CNN

ARE U SERIOUS . SHE HAS BEEN WITH WJC THROUGH THE WHITEHOUSE POLICIES . SHE HAS BEEN OVERSEAS FOR FOREIGN ISSUES.SHE HAS DONE ALOT FOR MOTHERS AND CHILDREN IN OUR COUNTRY THROUGH THE YRS. SHE HAS DONE PLENTY IN THE SENATE FOR MY STATE N.Y. I CAN KEEP RIGHT ON TELLING YOU MORE OF WHAT HRC HAS DONE. NOW TELL ME WHAT O.B. HAS DONE? NOTHING. HRC HAS BEEN THERE FOR US AND FOUGHT FOR US FOR 35YRS. IF SHE HAD BEEN LEADER BACK IN THE 90S ,WE WOULD OF HAD HEALTH INS. ETC. NOW SHE HAS A CHANCE AND HATERS LIKE YOU ARE GOING TO STOP OUR COUNTRY FROM THE CHANGES IT NEEDS. HRC LOOSES WE LOOSE.

Cheer up, Are u serious, once the democratic candidates have torn each other to shreds, McCain will win the election. But things will only get better when this country turns back to God. And I don't mean Allah!

The vast majority of this country's Catholics, myself included, understand how to balance loyalty to the church with loyalty to the country. We also know how to balance our obligations to the Church with our obligations to our fellow citizens, most of whom are not Catholic. Most of us have our minds made up already, and the Pope's not going to change that.
Oh, and CNN? "They have an astounding track record, picking eight of the last nine presidential elections." That would be the American people, not the Catholics. Our politics mirror the general public's pretty faithfully.

Linda, PA...This is not a story about what the candidates religious beliefs are or what past presidents believed. This is about the influence of the church on how people vote. Did you read this before you started to defend hillary?

To "Obama for President"..your view is ironic considering that your candidate has the exact opposite view.....

Linda, PA – What "history" books are you reading? Washington and LIncoln were Christians. Hillary besmirched herself when she lied about her "experience" in Bosnia. A lot of folks still want to blame Bush for the war that most of congress voted for, but the fact of the matter is he gets the credit for no attacks on the homeland in almost 7 years. We'd probably all be bowing to Allah, by now, if Obama or Hillary were in office during 9-11. Come on; ya just have to admit Bush did the right thing and Congress was with him until people started wimping out.

If you practice your faith, you consider it's teachings in every aspect of your life...including who gets your vote. ..

To Linda, PA. I am a reformed Hillary supporter. I must know ask, what experience does Hillary have? She was never the president. Furthermore, you talk about Obama-Wright, have you actually read something about Rev. Wright or do you let the media dictate what you should think? Rev. Wright has done more for Americans than any of the candidates in this contest. While I did support Hillary – let's face it – she's has lost, and now she is determined to forge ahead just because?
This is depressing....

Hillary will probably recall her years in the convent and share those moments with us. She would probably still be there if she had not been caught trying to sell the Vatican to the Colombians.

As a Cathlolic, I canno't support Hillary. She supports abortion.

Pope needs to give a simple prayer for God to guide us in this crucial moment...Pray for us... God please don't let the devil mislead us..!!!

LINDA THAT IS BS. HILLARY IS ALREADY BESMUGED. NOTHING YOU SAID ABOUT BHO IS ABOVE BOARD. YOU ARE ENGAGED IN A RACE TO THE BOTTOM. SUGGESTION: INSTEAD OF SAYING WHAT IS WRONG WITH BHO, STICK TO WHAT IS RIGHT ABOUT HILLARY LARD BOTTOM CLINTON.

I came across an interesting link to a Whitehouse document. As a Catholic who is often at odds with the Church's teaching, I did find several of the comments made by then First Lady Clinton troubling.

http://thetruthseeker.co.uk/article.asp?ID=6143

All Catholics will not vote the same. However, all Catholics do have a similar foundation from which they develop their own informed conscience. Unfortunately, neither American Political party fully embraces a basic Catholic teaching – the 'right to life'. One supports the death penalty, one supports abortion, one supports expansion of social programs, one supports reduction of social programs.

Don't underestimate the Catholic voter though ... we are not a one issue voting block.

John McCain will have the Catholic vote.

Catholic voters are Americans. Period. Enough of this dividing us by religion, race and gender.

to mother Hillary.... yeah hillary will dress up as mother teresa and Obama will dress up as God people already seem to think he walks on water.

This catholic is voting for whomever SHE regard as being the best for the job, not who the POPE or the bishop or any priest would suggest.

Barack Obama '08

Exactly how many republican trolls do we have on these blogs, anyway?? You can be so obvious.

The Pope is political and does influence politics all over the world, including ours. His visit right now, of course, has political intentions.

I am OUTRAGED!

Not about the Pope being here. I just heard on CNN that the White House is holding a "glitzy gala dinner" tonight for the Pope.

But, the Pope won't be attending as he has already-scheduled appointments to meet with church officials this evening.

We here in So. Oregon are losing our homes, our businesses are closing, we are getting financially desperate, and

the President is holding a glitzy gala on behalf of a person who won't be attending.

All this on our dime!

Lets see how Hillary Clinton panders to the Pope, and talks about her Catholic upbringing in order to try and get the Cahtolic vote. She's a dishonest politician who's own ambition outweighs what's best for the American people.

Obama '08

With all due respect to the pope, this is American not Rome. Vote for your choice not the Pope's

As a Catholic, I listened to the Pope's message yesterday. It reminded me the bitter truth of sex scandals in America.

It is disheartening!
It got me wondering if we will be willing to allow sex perverts in the Whitehouse again.

God forbid!
That is why I will never vote for Clinton.
The Pope has made a point. Blessed be his soul.

I have been a Catholic for all my life born into its clutches and after all the playing with little boys and stuff has come out her in America they have no say in the way we think or try to improve are lives the pope is a man not to be worshiped I was sick at the welcome I saw this AM was bigger than any other welcome for a for political official i have ever seen. More important is that people start to realize he is not just the Leader of the Catholic church He is also Head of state for the Vatican A sovereign land and independent state. He is also a world leader. In south America he seems to have alot of pull but here in the US if you look a the catholic church at least 70% of the people I know that are catholic have not been to church in years and have no interest in this new pope and his dogma.When Pope John Paul II died it was a great loss tot he world! but when this man dies half his own church will celebrate.

Go Obama 08

Most Catholics want Sen. Clinton and if you know anything about catholics 2/3 of the are Latinos and they all support her so I think the rest will fall in line with her! I am a Catholic and all other catholics I have spoken with support either Sen . Clinton or Sen. McCain and i see there are some who may say there catholic on this blog here but are not just by how they write !

People in this blog should have some more respect for catholics. We always trying to help the most needed, like our Savior Jesus teached us. In reference to politics we vote for the person we feel will do more for the people in need an run the country that is fair to every citizen.
FOR THAT REASON I WILL VOTE FOR HILLARY CLINTON FOR PRESIDENT.

There are too many suffering, less fortunate people in the world and we need a change of attitude. There are no problems that we can't solve if we can come together as one, even those stupid terrorists. The biggest problem is politics, some people are too hungry for power.

This Catholic woman is for OBAMA.

OMG, for the Catholic vote Hillary will dress up as Mother Teresa. She'll say she grew up poor in Calcutta, and has spent most of her life trying to help the down trodden.

Obama 08

Why do CNN and the media in general insist on trying to pigeon-hole people?

Men vote this way, women vote that way. Black people vote this way, white people vote another etc.

I'm pretty sure if you looked at people who prefer baseball over football, or cats over dogs, you'd find some specious correllation too.

Give it a rest, it's a load of nonsense. People vote for a whole spectrum of reasons and it simply isn't possible to narrow it down to one thing.

Check the record. Obama has lost the Catholic vote to Clinton almost every time. If Obama wins the nomination, he will lose the Catholic vote to McCain too.

Thou shall not lie! Catholic voters will see that he is a man of faith and he focuses on the issues and speaks the truth – Not mud slinging and twisted word play which divides.
Sen. Obama will unite and I will vote for him!
Peace.

Be carefull Dems you will not take our religion or guns away.Its funny with islam being what it is why do you dems only down catholics and christians.I thought your supposed to be uniters but instead all you are doing is sewing the seeds of a civil war.

All they need is a few young boys to sway the vote.

MOST CATHOLICS THAT I KNOW WOULD NOT VOTE FOR A SUPER LIBERAL LIKE OBAMA!!!!!!!

HILLARY IS MORE CONSERVATIVE!!!!!!!

SHE GETS MY VOTE!!!!!!!

GO HILLARY!!!!!!!!!

The Catholic Church does not tell it's members how to vote, it is one of the many great things about my faith. There is no "Catholic Vote." Catholics are as diverse of a group as there is out there, politically speaking.

Am I mistaken, or is there supposed to be a separation of church and state thing written somewhere. I know our money has "In god we Trust" on it, we place a hand on a bible when we are sworn in, and we pledge the alliegence before public meetings, but isn't that supposed to be primarily it? Voters are voters, not catholics, or baptists, or christians, or muslims, or athiests. If the pope weren't in town, this wouldn't even be a blog point. Aren't the agnostic voters up for grabs too? What about the unrecognized pagan voters? Get my point???

Looking to the Pope to decide who to vote for? Is that how little CNN really thinks of Catholics? Insulting...

THE GOOD CATHOLIC PEOPLE WILL NOT BE FOOLED BY A SNAKE OIL SALESMAN WHO HAS NO EXPERIENCE, OR SUBSTANCE. THEY WILL NOT VOTE A SNOB OR A RACIST WIFE IN THE WHITE HOUSE. THEY WILL SEE THROUGH BARACK AND MICHELLE HATRED AND LIES, BARACK CANNOT AND WILL NOT WIN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

"listening closely for guidance...." lol!

cnn please this sis so divisive
your choice of words
the title of this article
i am not sure which catholics you have talked to

stop using race, religion, age, sex, origin, even accents to divide us,
report the facts

there have been at least two representatives who endorsed Obama and you ahve not reported............

report news please, not just clinton trash

I am Catholic, and Hillary gets my vote.

Sorry Benny, I'm pulling for Hillary.

THE POPE'S ADDRESS TO THE COUNTRY THIS MORNING:

WHAT A BLATENT CONTRAST TO PASTOR WRIGHT ! ! !

AN UPLIFTING OCCASION ......WHETHER CATHOLIC OR NOT....! ! ! !

Thank you CNN for the excellent coverage.

The only thing that seems a little disturbing... that people think that Catholics only vote on church issues... some will but a lot of us are struggling just like everyone else... we will vote to help correct some of the ongoing problems in the US... please do not generalize us like that!!!

Obama did make a little gaff on the CNN special Sunday... I did not care for his comment about it being a "punishment" in regards to teen pregnancy... then he continued talking about how one mistake could ruin your life...

I know my parents really did not like that comment and most likely will not vote for Obama... I am a little more open-minded than they are!!!

Please! Stop bashing the Pope! It is irreverent. We are all entitled to our own religious (or non-religious) beliefs, but please don't trash others.

What I really started out to say was this.

Catholics make up 20% of the electorate according to the above article. If that is true, there is one very significant point that the above is not factoring into this. There are millions of young catholics among this 20%. Who do you think inspired these young people to exercise their right to vote? Also there is the other side of the Catholic issue, the Evangelicals.

Please go to Huffington Post and read Frank Schaeffer's "Good News for the Democratic Party". You are going to be pleasantly surprised.

As a "fallen away" Catholic, I pay no attention to anything that comes out of Rome – the church I once belonged to I believed in the past cared about the poor, the environment and tolerance of all people as God's children – how wrong I was!. From what I see today, is that all Catholics care about is abortion, intolerance and downright hatred of gays and love of our warmongering administration (abortion is wrong to their belief but it is okay to send our best to be horribly mutilated or die in a war that is a big lie! ) – this is how they vote. Whatever happened to following the Golden Rule?

The separation of church and state has never been a reality anywhere in the world. How 'bout all the Catholics denouce a chuch with such a high rate of homosexual child abuse? Maybe that would get the Pope to really do something about it rather than pay lip service to an issue he helped to hide.

I expect Obama to talk about the TYPICAL CATHOLIC soon.
And he will leave it at that.

He never explained what he meant by a TYPICAL WHITE WOMAN.

Is Obama a TYPICAL BLACK MAN ?
Is he a TYPICAL AFRICAN AMERICAN ?
Is Obama a TYPICAL AFRICAN ?

Are the people of PA TYPICAL AMERICAN VOTERS ?

Catholics will vote for Hillary......have so far

Don't religion tell us there is only one kingdom ??

What happened to separation of church and state? However, I do recall from my old Catholic school days that we were taught 'thou shalt not tell a lie' ... guessing Hillary was out that day.

I am catholic and the good ole Catholic Church told parish's
to vote for BUSH in 2001 and 2004 and look what we got. A nightmare
I was For Gore and I was for Kerry and I did not vote for Bush. I already
knew Bush was very Bad news. The church will never tell me how to
vote.

I wish the media will stop breaking people town into groups (racial, religious, gender...etc...how will they vote?!?!?) and dividing people futher......it sells in the media, and it sucks

ONE AMERICA,

OBAMA 08!!!!!!!!!

I wander if we will learn that Hillary Clinton has been a secret Catholic all her life; and is ready to support the Pope from day one ?

or

When I was a little girl my dad used to sneak us in the Catholic church so that we can conduct the sacraments after going duck hunting.

or

Maybe she will go to confession and get forgiven for her sins of lying all the time.

Nope! She will say, " I just came from the hospital where I tried to the save the woman without insurance, but then learned that the Pope had left his hunting pistol behind and I tooked a trip to Bosnia where I had to dodge bullets to give him his shotgun." I misspoke. I meant Columbia where he was in a meeting with Mark Penn to discuss a deal with Canada about, Wink Wink, how we are going to renagotiate NAFTA. Now crying, "Why do these elitists, lucky to be black, and just words people always pick on me because I'm a girl?"

I was just kidding. You know I was just joking about all that stuff hahaha. How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?

Not only should we not let the church make up our minds as much as we should not let the news media make up our minds either.

Love America:
Read Isaiah 28:14-15, Isaiah 43:28 and Jeremiah 2:7
All real preachers are provocative to get their Nations to change.

They are not anti-country they are for the long term survival of the Country. They want to change the policies of the leaders so the Country can prosper and all citizens treated fairly. White, Black, Yellow or Red.

Justice for all!!

GOD bless America the land we love

OBAMA 08

I was raised Catholic ( I am in recovery doing quite well now) Let me tell you somthing. Catholics do NOT vote as a group. This isn't the 1700s.

Do ANY religous groups? If so that is kind of scarey!

If you can't believe in atheism, what can you believe in?

I am catholic and I will not any religion sway my vote against
Hillary. My vote has been for Obama from Day 1. I don't care
what they say about him. I will vote Obama. Not for a liar. Never.

The do not approve of this bed:

Hillary said she and Bill were in bed and she knows of all the calls a President gets at different times of the day and night. Really? So much involvement – so much togetherness. Where was she when Monica was having sex with Bill? 35 years of experience? When he was intimidating Katherine Wiley and Paula Jones? Where was the judgment on the cattle futures and white water. Do we forget Mark and Denise Rich? This was an impeached President who lost his license to practice law. He committed perjury. They settled with Paula Jones for the full amount of her lawsuit. I haven't forgotten and none of us should.

To "Obama will be President"

When has the Pope NOT been political? I mean the last pope, John Paul II, called for the Soviet Union to tear down the Berlin Wall. Pope Leo I got Attila the Hun to withdraw from Italy. It's ALWAYS been political with the Pope.

The Catholic voters have been strongly favoring Sen. Clinton throughout this primary season. So, if that tells you something, Obama will not win in Nov.

Barack and Casey all the way. We need a breath of fresh air.

My Catholic Church hands out pamphlets entitled: Voting for the Serious Catholic and this information helps to direct us in making a conscious, moral decision on our candidates. I appreciate this input as much as I appreciate CNN's listerners input. Think with an open mind folks.

I am very concerned about the Clinton lies, distortions and the scandalous behavior by Bill in "My" White House. The thought of him back in the White House is sad to me. I have yet to hear Hillary apologize for her hyperbole regarding sniper fire, NAFTA etc. Barack has humbled himself to apologize for fumbled words and Hillary just giggles at her fumbled words.

Pray for what is best for our country and what will reunite our country.

CNN, NEEDS TO CHILL.

AM A CATHOLIC HERE IN ATLANTA, AND I KNOW WE WILL VOTE FOR OBAMA

OBAMA SPEAKS THE TRUTH, AND SHE HAS A CLEAN HEART LIKE CATHOLICS.

WE ENDORSED HIM, WE CATHOLICS.

I can just see Hillary's new add about her strict Catholic upbringing and going hunting with the Pope and dodging gunfire.Should be an entertianing weeek.

Catholic should vote for Obama he was baptise in Catholic and he went to Catholic school.
Vote for you brother Catholicians God Bless America /Obama.

I guess Hillary will temporarily become pro choice to grab up a few of those Catholic votes.

Linda, PA- and anyone else out there still hanging on the "bitter" train

It is clear to me that you have not gotten any of the messages that Obama has been sending. It is long overdue that this country address the issues with race, immigration, failed trade policies, failing economy, the melting ice caps, healthcare crisis and yes even the bittter people like myself that has had enough of the true Elitests running this country. I truly dont see where you get the idea that Obama is a snob.

I see a man with obviously a great sense of humor who can separate himself from those who no nothing but hate. Wright was wrong, no question, but it was Wright, not Obama who spewed hate. Listen to the speech again or go read the book. Do your homework. I have not seen him call Hillary or McCain names or swiftboat either of them.

The guy is our only hope. The people who continue to say he is a snob and called the people of PA bitter still have not taken the time to understand what was really being said.

This pround white woman has no problem at all voting for the best and that person is Obama. He is the only one I have faith in. I really want what is best for this country and for my family.

OBAMA 08

. . . .I hope the Catholics vote on the side of TRUTH. And Hillary
certainly has not been truthful.

When some small town people are bitter, they cling to their Bible and go to Church.
Others cling to their Guns because they do not like others who look different from them.

Obama on the other hand would go to Church to listen to
Jeremiah Wright shouting out racial and unpatriotic remarks.

Other People, in General, would cling to their Spiritual beliefs because they are inspired.

Obama is a very confused person.
He wore the flag on his lapel for the first time yesterday !!!!!!!
God Bless America !!!!!

The Catholic Church does not preach politics from the pulpit like Trinity does. The Pope isn't going to sway voters one way or the other.

I'm a life long practicing 50 something Catholic –very devoted to my faith/Catholicism, but I make up my own mind. Hillary will have my vote. However, my conscious will never let me vote for Obama. Conservative Catholics will more than likely favor McCain.

So this race can't be about Race or Gender, but it's A-OK for it to be about religion??

Come on people. Vote for who you think will make the decisions on the issues that matter to you, and on who you can trust to actually effectively do as they say once they get in the White House.

Or, you could vote for the person that's been trying to push universal healthcare through for 15 years and still hasn't managed to make any headway because PEOPLE HATE WORKING WITH HER.

Have you read any of the biographies of Hillary? During her time in the White House she was constantly creating conflict and several people actually left Bill's administration because of her. How can somebody so aggravating actually get anything done??

Amen, Linda

I am hoping more citizen in PA have the same thought like you!!!

May the truth come out!

Actually, if he only tells people to use their brain and/or conscience, they will inevitably vote for Obama.

There is no other higher moral choice considering the other candidates.

I found it interesting that the Popes key message to all was HOPE. Facinating indeed...

Obama 08

Join the true revolution:

OBAMA FOR CHANGE...

GREAT JUDGEMENT AND AN AVERAGE AMERICAN LIKE YOU... .

UNLIKE Clinton making $109 million and MCSAME who is a millionaire and owns 8 houses!!!

And who do Catholics overwhelmingly support?? Hillary Clinton.

I guess we can just group the Catholics as the same group who has no will of their own, they all vote the same...

Give me a break CNN, where is the story about Bush saying "Yeah I approved iit and signed it" when he was talking about TORTURE!!!!

The Pope must be Backing Obama....

I am a practicing Catholic and we are not lemmings - read the article again! I have never heard a campaign speech in all of my many years come from the pulpit. There has never been a candidate in the race who is in sync with all of the Catholic teachings, otherwise we would choose a candidate who is pro-peace and justice, anti-abortion, anti-death penalty, and worked diligently for the poor and oppressed no matter where they are, including illegal immigrants. Who might that candidate be?

The Catholic vote is up for grabs?

Whatever happened to SEPERATION BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE???

The Catholic Church does not tell, or guide, their people in their choices. One of the speaking points the Pope has declared is "Faith and Reason." Your faith should never overshadow your reason or vice versa. Or as my mama used to say, "It's good to have religion, but don't let religion have you." If we Catholics are so good at predicting the presidential outcome, why have I never managed to vote for the winner?

I AM A CATHOLIC AND HAVE BEEN ALL MY LIFE THE CHURCH OR THE POPE WILL NOT TELL ME HOW TO VOTE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS NOT ALL PERFECT.

All this religious gibberish is the result of Republican attempts to besmirch Hillary. People need to remember Washington was an atheist, and Jefferson and Lincoln were agnostics. They did not do bad as presidents. They did much better than Bush has done.
Barack Obama-Wright for America? No. BHO is an elitist,arrogant snob.Most radical senator,attends white hating church,inexperienced,unpatriotic

Get the facts people, not the hype.

Make up your own mind don't let the church do it for you.

I am a christian not a lemming.

I'm a recovering Catholic. I don't recall too much "political talk" coming from the altar as a kid. Have things changed? I wouldn't want to have my priest preaching politics...just my 2 cents.