My Fellow Americans,

The greatness of a nation is not based on its affluence and military might. Rather, greatness is measured by an enduring commitment to the Gospel’s central teaching of love for all, and a determination to fully apply the principles of Catholic social teaching to every aspect of political, economic, and social life.

With this unfailing moral map from the Almighty as our guide, let us always protect life and affirm its dignity! A civilized nation does not permit the murder of 1.2 million babies by abortion every year. I call on this Congress and the states, to pass a constitutional amendment, fully protecting the life of every single human being from conception to natural death.

In some ways we act no different than our Neanderthal predecessors in dealing with conflict. Except that today instead of clubs, we use M-16 rifles, B-1 bombers, unmanned drones, cruise missiles, and nuclear weapons of mass destruction against our enemies—killing countless innocent civilians in the process.

Jesus taught us to love our enemies, not annihilate them! Waging war—with all its death and destruction—is contrary to reason, logic, and the God who gives life. In this world there is no perfect way, but there is a better way. Let us wage peace!

To that end, I have ordered a total withdrawal of military forces from both Iraq and Afghanistan before Christmas. Untiring, comprehensive negotiations with all willing parties, along with the rebuilding of both countries, will be our objectives. Pope John Paul II taught that, “if development is the new name for peace, war and military preparations are the major enemy of the integral development of peoples.”

It is estimated that with an additional $100 billion in poverty focused aid per year, extreme poverty throughout the world could be eliminated. For the sake of the common good, and in solidarity with the world’s suffering masses, I urge Congress to transfer $100 billion from the astronomical $708 billion military budget and appropriate it for the purpose of raising the world’s one billion hungry human beings out of extreme poverty!

Here at home, forty million Americans—one in every five children—are poor. I ask this Congress to embark on a massive green jobs creation program that will help protect our fragile environment and put millions of Americans to work.

Killing people, who kill people, is both hypocritical and immoral. It is my hope that Congress will pass legislation outlawing the vengeful practice of capital punishment.
Our country is benefitting from the hard work of millions of undocumented workers who are forced to live a largely underground existence. Send me legislation that legalizes their status and unites their families, and I will proudly sign it into law.

As the only industrialized nation without universal health insurance, and with over forty-six million Americans uninsured, I urge Congress to pass a quality health care bill that covers every single person in the United States. No one should be excluded from this human right.

Since abortion is not health care, I will veto legislation that includes any form of abortion coverage! And I insist that full conscience protection be provided to all insurers, hospitals, and related personnel.

Let us ask God for the courage to put our Gospel based faith into action. Let us be guided by the wise principles of Catholic social teaching, and thus, consistently do what is morally right for all.

God bless America, and everyone on planet earth!