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Something Undecided Voters Should Know--& Everyone Else Too, by Lillian Godone-Maresca [1]

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Date: 2022-10-30

Screenshots from Network Lobby for Catholic Social Justice / "Pope Francis Voter"

Not everyone knows how very much Network Lobby for Catholic Social justice and “Pope Francis Voter” are doing to keep it blue. Time is running out. The midterms are happening already. Anxiety is on the rise. How to best use the last days and even the last hours?

It’d be great to help those who’ve been brainwashed to understand things better—and yet, that’d be too ambitious of a task with the minimal time left. Voter turnout is an excellent strategy and all the volunteers working on that should be recognized, appreciated, and thanked.

What tends to go unrecognized and unappreciated is the awesome, amazing, incredible campaigning that Network Lobby for Catholic Social Justice is doing in the fight AGAINST MAGA fascism, the so-called Christian nationalism, Trumpism, and all forms of right-wing racist, homophobic, and xenophobic agendas.

I feel confident that if more people knew that, many undecided voters would go blue. Because there are many voters out there who deplore the GOP’s insensitivity and bigotry—and yet, still believe Republicans them when they falsely claim to be ProLife. Network is a Catholic organization that was created to fight for Catholic Social Teaching—and Catholic Social Teaching is based on “a preferential option for the poor”, equality, equal opportunity, social and economic justice, immigrants’ rights, union power, employee participation, a living wage, adequate housing for all, environmental protection, and climate action—just to mention a few.

On one hand, I APOLOGIZE (yes, in capital letters) to all non-Catholics on this forum because my piece sounds eminently Catholic—and needless to say, there are people of all faiths and also of no faith herein. Yet, I must admit that non-Catholics are, precisely, my target readership. Because I love my faith and my Church—and am NOT prepared to allow a few vociferating bad Catholics leaning right to defame all of us. I want the world to know about all the good, inspiring, socially sensitive Catholics who courageously and tirelessly speak up for the underrepresented and underserved without vociferating. The ones on the right are defaming the faith and the Church I was raised to love. The many more of us on the left are protecting those values. Network Lobby is constantly embarking on indefatigable campaigns to defeat hate and the right wing—to defeat racism, homophobia, xenophobia, inequality, and social injustice.

I may sound a little too O.C.D. about this topic. And yet, I can't remain silent in the face of the big, huge, irreparable damage that the so-called 'Christian nationalism' is doing to the faith I was raised to cherish and uphold.

The so-called “Christian nationalism” is the antonym, the antithesis of Catholicism, Christianity, and religion. It’s in flagrant opposition to Catholic Social Teaching, to all Christ-based faiths, and to religion at large.

“Christian nationalism” is diametrically contrary to every single Catholic Social Teaching premise. It’s diametrically contrary to Jesus’ birth in a poor manger, life example, teachings, and death for all on the Cross. It’s diametrically contrary to the love and respect for all humankind that are core values shared by all religions—whether biblical or not.

The right wing is the most destructive force against Christianity and the ProLife cause. From a religious perspective, what those haters are doing is blasphemous and sacrilegious. From a legal standpoint, it’s libel and slander. They’re usurping Jesus’ Name to promote what He had only reproachful words for and despise what Jesus held dear and taught. We may think that nobody can defame Jesus—but that’s exactly what those “Christian” nationalists are doing every day.

Moreover, and even more alarmingly, they’re damaging much more than the ProLife cause. They’re damaging unborn babies. Broadly speaking, they turned big sectors of public opinion against the unborn, large families, stay-at-home parenting, and homeschooling. Whereas they claim to favor all that, they manage to present it all in an arid, unappealing, joyless manner.

I'm a devout cradle Catholic. I grew up having too much of everything--starting with too much love. My parents, E. Nydia Soracco-Maresca-Godone and Armando C.E. Godone-Signanini, now both with God, personified the meanings of equality and social justice. In word and deed, they lived up to the deepest social sensitivity way ahead of their times--all in light of Catholic Social Teaching.

That’s why as the midterms are happening already, I find it my duty to speak up as they’d have done. I’m not trying to convert anyone—and apologize in advance if someone eventually happens to misunderstand it that way. I’m strongly convinced that if more people knew about all the amazing and indefatigable campaigning against the GOP that Network is doing, many undecided voters of all faiths would vote against Republican lies too.

If you happened to know or be acquainted with any still undecided voter(s), please insist on the fact that the GOP is neither ProLife nor pro-birth. Catholic Bishop John Stowe correctly referred to Trump and his right-wing agenda as anti-life.

I’m not asking anyone of you to pray if you don’t—but if you do, please pray to keep it blue. It rhymes and all! And yes: I’ll end this the way I’d have ended it prior to late 2016: God bless. While claiming to be God-fearing people, the haters are knowingly and willfully deterring many from pronouncing God’s Name. They’re deterring true ProLife supporters from publicly showing their ProLife pride. In one of the many Catholic Democratic, Catholics for Biden, Catholics Against Trumpism, Catholics for Social Justice, and similar like-minded FB groups I belong to, a little before the 4th of July someone posted about their hesitation to fly a flag in their front yard. Why? Because the right wing is making many feel uncomfortable about expressing their religious beliefs, ProLife convictions, and healthy patriotism. And that’s not coincidental or incidental. That’s part of the right wing’s evil, diabolic, demonic takeover plan. With their mouths they claim to uphold what with their actions they purposely and shamelessly destroy.

Don’t let anyone you know to fall into the right-wing trap. Network Lobby for Catholic Social Justice is a brave, eloquent, committed voice fighting tooth and nail against the countless right-wing lies, trickery, and traps.

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/10/30/2131893/-Something-Undecided-Voters-Should-Know-Everyone-Else-Too-by-Lillian-Godone-Maresca

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