#Faith2016 News Roundup: Democratic Party Platform Draft

Last updated on: July 8, 2016 at 3:55 pm by Jacob Lupfer

#Faith2016 News Roundup: Democratic Party Platform Draft 2016-07-08T15:55:08-04:00 Jacob Lupfer

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(Note: This is part of a series of posts that highlight some of the best news and commentary on the role of faith in the 2016 election. See my previous posts from earlier in the summer.)

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Here are some items addressing social issues in the Democratic Party Platform Committee’s draft, dated July 1.

In his first article for America magazine, reporter Mike O’Laughlin asks whether there is room in the party for pro-life Democrats. He interviewed scholar Stephen Schneck, Sister Simone Campbell, and activists Christopher Hale and Steve Kreuger for the article.
At U.S. News, Susan Milligan has a provocative piece about how Democrats’ positions on LGBT issues and abortion rights enable the party to campaign from a position of strength on social issues. Milligan interviewed several Republican U.S. Senators about this dynamic. After years on the defensive, Democrats now seem to have voters on their side.
The Washington Blade’s Chris Johnson has a thorough article about the platform’s attention to LGBT issues.

LGBT inclusion isn’t limited to a single plank. LGBT rights are mentioned throughout the draft, including in the introduction where they are invoked to take a knock at Trump’s slogan, “Make America Great Again.”
In his National Catholic Reporter column, Father Thomas Reese looks more broadly at the Democratic platform in light of Catholic social teaching. I commend the entire analysis, but here’s his concise summary:

In short, on the environment, the poor, and economic issues, the platform is pretty much in sync with Catholic social teaching. If anything, papal teaching would probably be more to the left than the platform. Likewise, in foreign policy, Catholic social teaching would emphasize negotiations, diplomatic solutions, and peace making and put less stress on military solutions than does the platform. The U.S. bishops will also object to its strong support for abortion and it silence on their concerns about religious freedom.

The Platform Committee is meeting in Orlando, Florida today and tomorrow.

Upcoming #Faith2016 news roundups will focus on the Republican platform, the party conventions, and stories with religion angles in the 2016 campaigns.

National Catholic Reporter

Susan Milligan

Thomas Reese

US News & World Report

Washington Blade

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