First” Laws and Policies that Promote Blue-Collar Jobs
• Laws that Stop Illegal Immigration and Protect American Workers
• Laws and Policies that Promote Family-Ownership and Cooperative-Ownership of Business
• “Castle Doctrine” Laws
• “Constitutional Carry” Laws
• “Stand Your Ground” Laws
• Laws and Policies that Protect and Promote Homeschooling
• Laws and Policies that Protect and Promote Religious Schools
• State Sovereignty and Decentralization of Federal Powers

You see, what Republicans need to understand is that we Practicing Catholics do not owe you anything. It’s been nearly half a century since Roe v. Wade, and your party has still failed to produce anything close to ending this holocaust of innocence. For half a century, you promised us that if we would only give you power, you would bring an end to this sad chapter in American history. You’ve done nothing of a sort. For every step forward, the Democrats have taken us two steps back. We’re not interested in your promises anymore. We want action. We want results.

President Donald J. Trump gained the support of most Practicing Catholics, and Conservative Evangelicals, not because of his personality, or his speeches, or the promises he made. He gained our support because of the promises he kept. Some of you may not like President Trump, and quite frankly, we don’t care. You work for us, and if you won’t support him, we won’t support you. It’s a simple as that. Keep that in mind as January 6, 2021 approaches.

I am neither a Republican nor a Democrat, though I usually vote with the Republicans, but I certainly don’t have to. In Missouri, we don’t have to register with any party, and I like it that way. You’ll never catch me voting Democrat. That’s for sure! But that doesn’t mean I have to show up on Election Day and “pull the lever” for the GOP either. I could vote for some Independent candidates, or a few Libertarians. I think there might be a few Constitution Party candidates here and there as well. I could always just stay home too. Voting can be such a hassle these days anyway. Sometimes, refusing to vote is a type of vote in itself. It’s sort of a “F*** You!” kind of vote.

I guess what I’m saying here is this. We Practicing Catholics have spent the last year being banned from worshiping God in our churches, and told we could watch Mass at home on our computers instead. Any catechist will tell you that’s not authentic Catholic worship at all. We are required to be present, if we are bodily able, and if we are not bodily able, this is why the priest or deacon delivers the Eucharist to our homes. Video Mass doesn’t cut the mustard. “And the Lord said to Moses: Go in to Pharao, and speak to him: Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews: Let my people go to sacrifice to me.” (Exodus 9:1) Then we watched in horror as our churches and shrines were attacked by Marxist mobs. Then we watched our election be stolen, and given to a so-called “Catholic” (a fake) who represents everything we hate. Now, we’re not even given an option to take a vaccine that hasn’t been tested on aborted fetal cells? All this, while we look forward to a fake-Catholic administration that will likely impose harsh measures against our churches for years to come. So I guess what I’m saying is Republicans haven’t given us much to vote for in recent decades. Staying home on Election Day is going to be a lot easier if the GOP doesn’t get its act together and start vigorously fighting for Trump and the things I wrote above. I think I speak from a lot of Practicing Catholics, and a good number of Conservative Evangelicals. Republicans, please take note. You’ve just been served an ultimatum.