Archive
Week of 10/12/08
Week of 10/12/08
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| Copyright 2008 |
Regrettably, the voting record of Catholics is not discernibly different than
that of the general population. This cannot be allowed to continue. The stakes
have never been higher. It is literally a matter of life and death. We must
ensure that the Culture of Life overcomes our nation’s slide toward a Culture of
Death. For a more in-depth discussion of the Culture of Life vs. the Culture of
Death, click here.
As Election Day approaches take the time to learn your obligations as a
Catholic. Examine the candidates and the issues before us. And then, with a
clear conscience, vote!
Frequently, though, there are issues which arise that are
morally significant. For instance, we can all agree that for
a German voter to vote for Adolf Hitler who proposed the
extermination of the Jews would be seriously sinful. In
these cases, the Church offers guidance to the faithful on
the moral principles at stake. While the Church does not
endorse any particular candidate, Catholics must apply
these moral principles to their selection of a candidate.
At the present time in our country, there are five issues that have very strong
moral implications. So strong in fact, that to vote for a candidate that
espouses the morally unacceptable side of the issue is seriously sinful. These
five issues are:
- Elective Abortion
- Euthanasia Or Physician-Assisted Suicide
- The Destruction Of Embryonic Human Beings In Stem Cell Research
- Human Cloning
- Same-Sex “Marriage.”
Because these acts are intrinsically evil—that is, evil by their very nature—
the Catholic cannot in good conscience vote for a candidate the supports such
an evil if there is an candidate running that does not support them.
Before voting, every Catholic should read Moral Principles for Catholic Voters
issued by the Catholic Bishops of Kansas. Further explanation is available from
Catholic Answers in the form of the Voters’ Guide for Serious Catholics.
Finally, please take a moment to view a Catholic Answers' video explanation of
your obligations as a Catholic Voter.
Does the Church Tell Me Whom to Vote for? Do I Have To
Listen?
As Americans, we have a sacred right which is denied to most of the people on our
planet. That is the right to vote; to choose who will lead us and who will make our
voices heard in the development of laws and public policy. The Catholic Church
teaches that voting is not only a right but a sacred duty. “Submission to authority
and co-responsibility for the common good make it morally obligatory to pay
taxes, to exercise the right to vote, and to defend one's country.” [Catechism of
the Catholic Church, Para. 2240]. So first of all, the Catholic Church requires
that we exercise our right to vote.
Which candidate does the Church support and am I required to vote that way?
The Catholic Church is disinterested in the politics of a nation. So if the one
candidate believes that raising taxes is prudent and the other opposes that idea;
the Catholic Church remains aloof from the discussion and the Catholic should
vote as he sees fit. There are many issues in every election that are morally
neutral.
Listen?
As Americans, we have a sacred right which is denied to most of the people on our
planet. That is the right to vote; to choose who will lead us and who will make our
voices heard in the development of laws and public policy. The Catholic Church
teaches that voting is not only a right but a sacred duty. “Submission to authority
and co-responsibility for the common good make it morally obligatory to pay
taxes, to exercise the right to vote, and to defend one's country.” [Catechism of
the Catholic Church, Para. 2240]. So first of all, the Catholic Church requires
that we exercise our right to vote.
Which candidate does the Church support and am I required to vote that way?
The Catholic Church is disinterested in the politics of a nation. So if the one
candidate believes that raising taxes is prudent and the other opposes that idea;
the Catholic Church remains aloof from the discussion and the Catholic should
vote as he sees fit. There are many issues in every election that are morally
neutral.