Catholics, Politics, and Public Policy : Beyond Left and Right

by Cochran, Clarke E.

• ISBN13: 9781570754579
• ISBN10: 1570754578
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-04-01
• Publisher: Orbis Books

Author Biography

Clarke E. Cochran is professor of political science at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Embracing the Challenge of Catholic Political Engagement	1	(23)
Engaging the World	1	(2)
Politics and Salvation	3	(2)
Religion and Politics	5	(1)
Core Themes of Catholic Social Teaching	6	(5)
The Catholic Voice in American Politics	11	(10)
Concluding Thoughts	21	(1)
References, Suggested Readings, Helpful Web Sites	22	(2)
Toward a Just Economy	24	(24)
The Meaning of Economic Life	24	(4)
Government and the Economy in the United States	28	(5)
Macroeconomic Policy	33	(6)
The Problem of Poverty and Government's Responsibility	39	(7)
References, Suggested Readings, Helpful Web Sites	46	(2)
Rethinking Healthcare Policy	48	(22)
Introduction	48	(1)
Where Do Catholics Come In? Life, Justice, Community, and Markets	49	(3)
The Challenge: Assuring Healthcare	52	(3)
Catholic Response: Universal Insurance and Catholic Ministry	55	(9)
Challenge: Biotechnology's Promise and Peril	64	(3)
Conclusion: The Ideological Map	67	(1)
References, Suggested Readings, Helpful Web Sites	68	(2)
Strong and Secure Families	70	(22)
The Ambiguity of Family in Church History	71	(2)
The ``Crisis'' of the Family	73	(1)
Government and the Family	74	(2)
The Family and Public Policy	76	(1)
Support for Children	77	(3)
Public Policy: Marriage and Divorce	80	(4)
Public Policy: Children and Education	84	(5)
Conclusion	89	(1)
References, Suggested Readings, Helpful Web Sites	89	(3)
Family, Solidarity, and the Elderly	92	(21)
Keeping Faith with the Elderly	92	(4)
Income Security for the Elderly	96	(7)
Healthcare	103	(7)
Family, Civil Society, and Government	110	(1)
References, Suggested Readings, Helpful Web Sites	111	(2)
Strong and Secure Communities	113	(24)
The Challenge: Crime and Civic Health	114	(6)
The Catholic Response: Effective and Humane Crime Control	120	(9)
The Catholic Response: Revitalizing Civic Life	129	(5)
References, Suggested Readings, Helpful Web Sites	134	(3)
Respecting Racial and Ethnic Pluralism	137	(24)
The Challenge: Race and Ethnicity in America	138	(2)
The Catholic Response: Unity in Diversity	140	(18)
References, Suggested Readings, Helpful Web Sites	158	(3)
Protecting the Environment	161	(21)
The Challenge: The State of the Environment	161	(3)
The Catholic Response: Stewards of the Earth	164	(16)
References, Suggested Readings, Helpful Web Sites	180	(2)
Consistently Defending the Sanctity of Human Life	182	(23)
The Challenge: Threats to Life	183	(5)
The Catholic Response: From a Culture of Death to a Culture of Life	188	(14)
References, Suggested Readings, Helpful Web Sites	202	(3)
Index	205