N.H. Catholic Diocese issues voting guide

Boston.com ^ | December 15, 2007

[Coleus]

New Hampshire's Roman Catholic Diocese is asking voters to pick the presidential candidate whose leadership would cause the least harm to life. The diocese is distributing a six-page pamphlet to parishioners containing the message, but not endorsing any candidate or siding with a political party. The pamphlet asks parishioners to weigh church teachings when considering candidates' positions on such issues as abortion, embryonic research and the death penalty.

The diocese has spoken out against abortion and the death penalty before the state Legislature over the years. Bishop John McCormack said this is the first such pamphlet issued before a presidential primary. "The church says that there are social issues in society that have moral dimensions, and that Catholics should form their consciences on those social issues and then vote for a candidate who supports those issues the best way possible," he said.

The pamphlet acknowledges they will have trouble finding a mainstream presidential candidate whose stances completely align with church teaching. Catholics must review whether "candidates support or tolerate policies that include intrinsically evil acts" and then "carefully assess the situation and decide which candidate will produce the least harm to innocent life, if elected" the pamphlet says.

Catholics will have differing viewpoints on important social issues such as war, economic justice and health care, the pamphlet says. But Catholics will recognize -- when they use reason supported by faith -- that abortion, euthanasia, human cloning and the destruction of human embryos for research are intrinsically evil acts, the pamphlet says.

[Coleus]

Booklet

 

Public Policy

[Salvation]

**The diocese has spoken out against abortion and the death penalty before the state Legislature over the years. Bishop John McCormack said this is the first such pamphlet issued before a presidential primary. “The church says that there are social issues in society that have moral dimensions, and that Catholics should form their consciences on those social issues and then vote for a candidate who supports those issues the best way possible,” he said.**

A little bit general and hazy here. Will have to look at the links you provided.

[11th_VA]

I’m sensing another Huckabee endorsement ...

[Jeff Chandler]

The usual-abortion is #1 with socialism a close second.

[marshmallow]

Catholics will have differing viewpoints on important social issues such as war, economic justice and health care, the pamphlet says. But Catholics will recognize -- when they use reason supported by faith -- that abortion, euthanasia, human cloning and the destruction of human embryos for research are intrinsically evil acts, the pamphlet says.

I like it.

This seems to be a clear departure from Bernardin's "seamless garment" approach and is a clear statement that the right to life is the most fundamental of all human rights. It clearly points out that rights are vertically, not horizontally arranged and at the top of the hierarchy is the right to life, without which, all other rights crumble.

[CatQuilt]

Not bad! The guide also stresses that marriage is one man, one woman. Now, if the Catholics in NH read it and follow it...

I’m sure the Archdiocese of Boston will be issuing one just like this soon... (/s)

[Coleus]

it’s against federal regulations for 501 c 3 organizations to endorse a candidate (unless you are a black church endorsing a democrat) , the guide should just reflect voting records and answers to questionnaires.