The "Faith and Family Left"

The Pew Research Center's Beyond Red vs. Blue describes political types into which people fall, reminding us that voters do NOT fit into neat boxes: "Even in an increasingly Red vs. Blue nation, the public’s political attitudes and values come in many shades and hues" (See Political Typology Quiz.).  Now, if we assume that most candidates who identify themselves as pro-life and pro-marriage/family are Republican, one political type would seem to have great potential for crossing party lines to vote for those who are pro-life and pro-marriage/family:

• "The Faith and Family Left lean Democratic, based on their confidence in government and support for federal programs to address the nation’s problems. But this very religious, racially and ethnically diverse group is uncomfortable with the pace of societal change, including the acceptance of homosexuality and non-traditional family structures" (Beyond Red vs. Blue: The Political Typology, Pew Research Center, 6/26/14).

If "Faith and Family Left" voters do indeed cross party lines, what happens when candidates - once elected - fail to defend the sanctity of life and/or the sanctity of marriage/family?  

Our Elected Officials in Harrisburg: What They Have Failed to Do on Marriage/Family.

• As per the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference's "PA-Statewide-2010-Bulletin-Insert", Governor Corbett (R) supported "amending the Pennsylvania Constitution to define marriage as the union between one man and one woman."  At that time, Bucks County state Representatives Clymer (R), DiGirolamo (R), and Galloway (D) told the Catholic Standard and Times that they supported a marriage amendment.  






Fast forward to 2014, and Governor Corbett (R) balked at defending Pa's Defense of Marriage Act.  Clymer (R) is Bucks County's only representative co-sponsoring the Marriage Protection Amendment (HB 1349).

• As per the Pa Catholic Conference, "HB/SB 300...seeks to add 'gender identity or expression' and 'sexual orientation' to Pennsylvania's non-discrimination law....this legislation is intolerant and prejudiced against people of faith.  Changing the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA) to protect people based on sexual attraction and behavior will jeopardize many churches and their charitable outreach....the law could also cause conflicts for private business owners with legitimate religious and moral concerns."





Of state representatives co-sponsoring HB 300, at least 27 were described by the Pa Pro Life Federation in 2012 as "pro-life" or ""leans pro-life" - including Galloway (D), Petri (R), Quinn (R), and Watson (R) from Bucks County. 

Of state senators co-sponsoring SB 300 (including McIlhinney (R) from Bucks County), Costa (D) and Stack (D) were up for election in 2012 and described by the Pa Pro Life Federation as "pro-life."

Governor Corbett has now indicated that he would sign HB 300/ SB 300.

Our Elected Officials in D.C.: What They Have Failed to Do on Marriage/Family.

• As per the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference's "PA-Statewide-2010-Bulletin-Insert" and the 2010 Catholic Standard and Times, Bucks County Congressman Fitzpatrick (R) and Senator Pat Toomey (R) were thought to support DOMA.  In 2012, Congressmen Fitzpatrick (R), Gerlach (R), and Meehan (R) were believed to support "pro family-life policies" (cf., 2012 General Voter Guide, Pro Life Union of Greater Philadelphia; 2012 Candidate Results, Knights of Columbus from the 8th Pennsylvania Congressional District).  Yet across Pennsylvania, at this time, only Congressmen Kelly (R), Pitts (R),  Rothfus (R), and Shuster (R) are co-sponsoring marriage legislation backed by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops:

• As per the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference's "PA-Statewide-2010-Bulletin-Insert", Senator Toomey said that he opposed legislation to "make sexual orientation and gender identity or expression protected classes...equivalent to other protected classes." The USCCB later expressed concern that "ENDA [i.e., HR 1755 / S 815, the so-called Employment Non-Discrimination Act], if enacted, could be used to punish as discrimination what the Catholic Church teaches" (letter to the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions from Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, Archbishop William E. Lori, and Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone).  Senator Toomey as well as Senator Casey, voted for S 815!  Pa Catholics Bob Brady and Mike Doyle are co-sponsoring HR 1755!

Come November, some candidates who have betrayed marriage/family issues might very well remain  our best choices.  We may need to hold our noses and vote for them.  However, this is August, and betrayals of marriage/family have received exceedingly inadequate attention.  

To groups like the Faith and Family Left, it could easily appear that promises about marriage/family were merely "wedges" to snag votes.  When someone feels that they have been deceived / exploited, it is extremely difficult to regain credibility.