Columnist urges Catholics to play active role following election

Published: 2004-11-18

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Catholic voters, pursued by both political parties during the presidential election campaign, must continue to play an active role in influencing political discussions now that the election is over, a Washington Post columnist told a group of students and faculty at The Catholic University of America in Washington. "Catholics have a unique opportunity to be a ginger group," energizing both parties by making them "feel a little uncomfortable," said syndicated columnist and author E.J. Dionne Jr. Nov. 16. He gave a talk on "Catholics and Presidential Politics: Reflections on 1960 and 2004," sponsored by the university's Center for American Catholic Studies. "Catholics should challenge both parties," the columnist said, adding that they should make Democrats feel uncomfortable, "or even guilty," a word he said he can use as a Catholic, about their stance on family issues and emphasis on the "industrialization of science." Likewise, he said, "Catholics miss a tremendous obligation if they don't make Republicans uncomfortable on social justice issues and their preference for tax cuts over aid to the poor."

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