How Do You Deal With Republicans Who Think You're Secular Because You Are A Democrat?

[PennsylvaniaMatt]

I received a Facebook message recently from one of my relatives. She is a devout Catholic, and is also a big Republican. In the message, she simply wrote "I am disappointed because I thought you stood for what our Faith teaches?". Quite honestly, I was a little bit insulted at the characterization that, because I am a Democrat, I am somehow "less of a Catholic" than she is. I attend church every week and pray every day.

How do you deal with such characterizations?

[SpartanDem]

1. Rub it in their nose?

I'm sure miss Republican agrees 100% with the Pope's recent statement about income inequality?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/01/pope-slams-capitalism-ine_n_2392653.html?utm_hp_ref=tw

[Xipe Totec]

2. I was an acolyte. I sang and played the guitar in a Catholic church choir

I baptized both my sons in a Catholic church; one is now a Buddhist, the other an Atheist.

And I'm a Democrat.

PS: I went to a Catholic elementary school; a Catholic institute.

[Arugula Latte]

3. In my case it would be an accurate characterization.

Happy to be a non-believer.

[GoCubsGo]

9. Same here.

My relatives, with the exception of my immediate family, do not even know that I saw The Man Behind the Curtain twenty years ago. They probably all think I'm still a Catholic. Hell, here in the Buybull Belt, everyone automatically assumes you are some sort of Christian, just like they assume that if you are white, you are a republican.

[graham4anything]

4. tell them Barack Obama and Jesus both were community activists

[PennsylvaniaMatt]

5. Maybe I should show them this picture

[JimDandy]

52. Do it! That's a great reminder

to all the believers what their religion is actually based on.

[Freddie]

6. Your faith teaches you to help others

and have compassion and charity for the poor. Does your relative do these things or is she one of those all-abortion-all-the-time Catholics?
I found The Christian Left on FB and share many of their great posts in part to shut up those folks who think you can't be a good Christian and a liberal.

[PennsylvaniaMatt]

8. My relative is one of those "all abortion, all the time" Catholics

Never mind they ascribe to a party whose economic policy completely goes against Catholic social teaching.

Thanks for the heads up about the Facebook page!

[GentryDixon]

7. Ignore.

Those are not the type of Christians you want to deal with, relative, or not. You are a bigger & better person by living your faith without judging others.

This coming from someone who was raised in a Presbyterian Church who chose my own path away from those teachings, but always respect others views. Even Republicans.

[Nye Bevan]

10. Weird assumption, given that Barack Obama is a Christian, Biden is a Roman Catholic,

as were the Kennedys; the Clintons are Methodist, etc......

[PennsylvaniaMatt]

14. I know...

It's the whole, if you are a Democrat and ''pro-choice'', then that automatically means you are ''pro-abortion''.

Despite the fact that President Obama attends mass at St. Johns Episcopal Church regularly while President Reagan rarely attended church regularly.

[TheCowsCameHome]

11. Me? I'd pray...

that they lose my address (FB and otherwise) and never contact me again.

[cbayer]

12. One can be both secular and a theist, fwiw.

I think what your friend is implying is that you are not a good Catholic because you support democratic causes like a woman's right to choose.

The Pope, unfortunately, agrees with them.

Fortunately there are many catholics who disagree with the pope, though.

If the issue is about choice,you can probably get some information to rebut her accusation here: http://www.catholicsforchoice.org

There are other progressive/liberal catholic organizations as well. You might want to look around at some and rebut her statement with some of your own.

[IDemo]

13. As opposed to those who feel I'm a commie and a moocher?

Ignore them.

[Historic NY]

15. I ask them what mass they went to..

[zbdent]

16. Next time you see her, tell her in the exact same tone that she uses for Obama ...

"Bless your heart".

See how she likes it ...

[Posteritatis]

17. "I'm not secular." (nt)

[wendylaroux]

18. Tell them to go to hell?

[WinkyDink]

19. It's the abortion issue for Catholics. End of story.

[magellan]

20. Tell them my beliefs are none of their business

Seriously, no matter what you tell someone who has the audacity to question your faith based on your politics, you won't convince them that you aren't as good as they are. They've already decided. I wouldn't even engage them, even if it is a relative. Waste of time.

[question everything]

21. Why bother? Republicans are not known for following any rational thoughts or facts

How important is this relative in your life? Can you just ignore her messages? delete them?

(don't know how these things work on Facebook).

If you want to keep her in your life, can you just comment: I am sorry that you feel that way. Period.

[upi402]

22. full ignore

all repukes


like arguing with a drunk

[LaydeeBug]

23. Tell her we will pray a rosary in the hopes she will *finally* understand the 1st Commandment and

stop judging those whom she is supposed to love. Crazy ass conservatives who value the fetus more than the child get to have God be their judge. You (and I for that matter) deserve the same consideration.

Then mention how symbolic The Bible has always been. I happen to love symbolism. Notice that Pontius Pilate rode the elephant, and Jesus rode the mule...

[Codeine]

24. Congratulate them on being right for once. nt

[OldDem2012]

25. Ask her how her Catholic beliefs match up with the GOP attempts to destroy programs designed....

...to help the weakest and least advantaged among us: the poor, the hungry, the homeless, the disabled, and the elderly.

You will quickly find out just how devout she really is. If she gives you an answer filled with the usual GOP right-wing tripe instead of actual teachings from the Christian faith, tell her the following:

"I am disappointed because I thought you stood for what our Faith teaches".

At that point, I expect her to unfriend you rather quickly, which will be zero loss.

[jberryhill]

26. By not having such persons in my life

[Kalidurga]

27. Bugger off...

I do happen to be secular. But, I wasn't always both at the same time.

[Turbineguy]

28. Interesting question.....

of course, first I'd have to give a shit about what republicans think. Once I do that, I'll take the next step.

[Voice for Peace]

29. tell her what you stand for and what your faith means to you. period.

[Speck Tater]

30. Pull out a Voodoo doll and threaten to curse them. nt

[fleur-de-lisa]

35. LOL!

I have a voodoo doll (I live in New Orleans) and a black cat named VooDoo! My cat VooDoo grabbed the voodoo doll last night and removed its gris gris bag! Should I be worried?

[gollygee]

31. "I do stand for what our faith teaches: continuing Jesus' work of helping the poor and sick"

"And that's why I'm a Democrat."

[narnian60]

46. +1. Yes, indeedy.

[1-Old-Man]

32. I tell them to go fuck themselves ... life is too short to deal with idiots.

friend, relative, or even a stranger on the street. I do not care who it angers, they have already shown me that their opinion had no value and I don't want to have anything to do with them. Its really simple, harsh, but simple.

[no_hypocrisy]

33. It's the other way around:

I'm a democrat because I'm secular.

[fleur-de-lisa]

34. Ignore them. Religion has no place in American politics . . .

whether you're a Buddhist, Muslim, Atheist, Wiccan, whatever.

It simply shouldn't be part of the discussion!

[YoungDemCA]

36. Certain people, however, disagree

And they are organized and powerful, and have an unbelievable sense of entitlement.

[fleur-de-lisa]

41. I think we've finally come to the point in this country . . .

where most Americans are sick and tired of the religious right.

Look at Western Europe . . . Christianity has been on the decline for decades. And recent data suggests Americans are moving away from organized religion as well, which for the most part, means Christianity.

I'm not quite sure what your point is, but I am personally not afraid of any religious group in the US. I doubt that most Americans are fearful of any so-called powerful, religious organizations.

But have a nice day anyway! Goddess bless!

[southernyankeebelle]

47. I agree with you. People are moving away from organized religion. I don't think they

have lost the spiritual side. I know I have my spiritual center and don't need to go to any organized church. All they want is your money and your children to keep their church going. At least for the catholic church I feel that way. The nuns haven't lost what the mission was. They still want to work for the poor. But I will give to secular organiations that don't want any ties to religion of any sort.

[fleur-de-lisa]

54. Thanks for your response, SYB . . .

There seems to be a lot of religious nuttery on DU today! I don't like to block DU folks, but have done so a couple of times today because of the religious posts.

I don't care what anyone believes, as long as no one is oppressed as a result of their personal religious freedom. People can freely worship the Christian God, the goat god, or whatever, for all I care! I just believe that everyone should be free to worship, or not worship, as they choose. And our constitution guarantees freedom of religion, and from religion.

And I agree with you about the Catholic nuns . . . they represent the best in religion, ANY religion! The 'Nuns-on-the-Bus' movement was awesome! How brave they were to take a stand! If only all so-called religious people were as self-sacrificing . . . how much more humane the world would be!!!

[southernyankeebelle]

60. There was a time priest were like the nuns and cared for the poor. But since they

hooked up with the fundies they have become like them. I should say the Bishops, Cardinals and some priests. I agree with you. Everyone should pray who they want to as long as they separate church and state.

[cbayer]

38. I'm sure glad that Rev. Martin Luther King didn't agree with you.

[fleur-de-lisa]

42. See my response above (#41) . . .

[cbayer]

49. When you clarify that you are talking about the religious right and their

efforts to impose their beliefs on everyone else through the political process, I agree. Because their two major issues have focused on the restricting the rights of others, I am in full support of defanging them.

But there exists a liberal/progressive religious community in this country with active organizations and leaders. They have some responsibility for the recent advances in GLBT civil rights, continuing the fight to preserve a woman's right to choose and more recently have taken important positions on gun control.

Even some of the evangelical communities are now focusing their efforts on addressing global climate change.

So, I strongly disagree. Religion does have a place in the public square. Always has and always will in this country, imo. And if they stop pursuing social justice, civil liberties and caring for those most in need in this society, we are in trouble.

[pnwmom]

37. The same way you deal with Democrats who think you should be anti-religion

if you want to be a real progressive.

[narnian60]

48. +1.

[SidDithers]

39. Call her a Theocrat, and compare her to the Taliban...

Government is supposed to be secular.

Sid

[southernyankeebelle]

40. One way. Defriend her. Well here is one way you can ask her. Ask her does or did

she ever take birth control pills. A majority of catholics do. If she says yes then tell her that is a form of abortion. I knew this young teen boy who was catholic and was against abortions. He always had something to say. A no it all. Well my aunt who is a very very catholic woman asked him about the birth control. She shut him up pretty quickly. I have a niece who was on the pill for medical reasons. I mean she has really serious medical problems. She was a virgin when she got married and is still on the pill. I don't think she can have children. She has a shunt in her head. So people don't use birth control to prevent having babies. I honestly can say I don't know a catholic who doesn't use some form of birth control. My aunt was so dedicated to the church that she gave them most of her money and when she had no more to give they didn't help her. That was how good of a christain she was. The poor woman moved in with my sister. She said if my sister hadn't taken her in she didn't know what she would have done. The catholic church turns out to be nothing but crooks and liars.

[fleur-de-lisa]

43. Hell yes!

Great response, SYB!

[southernyankeebelle]

45. Thank you F-d-l

I think so. It should shut the auntie up.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

44. Tell them to go to hell! LOL!!!

[dembotoz]

50. my faith made me a lefty

the good samaritan
the sermon on the mount.

my concept of right and wrong is drenched with social justice, civil rights and working with the poor

one of my favorite thoughts is that i Jesus came back today he would need a 13th disciple

a chirpractor to fix his back after he would spend the days ripping up all those rich catholic and evangelical churches.

[Freddie]

51. Same here, part of the reason I'm a liberal is *because* I'm a Christian

[a la izquierda]

53. Tell them to mind their own damned business?

I'm half serious.
I'm a spiritual person, and I believe in a higher power. I'm also a historian and know how distorted things can be. I do not go to mass because I cannot stand the Vatican and clergy.

[TheKentuckian]

55. I talk about how my values tie into why I am a Democrat and why my faith dictates

separation of church and state.

How in the world can one follow the teachings of Christ and be a Republican and how can one expect to practice THEIR faith when it is dictated by the government? Who's version strays outside the lines and WHY?

Stay in the Gospels and go sermon by sermon and event by event, I don't see how the opposition has any argument.
Hit Democrats where they fall short too, it only emphasizes how far from grace those shriveled souls playing a political party really are.

[rateyes]

56. Remind her of the nuns on the bus

[PennsylvaniaMatt]

58. I love Sister Simone!

I loved how it took a nun to fire up the Democratic National Convention!

[Coolest Ranger]

57. Simple

I go right up to her face and I say, "I am a democrat. I believe in helping my fellow man. I believe in fair elections and I believe in fair wages for everyone. If you don't like it, don't you ever talk about politics around me, otherwise relative or not don't ever approach me."

[Warpy]

59. I'd rub her nose--HARD--in the fact that Jesus said nothing about abortion

but had quite a lot to say about caring for the poor, the sick, the imprisoned, and the hopeless.

You know, the kind of people the Republicans love to hate.

[scheming daemons]

61. I was raised catholic.... Am now an atheist.

I tell my republican/catholic family members that I refuse to participate in their mythology any more.

There is no invisible man in the sky.

I own it and wear I like a badge.

[cthulu2016]

62. Turn them into pillars of salt.

[WCGreen]

63. It has to be abortion...`

Because on every other issue, the Catholics are pretty liberal...

[PennsylvaniaMatt]

64. Yes, you're right...

Some of these people on the far right make it sound like President Obama preforms abortions in the Oval Office.

[LaydeeBug]

65. ask when the next anti-death penalty rally is. We catholics are anti-death penalty too. nt

[WCGreen]

67. I would say that is also a liberal position...

I was raised Catholic and still attend mass now and then...

[Iggo]

66. I tell them, "The word is Atheist."