For those of you who have been voting Republican because of “social values” and a commitment to pro-life concerns … if you vote for them this year, you will be voting for the wrong party.

At today’s “Value Voters Summit” presented by the Family Research Council, candidates at various levels of government told “values voters” that issues such as “gay marriage” and “abortion” are not “going to change anybody’s vote this year because people are concerned about job, the economy, growth and taxes.”

“Party leaders like potential presidential candidates Gov. Haley Barbour of Mississippi and Gov. Mitch Daniels of Indiana have warned that an overt focus on wedge issues like gay marriage and abortion would be unhelpful for the party’s cause going into November.”

What an affront to “Values Voters” … to admit — even to them — that things like “gay marriage” and “abortion” are “wedge issues” that are “unhelpful for the party”!!! Its a base admission that these issues matter to them only if it will help them win.

On Friday, Rep. Mike Pence addressed the fissure directly, noting that GOP leaders have advised social conservatives that “the American people are focused on jobs and spending and our movement would do well to stand aside.”

Pence said that it is essential that Republicans multi-task and retain their focus on social as well as fiscal issues. “We must focus on our fiscal crisis and support our troops. We must work to create jobs and protect innocent human life,” he said.

Note how the mention to “protect innocent human life” is secondary to the economy and war issues …

The reality is, as I have said in the past, in this climate — where there is no commitment by politicians to “the five non-negotiables” (and in fact they have admitted abandonment of these issues) — we must look at who is supporting the greater good of the pro-life movement.

In this case, it is the Democratic Party (generally speaking) that meets such a criteria … with programs to help the sick, poor, and elderly; as well as addressing concerns for fair business practices and unemployment. All of which fall squarely in the realm of Catholic teaching on social justice.

In times past, “values voters” were more supportive of Democratic candidates because the issues they fought for were aligned with the beliefs, faith and morals of such voters. In more recent decades, the Republican Party used the issues of abortion, etc to gain these votes. Yet, history shows that there is scarcely little that they have ever done on this front.

Perhaps now, with the clear admission that economic and war issues matter more than abortion and gay marriage, “values voters” will reexamine their support of the Republican Party, and vote to help the sick, the poor, the elderly, the disabled, and the unemployed that is being addressed by the programs promoted by Democrats at the federal, state and local levels.

It’s time to take back the pro-life movement from politicians and politico-religious organizations whose statements are more reflective of a political party line, than of a genuine pro-life position.

Decades have passed since Roe v Wade and Doe v Bolton that made abortion on demand a protected right. But, despite the election of politicians who claim to be pro-life, and the insistence of religious organizations that we must vote for these politicians, “abortion rights” are as firm today as ever.

Politicians that pro-lifers are voting into office lack any real commitment to the cause for life.  And yet we continue to send them back there again and again.  So called “pro-life organization”, and groups like the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops, unfortunately are not calling this out.

The ideals of the pro-life movement are not synonymous with a Political Party — and, in fact, votes for self-proclaimed “Pro-life politicians” has thus far been detrimental to the values of the pro-life agenda, and the people of this nation. (Diminished education, sky rocketing costs of health care,  more uninsured, and growing poverty — highest numbers in 50 years! )

The reality is that, because most every politician has no real commitment to pro-life issues, such planks of that politician’s platform should be mostly dismissed.  In most cases, the economic platforms of most politicians are the most important to them — and it is those positions that should be closely scrutinized by pro-lifers.

Does that mean that poverty and health care and education are more important issues than, say, abortion and same-sex marriage?  Not at all!  But, when you examine the record of most “pro-life politicians”, money and power are of greater concern than protection of, and concern for, life.  Thus, at the end of the day, most “pro-life politicians” have simply betrayed those of us with a genuine concern for pro-life issues.

As such, it’s time to change the way we vote as People for a Culture of Life.  Stop voting for the guy who merely claims to be pro-life.  The chance that he/she is saying that simply to get your vote is in the high 90′s!  Stop being a “one issue voter.”

Instead, listen and look at the entire platform of the candidate, and ask of each position:  Does this position show concern for all life?  Does it care for the unborn, the elderly, the sick, the disabled, and the poor?

Only when we start to do this, will be be able to get back the pro-life movement from politicians, political parties, and organizations that have more commitment to politics than values.

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I had started another blog — The Squiggly Line of Thought – to comment on a wider variety of topics, but then decided to merge that blog and this one to form something new.

While Catholicsphere seeks to provide commentary and insight on a variety of topics (not just “religious” or “spiritual” items) in a way that is faithful to Catholic teaching, it also intends to go a bit deeper into exploring non-doctrinal/dogmatic issues.

In other words, commentary will sometimes “tow the company line”, but not always. In that way Catholicsphere hopes to bring a fresh perspective and approach to some matters, without trying to be at odds with the Catholic Church.

Also, the variety of topics will likely cover politics and government, entertainment and movies, technology and music, as well as Catholic matters — sharing my view of the world.

I’ve been tweeting via Twitter for a little while now, and just created a page on Facebook.  Links to those will be up in the header soon — as soon as I can get the icons worked out — and also intend to add ability for you to share posts you like to other social networks.

I hope you’ll enjoy the new format, and will get into the discussion.  Thanks for checking out Catholicsphere!