I have a problem. I agree absolutely with those who oppose this war. It was a morally wrong from the beginning... we never should have been there in the first place.

I also agree with those who say President Bush should be impeached for lying to Americans and to the global community about why we should have gone to this war.

So where is my problem? I disagree with those same people about how and when we should pull out. I agree with Powell -- despite being upset with his complicity in Administration deceit -- on his statement that if we break it we own it.

Several candidates, from both the Republican and Democratic parties, have thrown their hats into the ring to run for the office of President of the United States in 2008.

I already have my own thoughts on who to support, but want to hold off to allow objective analyses and to allow discourse with other Catholics for Democracy leaders to weigh in; that way I know whether to announce who I support as a personal announcement or whether I can announce the candidate as one with CFD support.

In the meantime, I have taken up a special prayer for the upcoming Presidential election; to help assure the Holy Spirit guides the election: the Divine Mercy Chaplet

Those who know my participation in this forum already know I pray parts of the Liturgy of the Hours daily; an online version of the liturgy is available in the foot of this website. That is not enough, though. We, as a nation, have committed some serious sins and have a lot to atone for if we are to contribute to the Divine Plan of establishing Christ's peace on earth. We need, collectively, to atone for our sins. Praying the Liturgy of the Hours is not enough, then; especially if I/we am/are already praying it.

The Republican message on Democrats as the Republicans hope to retain control of Congress, "The Democrats offer criticism, but they have no plan to succeed in the 'war on terror'."

That is easy and culpable rhetoric coming from the party that absolutely controls Federal government and the government's messaging.

Many people, Democrat, Green Party, independent, even Republican, and otherwise have opposed the war in Iraq as immoral. Many leaders from the Vatican -- including Pople John Paul II and our current Pope Benedict XVI -- have challenged this war under Just War theology.

The truth is we do not need an exit strategy from Iraq other than empowering the government of the people we are at war with; something our current Adminstration and its compliant Congress does not seem to be willing to do. But, then, we seem to have a government invested in disempowering the very people on whose behalf they govern. So, in those terms, that makes sense.

Bishop William S. Skylstad, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has joined religious leaders from diverse faith traditions in rejecting the use of torture because it is a violation of basic human dignity.

Bishop Skylstad signed the statement entitled “Torture is a Moral Issue.” The text follows:

“Torture violates the basic dignity of the human person that all religions, in their highest ideals, hold dear. It degrades everyone involved – policymakers, perpetrators and victims. It contradicts our nation’s most cherished values. Any policies that permit torture and inhumane treatment are shocking and morally intolerable. Nothing less is at stake in the torture abuse crisis than the soul of our nation. What does it signify if torture is condemned in word but allowed in deed? Let America abolish torture now – without exceptions.”

The statement can be found on the web site of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture at www.nrcat.org

Just two days ago, I listened to an interview on CNN with a neocon Evengelical. Ironically, the Evengelical was speaking about the Foley scandal. He cited John Adam's claim that Christian religion is an important basis for a sound government. He also insisted that the statement of John Adams, as a Founding Father, is to be taken as the intent of the Founding Fathers and writers of our Constitution. The Evengelical Christian minister cited that statement -- which he did not actually quote -- to argue that homosexuals do not belong in government.

Here is what John Adams really said:

We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution is designed only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for any other.

Note that John Adams, in his list of vices he thought would destroy this country, did not mention anything to do with sex, heterosexual, homosexual or otherwise. The Evengelical minister forgot to mention that fine point. However, John Adams did mention many of the sins of the Corporate-owned Republican party. It seems that, yes, John Adams was right. When we have a socio-economic system, and corresponding political posturing, unresponsive to Christian ethics, our society and government will fall apart as a democracy.

Not since the 2004 Presidential campaign have members of Catholics for Democracy had an opportunity to witness a candidacy worth getting really excited about. That is not to say candidates haven't approached us. A number of candidates from across the country this year, in fact, have approached the Catholics for Democracy community for our support.

Supporting any particular candidate at all is a risky endeavor. So many assumptions about a group's values ride on endorsements the group chooses to make. The particular risk, here, is the potential for a perceived loss of objectivity or credibility in evaluating the values exercised by government and by those who seek elected positions in government.

Sometimes that risk is worth taking, though; especially when a candidate comes onto the political radar with a firm set of values in place.

We at Catholics for Democracy are really excited to highlight the candidacy of Victoria Brooks who is running for Floyd County Commissioner Post Seat 4 in Floyd County, Georgia.

In 1971, as a Defense Department Official and Vietnam Vet, he "released" 7,000 pages of Nixon's secret war plans, "The Pentagon Papers", to The New York Times. Placing him at the top of Nixon's "Enemies List" and having Henry Kissinger call him "The most dangerous man in the world."

If the telecommunications industry succeeds in getting Congress to legislate away guarantees of Net Neutrality, the ability for websites like Catholics for Democracy to contribute our views in the public arena will be placed in serious jeopardy!

I encourage everyone to get involved in demanding that the internet remains the open and neutral vehicle for the free expression of thoughts and ideas it was intended to be. Don't let billion-dollar corporations succeed in getting Congress to legislate away one of our last remaining vehicles for genuine communication and debate.

For more information, go to www.savetheinternet.com