Voter's Guide for Serious Catholics

"These five current issues concern actions that are intrinsically evil and must never be promoted by the law. Intrinsically evil actions are those that fundamentally conflict with the moral law and can never be deliberately performed under any circumstances. It is a serious sin to deliberately endorse or promote any of these actions, and no candidate who really wants to advance the common good will support any action contrary to the non-negotatiable principles involved in these issues."

Catholic churches in Virginia passed out this 12-page Voter's Guide at mass today. Because the church is tax-exempt and may not endorse candidates, the guide does not specifically tell Catholics who to vote for. But it lists "five non-negotiable" issues that Catholics in good standing MUST consider when they vote. The issues are: 1. Oppose Abortion. 2. Oppose Euthanasia. 3. Oppose exploitation of Embyonic Stem Cells. 4. Oppose Human Cloning. 5. Support marriage as a holy and sacred union of one man and one woman and oppose "gay" "marriage" in law.

Catholics are not told to vote for or against any candidate but they are instructed to get informed on the positions of candidates about these issues. It is up to the individual Catholic voter to do homework and learn a candidate's position on these crucial questions. Last very important point. The guide specifically says under point one on page 9: 1. "Do not vote based just on your political party affiliation, your earlier voting habits, or your family's voting tradition." and point 3 also at the bottom of page 9: 3. "Do not vote for candidates simply because they declare themselves to be Catholic. Unfortunately, many self-described Catholic candidates reject basic Catholic moral teaching."

My separate opinon not in the voter's guide is: Read the guide carefully and prayerfully, for all those who have ears to hear, let them hear. When I was a very young man I also served as an altar boy. But unlike some who say that was a youthful vocation, I still try to follow moral teachings today that come from my church, the majority of Christian denominations, and those Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Islamic, Shinto, and other religious doctrines that support the dignity and sanctity of human life in all stages of development.

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