Hello Everyone,

My name is Tim Shipe, I am very active in promoting the Church Social Doctrine- perhaps I should say evangelizing. I am so serious about taking the complete Social Doctrine set of 'womb to tomb' moral principles into the larger American society, that I am starting to run for public office. I originally tried to get on the ballot for the 15th Congressional District in Florida, but I could not get the 5000 petitions signed in time. I am now about to announce a run for the 31st State Rep. District, as a pro-life, pro-social justice Democrat. You can assess my credentials at www.timshipe.com.

I am an adult Catholic convert, and a big push for me was the social encyclicals. I have always been politically engaged- started when I was 13, with no inspiration from parents or teachers- it came from within. I was always an underdog supporter- when I watched Cowboy and "Indian" movies as a kid, I rooted for the Indians. Today I find this instinct developed in it's fullest reach through the Catholic social teachings. I enjoy reading osjspm.org, zenit.org, godspy.com, and my favorite read of the past year has been the Compendium of the Church Social Doctrine.

I would like to seek support, advice, and criticism, from serious Catholics who subscribe to this blog. I am Catholic, not really liberal or conservative, I belong to Democrats for Life, I am right in line with the US Bishops on pretty much every issue. I have been suggesting to the Florida Catholic Conference that the Bishops organize a task force, to try to help find and nurture solid Catholics, who would agree to try to step up into leadership roles in the community. To run for political office, and be supported and advised by those who know the major and minor issues through and through. I am only one man, I have strengths and weaknesses, I have blind spots, I want to put forth only legislation that is helpful to the common good, I do not seek to be beholden to the limited morality of partisan politics. As Church, I believe we must do better to organize leaders, from the root beginning. By the time most politicians have worked their way to office, they have had to seek out too much help from too many dubious sources. It is tough to approach them at that point to lobby on behalf of the common good, and not some special interest with money or votes. I want to see the Catholic Church break this cycle. We need Catholic leaders who are Catholic first, not Republican or Democrat- this might make it tough to be elected, but it is a mission I believe we must take on. I'm tired of criticizing from the sidelines.

Take a look at my web site, and let me know if you can help out, or advise me on my stands on various issues. Yours in Christ, Tim