Catholics & Voting [May apply to many others!]

Catholic Exchange ^ | 6-01-04 | Grace MacKinnon

[Salvation]

Catholics & Voting

6/1/04

			Dear Grace: In an election, many organizations and candidates seek us out to support their cause. As Catholics, how can we support politicians with mixed positions on issues important to Catholics and thus make it almost impossible to vote for someone who represents our beliefs as Catholics? Should we even vote?

Your question I am sure reflects the concern of many Catholics and other Christians at this very crucial time, so it is very good that you have written. Yes, it is true that sometimes it seems that no particular party or candidate fully reflects our moral values, so that as Catholic Christians and voters, it is a most challenging task for us, but this does not mean that we should back away from our responsibilities as citizens.

In their 1999 statement titled Faithful Citizenship, the United States Catholic Bishops wrote the following:

As bishops, it is not only our right as citizens but our responsibility as religious teachers to speak out on the moral dimensions of public life. As members of the Catholic community, we enter the public forum to act on our moral convictions, share our experience in serving the poor and vulnerable, and add our values to the dialogue over our nation's future. Catholics are called to be a community of conscience within the larger society and to test public life by the moral wisdom anchored in Scripture and consistent with the best of our nation's founding ideals. Our moral framework does not easily fit the categories of right or left, Democrat or Republican. Our responsibility is to measure every party and platform by how its agenda touches human life and dignity.

They also went on to say,

For Catholics, public virtue is as important as private virtue in building up the common good. In the Catholic tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue; participation in the political process is a moral obligation. Every believer is called to faithful citizenship, to become an informed, active, and responsible participant in the political process. As we said a year ago, “We encourage all citizens, particularly Catholics, to embrace their citizenship not merely as a duty and privilege, but as an opportunity [more fully] to participate in building the culture of life. Every voice matters in the public forum. Every vote counts. Every act of responsible citizenship is an exercise of significant individual power” (United States Catholic Conference, Living the Gospel of Life: A Challenge to American Catholics, no. 34).

On October 20, 2000, just before the last presidential election, the bishops of the four Roman Catholic dioceses in Massachusetts issued an election statement calling on Catholics to exercise their "moral obligation" to vote and to recognize the "absolute centrality" of the protection of human life when choosing candidates on Election Day. The truth of their statement has not changed and still holds today.

The following is part of their statement:

Before [Election Day], we all have a responsibility to become informed about the candidates and the issues so that our choices will be based on the truth and will reflect the principles of our faith and our nation. In the process of choosing candidates, we Catholics are helped by the Conference’s statement, Faithful Citizenship, that sets before the voter four areas of concern. They are the protection of human life from the moment of conception to that of natural death; promoting family life; pursuing social justice; and solidarity with other peoples and nations around the world. We endorse the content of that statement and, in a particular way, wish to underscore the absolute centrality of the first issue, the protection of human life. Support and promotion of abortion by any candidate is always wrong and can never be justified. We will never cease to denounce abortion and euthanasia and teach all Catholics that to support those positions is to support death over life.

The Massachusetts bishops concluded:

The choices we make on November 7th will help shape the new millennium. It is our responsibility to vote for candidates who will promote life and the culture of life over the culture of death. Such persons will care for all the people of this country, including the poor. Such leaders will support families in their choices and encourage communities to take up responsibility for bettering their own neighborhoods. Such leaders will show the world that we are a nation of peace and that we live in solidarity with all peoples and nations of this world. As Catholics, we stand for life. As citizens, we can do no less than vote for candidates who stand with us.

I hope that reading these statements from the U.S. bishops will help you to be clearer as to the serious responsibility we have to make our vote count. More than anything, we must protect and defend human life and support those who do. It is what God calls us to do always and everywhere. When we walk into the voting booth, we do not walk in alone. Christ walks in with us.

© Copyright 2002 Grace D. MacKinnon

Grace MacKinnon holds an MA in theology and is a syndicated columnist and public speaker on Catholic doctrine. Her new book Dear Grace: Answers to Questions About the Faith is available in our online store. If you enjoy reading Grace’s column, you will certainly want to have this book, which is a collection of the first two years of “Dear Grace.” Faith questions may be sent to Grace via e-mail at: grace@deargrace.com. You may also visit her online at www.DearGrace.com.

[Salvation]

For your consideration and discussion.

[Salvation]

**For Catholics, public virtue is as important as private virtue in building up the common good.**

Eat that, Kerry!

[Salvation]

Catholic Discussion Ping!

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[Salvation]

Also an Action when Voting Ping!

Catholic Action Ping!

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[StAthanasiustheGreat]

Catholic Answers have put together a really good Voter's Guide as well, I plan on copying it and leaving stacks of it at my progressive center, hopefully it will change some hearts and minds.

[Salvation]

Good idea!

I always use the one that Right to Life sends out!

[Salvation]

Voter's Guide for Serious Catholics

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

Ping to #7

[aimhigh]

Oregon churches are now actively presenting and gathering petitions to put an anti-gay marriage amendment in the consitution.

[GrandEagle]

Great Post.
As a Baptist I run into the same problems.
There is one mitigating factor for me though; If a candidate believes that it is acceptable to reach into the womb, grind up a child, then suck that child out with a vacuum cleaner; that candidate is simply unfit to serve in any public office. Failing to understand the very foundation of life, how can they be reasonably expected to make wise decisions?

[Pippin]

Thanks!

I printed out a copy, I see where you ca get a free booklet about voting as a serious Catholic.

[nickcarraway]

BUMP

[Salvation]

You are so correct. God bless!

[Salvation]

I wasn't aware of this. Is it a denominational thing?

Haven't seen anything in my Catholic Church.

[aimhigh]

I wasn't aware of this. Is it a denominational thing? Haven't seen anything in my Catholic Church.

I wasn't aware it was a demonitional thing.

[Lady In Blue]

Thanks very much! I sent Catholic Answers a small donation last month and I indicated that I would like 5 copies of this document.I intend to pass one copy on to my pastor and put 3 in the back of the church where we keep holy cards and freebies.I'm glad to see that Catholics & Voting Guide for Serious Catholics is now printed.I've been wondering when I'll get them.

[fatima]

Coleus,Prolife bump.

[monkfan]

As citizens, we can do no less than vote for candidates who stand with us.

Amen.

IMHO, separating my religious beliefs from my political beliefs would be like separating my head from my shoulders. Nothing good will come from it.