For The Tidings, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, I polled some Catholics of my acquaintance, both in L.A. and beyond, on their feelings about the GOP candidates, in the wake of the Sept. 16 presidential debates at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.
A reminder:
They commented on former HP CEO Carly Fiorina; real-estate developer and reality-TV star Donald Trump; former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum; Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal; Ohio governor John Kasich; Kentucky senator Rand Paul; pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson; former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee; New Jersey governor Chris Christie; Florida senator Marco Rubio; Texas senator Ted Cruz; and former Florida governor Jeb Bush.
While all of the candidates have professed to be Christians, Santorum, Jindal, Christie, Rubio and Bush are Catholics.
Click here to read the whole thing, but here’s a sampling of thoughts, first from a pair of Millennials …
Adrian Urias, who’s pursuing a philosophy degree in Long Beach, California, on Paul:
“This much should be clear, Catholics absolutely cannot support Paul. Paul supports marital nihilism by proposing that government should not recognize marriages, even though Donum Vitae makes it clear that marriage needs that social establishment. Paul equivocates, in a not-so-subtle way, as Christie demonstrated, between medical and recreational marijuana. Christie and others cited the horrible effects it has on society through public health. Not only is it a public health concern — disease spreading under the false flag of freedom like a wolf in sheep’s clothing — it’s a moral disease as well.”
Steven Trochlil, a Ph.D. candidate in public-policy analysis, on who he’d vote for today:
“I would vote for Jindal, The man is a sincere Catholic, and willing to act on Catholic principles even when it is not popular to do so.”
Then a couple of mature voters weighed in. First, screenwriter and college professor Karen Hall, on Fiorina’s appeal:
“At this point, the angry candidates are doing well because the country is in such a mess, we need someone who is passionately unhappy about it. But Fiorina is capable of being angry and extremely rational at the same time, which, for my money, made her the winner.”
Florida businessman JM Garcia offered succinct highlights:
“Fiorina gained the most yards; Rubio had the most yards per carry. I didn’t see anything that would disqualify any of them, although I’m not convinced yet of Trump’s commitment to pro-life issues. In spite of his previous association with the very flawed ‘Gang of 8’ bill, Rubio is the one I’m leaning towards.”
And for those who missed it, here’s the whole debate:
Image: Courtesy CNN
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