| October 22, 2007 | Volume 82, Number 26 | |
|
|
Answer the questionCatholics of Virginia — just like everyone else — should exercise their right to vote. We all have a stake in what happens in our society and it is elected officials who play a key role in just how we as a society move ahead or lag behind. Most of us lack the time to keep tabs on the various stands political candidates take on issues which can affect our everyday life. And let’s face it — some who run for political office are often glib about not providing a direct answer to a specific question. How often have we heard a candidate begin an answer like “It seems to many of us that….” or “By and large, we need to be aware of …” In this latest issue of The Catholic Virginian readers will find a guide on how candidates for seats in the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates answer specific questions which affect how our tax dollars are spent. The Virginia Catholic Conference has prepared a chart which indicates if the candidates in contested races support or oppose stands on specific issues like abortion, the death penalty, affordable housing for low-income families, prenatal care for poor pregnant women and funding of stem-cell research. There is no room for waffling. A candidate either supports or opposes the position espoused by the Virginia Catholic Conference. An example: “Do you support or oppose prohibiting the use of state funds for providing abortions, except as required by federal statute?” Another example: “Do you support or oppose limiting the use of Virginia’s death penalty to the circumstances under which it is currently permitted?” Unfortunately for the voter who wants to be informed on these issues, some candidates in contested races did not reply to the survey. Their lack of response is noted by their name followed by empty boxes. This might indicate they are afraid their true answer would alienate some voters or they just did not care to take a stand. It is interesting to find that some long-time legislators totally ignored the survey. Do they consider themselves a shoo-in and don’t have to answer questions? One might ask why are they avoiding the issues? Do they feel their lack of response will help them gain votes because they have not taken a stand? It’s all out there for the people to make an informed decision on how to vote. It is also distressing to learn that many unopposed candidates failed to complete the Virginia Catholic Conference survey. They’ll obviously win the election, but how can they ignore answering questions which show how they feel on issues? Their names and House or Senate districts are noted in this issue. Voters, who deserve answers, might ask the questions of them directly. If they waffle, you’ve got their answer.
About Us | Archives | Around | Articles | Columns | Contact Us | Hispanic Apostolate | Home | Letters | Opportunities | Parish Profile | Shortakes | The Catholic Diocese of RichmondCopyright © 2006 The Catholic Virginian Press. Articles from Catholic News Services, including Fr. Dietzen’s column, may not be reproduced here due to copyright considerations.The Catholic Virginian is a biweekly publication serving the people of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond. This website includes some, but not all, of the articles from the print version of The Catholic Virginian.For subscription information Contact Us. |