Legendary football coach and sportscaster Lou Holtz recently spoke to an intimate group of Central Florida Catholics about the upcoming election presidential election.

“We have an important choice to make on Nov. 3.,” Holtz, who emceed the event, told the crowd. “We have an obligation to reach out to every friend, every person you meet, and tell them the true facts. This is too critical. This is about a way of life. This is about the country as we know it.”

The Florida I-4 Corridor Catholics, organized the intimate event of 150 invitees, in a drive to compel Catholic voters to discuss political issues with their fellow faithful.

Attendees at the event.

With 45 days until the election the event was well timed.

Long an outspoken conservative Catholic, Holtz said there is no real choice this election for Catholics.

“I don't think we have ever had a President who loves this country as much as (Trump) does,” Holtz said.

Despite Trump's successes, Holtz said the president never receives credit in the face of never-ending attacks from mainstream media.

“There was a time when you had a difference of opinion, the media would give you the facts,” he said. “Today they don't give you the facts.  It's like the officials being for Michigan when we [Notre Dame] played them.  I felt like that was the case anyway!"

Holtz reminded those gathered that the upcoming election is pivotal for Catholic faithful.

"Let’s understand the Catholic Church is under attack,” Holtz said. “You look at everything that is happening - Kamala Harris said the Knights of Columbus are a very dangerous group.”

Harris is outspoken in her criticism of the Knights and some argue the Catholic Church itself.

Joe Grogan, former director of the United States Domestic Policy Council and assistant to President Donald Trump, also spoke at the event.

Kelly Moorman, a member of the Florida I-4 Corridor Catholics, said she was excited about the response from the crowd, particularly from conservative Catholics who may not have been motivated to go out and engage in discussions.

“There were a couple people there invited by friends who attended and they were in the voting for Trump, but not excited for voting for Trump camp,” Moorman told the Florida Catholic Tribune. “By time they heard (Grogan’s) testimonial they really understood how much Trump loves America and they walked away energized from it and I was really excited about that.” 

The Florida I-4 Corridor Catholics hope to get to the hearts of Catholics this election and to remind them that the faith is inherently conservative. 

“I really want to help deliver the Catholic vote for our values, for what matters to us,” Irene Doyle Sandler, a member of the Florida I-4 Corridor Catholics who helped organize the event, told the Florida Catholic Tribune.

Doyle Sandler said the values expressed by Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden are in conflict with the core values of Catholicism.

“(Biden) is a Catholic in name only and is openly pandering for the votes,” she said. “I don’t know how any type of Catholic can vote for abortion. What Catholic would find that at all tolerable?”  

The group advocates for pro-life, pro-family, religious freedom and freedom of school choice stances, which they feel are under attack.  

“I am very concerned about those issues,” Doyle Sandler said. “I am very, very concerned about Joe Biden getting elected.”

In a dig at the Catholic leadership, Doyle Sandler said it is up to Catholics to preserve their values through the voting booth.

“I think that lay people notice that our bishops seem very weak,” she said. “They seem to always be giving cover and apologizing for Democrats and criticizing conservative faithful priests.”  

Two recent polls conducted by the Florida Catholic Tribune revealed that Catholics in the Sunshine State roundly rejected Black Lives Matter principles and did not favor reparations, both of which have found a spotlight as Democrats growingly embrace BLM.

“I just hope that when Catholics go into the voting booth that they have the moment of truth and do a serious gut check on how important their faith is to them,” Doyle Sandler said.

Undecided Catholics in particular will take note of their neighbor’s efforts to engage them she predicted.

“I think a lot of people are going to make a decision in the voting booth and Catholics are going to be the deciders,” Doyle Sander said.

As the days until the election tick away, Holtz encouraged his fellow Catholics to stay strong.

“We cannot be intimidated,” Holtz said. “You have to stand up for what you believe.  If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything.”