All right, readers. The time has come to cast your ballot. The polls are located at the top of the sidebar – one for the St Thomas More Division, the other for the Richard Rich Division. You can only vote once (sorry, libs!) and your vote is secret. There are 16 TMD candidates, and 12 RRD ones. I have a pretty good idea who will win the Richard Rich Division, but as for the St Thomas More Division…mighty tough competition.
You can read the comments from the nomination post if you want to read up on any of the nominees, as to why they were nominated for either division, and in one case, both divisions.
I excluded any nominee that had shed his or her mortal coil. It just seemed more fair that way. Beyond that, I included all the nominees that were offered.
Polls close at 12:00 Noon EST, December 30, 2012. Unless the world ends on the 21st, in which case, the polls will close earlier than scheduled.
UPDATE: After much reflection and seeking the advice of Anonymuse, I’ve decided to change the Richard Rich Division poll. Cardinal Dolan, Cardinal Pell and Bill Donahue are no longer selectable – having them appear alongside the other individuals gives the appearance of scandal. While they may have done or said things some might find disagreeable, none have actively sought to undermine the Church or distort & misrepresent doctrine. I should have exercised better judgment, so I apologize.
Some of you may disagree with my decision, which is your right. I believe I’ve made the correct decision.
I voted for Michael Voris in the TM poll, because I suspect your average Catholic is more aware of MV because of his media apostolate. The other guys and gals don’t get as much day to day face time in the media.
I voted for Cdl. Dolan in the BRR poll, because as far as I’m concerned, he did more damage with his lack of effective leadership than all of the others in the poll.
I understand that these votes just represent people’s opinions, but it is unjust for faithful Catholics (Dolan, Pell, and Donahue) to be lumped in with manifest dissenters and excommunicates, simply because their methods are called into question (whether too lenient, too subtle, or too harsh). It’s one thing to poke fun at Catholics who’ve essentially publicly repudiated their faith by comparing them to Richard Rich; it’s quite another to slander as unorthodox those with whom you simply disagree on prudential matters.
You’re better than this, Larry, and you should remove from consideration for RR anyone who isn’t in reasonably clear violation of Church doctrine and/or canon law.
You’re right – I was wrong. I’ve decided to change the poll.
Mad props, and a belated merry Christmas.
I voted for Voris in the TM division….he’s pointed out many of the interior problems, and that takes guts going against those who refuse to see it. Voted for Cardinal Dolan in the RR division, Obama dinner alone gets him my nomination
St Thomas More Division: No Benedict?
Baron Richard Rich Puppet Division: No Bishop Remi De Roo Roo.. … No Jimmy can do do.
Went with Hahn and Sibelius. Both promote covenants of a differing sort. And, that’s about as far as I should go with this one.
Benedict XVI was exempt from nomination because he is the de facto Most Influential Catholic.
And no one nominated Bishop Remi. Nominations are based on what they did the past year.
Ooops. Missed nominations part of all this.
arry may I make a suggestion? Put the USCCB in the RR and TM division. I think, as a group, they fouled up big time with stuff like social justice.
I think this would fall under the same reasoning why Cdl. Dolan et al should not be on the RR list.
I voted, Larry! For Cardinal Dolan and Kathleen Syphilis.
Yay! I’m mainstream!
TM division isn’t showing, so I can’t vote:-( Where did it go?
I’d make another suggestion for next time out: perhaps restrict the candidates to lay Catholics. I mean, clearly the most influential Catholic is the Pope. Of course, that would eliminate many great doers of good (Fr. Zuhlsdorf) and ill (Nones onna bus).
Whoops, page refreshed when I posted, and it showed up.
Dr. William Mahrt, easy. He was a voice in the wilderness for too long, and he’s enjoying a heyday these days. Hurrah for sacred music, and down with sacro-pop!