Mahony Says Democrats Are Out of Touch

In a message that was bad news for both major political parties, Cardinal Roger M. Mahony declared Friday that they have lost sight of the common good, and he singled out Democrats for losing touch with the most vulnerable and poorest members of society.

The cardinal’s biting remarks come at time when Congress is attempting to cut some aid to poor and disadvantaged people.

“The most glaring problem I see with all political parties today . . . is a marked focus on individuals and privatization,” Mahony said.

Mahony, Roman Catholic archbishop of Los Angeles--the largest archdiocese in the country--aimed his most pointed criticism at Democrats, saying “no party has changed more.” “We find ourselves now very much opposed to many of the things in their platform,” he said during a breakfast forum at Loyola Law School.

“In earlier years of the Democratic Party, they were much more in touch with the people we speak for today.”

Father Gregory Coiro, a spokesman for Mahony, said after the breakfast that Mahony was referring to Democratic support for some health and welfare spending cuts that the cardinal believed were “punitive” to the poor, children and the elderly.

But Mahony did not compliment Republicans either, saying that Catholics face a difficult choice when voting for a presidential nominee.

While Republicans generally side with the bishops in opposition to abortion rights, bishops are at odds with the GOP over changes in social welfare programs. The bishops back reforms that help poor people become self-sufficient, but they say Republican proposals go too far.

Ultimately, Mahony said Friday, Catholics should put partisan considerations second to their religious values.

His statement was another sign of the growing divide between Catholics and Democrats. While the church has never officially endorsed candidates of either party, Democrats have until recent years been able to count on a substantial Catholic vote.

The most volatile rift centers on the Democratic Party’s support for abortion rights, which has come under renewed attack from Catholic bishops. Earlier this week, for example, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops said it was “deeply offended” by President Clinton’s announcement that he would veto the proposed ban on “partial birth” abortions.

The bishops dismissed as “disingenuous” a White House explanation that such abortions would be allowed only if a delivery posed serious “health” consequences for the mother. The term “health” has been interpreted so broadly by the courts, Cardinal Bernard Law of Boston wrote Clinton, as to pose virtually no bar to abortions.

What’s more, in last year’s congressional elections, a majority of Catholics voted for Republicans, although not always for reasons their bishops would approve. Many Catholics, like others, are voting more conservatively these days and do not always follow the bishops’ liberal stance on social welfare issues.

Still, Mahony warned Catholics to stay away from an effort by Protestant religious broadcaster Pat Robertson and his Christian Coalition to form a Catholic arm of the grass-roots political action group. It is called Catholic Alliance.

“It is an attempt to organize Catholics in this country as a branch of the Christian Coalition,” Mahony said. “I see in it a great deal of danger because it sounds as if it is Catholic and a lot of people I know are confused and think somehow the church position supports it.” It does not, he said.

As for Catholic politicians, Mahony said the church does not expect them to always follow church teaching on every issue. “But we expect them to bring the values and principles there and hopefully make a positive impact,” he said.

Repeatedly on Friday, Mahony urged Catholics to carefully study the issues and make informed choices. He urged them to read a new booklet published by the bishops conference, “Political Responsibility,” which outlines Catholic moral teaching and a wide range of political issues, from housing and the economy to abortion and immigration.

The book draws heavily on remarks made by Pope John Paul II during his visit to the United States last October.

Mahony quoted one papal statement in particular:

“Democracy stands or falls with the truths and values which it embodies and promotes. Democracy serves what is true and right when it safeguards the dignity of every human person, when it respects inviolable and inalienable human rights, when it makes the common good the end and criterion regulating all public and social life.”

Mahony said that he is sending the 32-page booklet to all elected officials in the Los Angeles region.