‘A Pope Francis Catholic’: Now that Tim Kaine is Clinton’s VP pick, will his faith matter?

[rug]

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., speaks to reporters following a discussion on immigration reform at Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, Va., on Thursday. (AP/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

By Michelle Boorstein and Julie Zauzmer
July 22 at 8:48 PM

Many of the most circulated names for Hillary Clinton’s vice presidential pick are Catholic – a fact that both says a lot about the influence of America’s huge Catholic population, but also reveals, when you look more closely, how far the country has moved away from basic religious tribalism.

Clinton on Friday chose U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), a former missionary who personally opposes abortion and who pleased anti-abortion advocates earlier in his political career by saying he would aim to reduce the number of abortions by promoting adoption and abstinence education.

Yet it’s not clear what impact Kaine’s faith — or that of any Catholic — would have on voters.

American Catholics have been growing in recent decades in political power and diversity. While they were once a Democratic voting bloc, today they are divided, particularly by ethnicity. Latino Catholics – 34 percent of U.S. Catholics are Hispanic – prefer Clinton to Trump by a huge margin of 77 to 16 percent. Among white Catholics, the preference is Trump by a margin of 50 to 46 percent, according to the Pew Research Center.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/07/22/a-pope-francis-catholic-if-clinton-picks-tim-kaine-will-his-faith-matter/

[Skinner]

1. Kaine would be the second Catholic VP in a row. (nt)

[rug]

2. With Pence, that's a 100% certainty.

But it won't be Pence.

[No Vested Interest]

6. Pence is a CINO

Catholic in Name Only, and we're not even sure he calls himself a Catholic at this time. (He won't say.)

Just because one was brought up in a Catholic family doesn't men one remains Catholic, as many DUers who respond in the Religion Forum make quite clear.

Ohio's Gov. Kasich was raised Catholic but chose another faith along the way (his right to do so), but we wouldn't claim that he is Catholic in 2016.

[rug]

7. Remember the "indelible mark"?

I think that's the first four syllable word I learned.

[No Vested Interest]

8. Orthodox Catholics recognize the "indelible mark," as regards the sacraments

of baptism, confirmation, and holy orders, just as they recognize the doctrine of Transubstantiation.

Orthodox Catholics also recognize the "indelible mark" of baptism being valid in numerous Christian religions.
Therefore, a person could, either with or without full knowledge, act or declare oneself to be a Christian by virtue of baptism while at the same time removing oneself from the practice of Catholicism.

[jonno99]

3. It's a bold choice in many respects. Some will be attracted - others repelled. My guess is the

campaign has done the math ...

[rug]

4. The main advantage I see is that it increases the chances in Virginia.

And without losing a Democratic seat in the Senate.

[jonno99]

5. Agreed. Methinks (at least from where we sit now) that it's going to be a nail-biter, and

having VA solidly blue could be the clincher...