US only 6-7 % of the Universal Church

This is a continuation of Yesterday's post on American Catholicism isn't the Norm. This is Sherry

Weddell speaking:
 I think having a multi party system does affect the dynamics entirely. Our CSI Australian director, Clara, is a policy advisor for the ONLY Australia MP who is completely pro-life. He is the first such MP in many years so the absolutist American position of refusing communion to anone who votes for a politician who supports abortion has simply been impossible. And yet, all Australian adults are legally required to vote (no abstention possible!). Even now, only members of this MP's constituency can cast a vote for someone who does completely reject abortion. Catholics see abortion as part of a spectrum of life issues which include immigration (which is a burning national issue) because of the appalling, sometimes life-threatening conditions many immigrants are forced to live in once they reach Australia. The orthodox Catholic position in Australia would be very like Cardinal Bernadine's "seamless garment" which some in the US regard as simply a way to "duck" the abortion issue. The "abortion outweighs every other issue in your moral political calculus and therefore you can only vote for one party" stance is uniquely American. Would this stance dissolve if we had a truly pro-life party (even if small) as in Australia which, because of the political system, could actually have real influence in national decisions? Since most Catholic countries have parliamentary systems and many have historic Catholic political parties, it doesn't look as though this is going to be an issue for most Catholics. We need to remember that US Catholics only make up 6-7% of the Body Catholic. The vast majority of Catholics have political alternatives that we don't have.

American Catholicism Isn't the Norm

My Facebook  friend, Sherry Weddell is the force behind the Siena Institute, the Intentional Disciples Blog, and the book, Forming Intentional Disciples.  She's all about forming lay Catholics to help out in their parishes and the world.  She helps you to make what God wants for you.

Anyway, Sherry is a facebook friend.  She travels all over the world.  On her status page she states that she's finally home.  She relates that she was amazed by the differences in Catholic views  from country to country.  She's not talking liturgy.  She's talking political concerns.

In the United States we're concerned about freedom of conscience, and being forced to pay for abortions and contraceptives.  In other countries, that's not even a concern.  These countries have universal health care that does pay for abortions and contraception.  Catholics just don't personally use them, all though they pay for them, insurance wise.  It seems to be like paying for the military when you're a pacifist.  Australian Catholics lump immigration with "life" issues. Also the idea that abortion is intrinsically evil, isn't a consideration.  They vote candidates, more than issues, because the candidate will vote the way their constituents want.

The discussion on facebook continued on, as to the reasons why this is so.  One thought is because we have a two party system.  Other countries have multiple parties to choose from.  But these other countries do pay attention to what's happening in the US.  The media is very American dominated.  So they are fascinated by our issues.  Sometimes what's important to us appalls them.  The rest of the world doesn't buy our perspectives.  Americans are just crazy.

Surprised?  We American Catholics think everyone thinks like us.  We want the Pope to turn the church to our way of thinking.

I guess we should look up the definition of catholic.  The Catholic Church means universal church, not American Church.

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