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The Catholic leader on whether or not President Obama is losing support among followers
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Story segment tonight a factor exclusive -- interview the most powerful Catholic cleric in America Timothy cardinal Dolan of New York.
As you -- -- Catholic voters supported President Obama last time around 54% to 45 but this year it may be -- different story.
That's because the president is demanding that Catholic non profit concerns cover birth control in their health insurance plans.
The church bitterly opposes that and litigation litigation is in the air.
And there is no question the relationship between President Obama and the Catholic -- -- Cardinal Dolan met with the president last November and it did not go well.
I don't want to act like I'm judging the president I don't know there are those who tell me that I was misled.
There are those who tell me that you simply misunderstood now they haven't backed off and you have a number of options that you can challenge however.
The church basically is in a position.
Now of and promoting.
An unpopular concept.
The ban of contraception.
You're right on target it's a tough battle because of that in our opponents very shrewd because they've chosen an issue that they know we don't we're not very popular on.
And that's why bill we have to be.
We have to be very vigorous in insisting.
That this is not about contraception it's about religious freedom that I don't want to judge people but I think there would be -- drift.
In the administration.
That this is a good issue and if we can divide the Catholic community because it's already divided.
And if one can caricature of the bishops is being hopelessly out of touch.
These bullies who -- trying to achieve judicially and legislatively.
What they've done but unable to achieve with because their moral integrity has been compromised recently there's that force out there trying to caricature us.
-- right.
But we can't back down from this fight because it's about religious freedom this close to the very heart of the idea of what the democratic enterprise that we know and love this united states of America's all about.
Does the Catholic Church want to be a player in American politics.
He had been kept well the Catholic Church once its people -- -- -- player in American politics or 20% of the -- of the population the United States -- Catholics -- and the Catholic Church through the album.
You -- -- to have wants to have a say in the direction of our beloved country to think that there's a Berlin Wall between one's religious convictions and -- political look activity is crazy it's ludicrous it's not only non Catholic non Christian non biblical it's also -- America.
Because it -- -- -- better story that I am bill you know that every great movement in in American history is he's been driven by people of religious conviction.
And if we.
Duct tape to churches -- just not talking about the Catholic Church if we duct tape the role of religion and the churches and -- convince people in the marketplace.
That's gonna lead to a huge deficit the huge void and there are many people who want to fill it up.
Mainly a new religion called secularism okay which which would be is doctrinaire and would consider itself is infallible.
As they caricature the other religions doing so.
That didn't -- -- -- it to see that morally driven religiously convinced people want to exercise their political responsibility.
I think that is not only at the heart of biblical religion it's at the heart of the American enterprise I wanna.
I want to get into one more thing for a much -- -- that you said the religion of secularism.
Are right.
So that's basically the Catholic church and other faith based people other religions against the American media and entertainment industry.
Mean that's how I see it -- the American.
Press very secular would you bring the okay.
And the entertainment industry.
Pounding secular radio all day long so you find yourself on the defensive.
All right just as you are in need in and now in the intrusion by the Obama administration -- -- how you operate your -- Prior to that -- there was a remarkable unanimity among Catholics.
Saying.
Is this is time for the church to stand up.
This is unwarranted radical unprecedented intrusion in the life of the church and we can't know there's Americans in which we think -- denied that it could be uniting now that his.
That's been fractured a bit since February 10 because there are some who say okay now the administration has seen our point we can back off we bishops don't think we can't.
But I'm wondering if this is the issue that'll bring us together maybe.
Would you say to American Catholics don't vote for President Obama based upon.
This intrusion.
Would you say that I wouldn't say that I I would never myself -- don't vote against -- don't vote for a particular candidate for what it's counterproductive.
I'd probably do -- the opponent a big favor of what if I would because even our even even very faithful Catholics still don't like the bishops or priests.
Telling them how to vote.
Person or even on a particular issue they like this to speak about principle they like -- to get clear and Cogent and compelling they don't like -- to -- very personal.
So I would I wouldn't say that -- And you can hear my full interview -- cardinal went on his radio program which airs tomorrow on the Sirius satellite network name.
