Sen. Brownback on Catholics and McCain-Palin

(Hat tip: Opinionated Catholic)

From Catholic News Service:

ST. PAUL, Minn. (CNS) -- Catholic Republican politicians emphasized their party's pro-life platform at a Sept. 3 event held at the Hilton Garden Inn-St. Paul City Center in conjunction with the Republican National Convention in St. Paul.

U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey, former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele and former U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican Jim Nicholson each spoke at the event, which was hosted by Catholics for McCain and the Catholic Working Group.

Titled "Render Unto Caesar," the reception and panel focused on rallying Catholics to support Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

"Are you pumped up yet?" Brownback asked the crowd of about 300 people as he took the stage. He immediately praised McCain's choice of Palin, which was announced Aug. 29.

"The lady is a real lady, a believer in the pro-life movement," he said. "She lives it. She is it."

Members of the pro-life movement have praised Palin's decision to give birth to her youngest child, Trig, who has Down syndrome, and her support of her pregnant 17-year-old daughter, Bristol.

The next president may have the opportunity to appoint one to three new U.S. Supreme Court justices, Brownback said, adding that if conservative justices are selected they may be able to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision legalizing abortion. [ED.: And as I blogged here, I'm hoping Sen. Brownback will be a Pres. McCain's 1st choice for any Supreme Court vacancy that arises.]

Republicans cannot concede "social justice ground," Brownback said, drawing attention to McCain's concern for genocide issues in Africa. "We are a pro-life and whole-life party." [ED.: See also this interview in Christianity Today (hat tip: Christopher Blosser at Catholics in the Public Square), in which Sen. Brownback points out that preference on the social justice agenda cannot be ceded to Sen. Obama, since Sen. McCain has been a leader on other social justice issues such as immigration reform, opposition to torture, and the environment.]

The Catholic vote is a critical vote in swing states, Brownback said. He encouraged Catholics to support McCain by talking to 10 people each day about him -- and one's spouse doesn't count, he joked.

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(emphasis and editorial commentary added)