"How to Vote With a Clear Conscience" — A Special Report From Envoy Magazine

Envoy Magazine (http://www.envoymagazine.com/index.asp) ^ | October 1, 2008 | Mark Lowery, Ph.D.

[Patrick Madrid]

WHEN AMERICAN CATHOLICS VOTE, they typically divide into roughly two groups — those who consider themselves “life-and-family issues voters” and those who consider themselves “social-justice issues” voters. A life-and-family issues voter will automatically disqualify candidates with a voting record supporting abortion or homosexual civil unions. A social-justice issues voter tends to be flexible on the life issues and will put more emphasis on war and peace, on poverty and taxes, and on the death penalty. The very existence of these “different kinds” of voters makes us ask what, exactly, is the relationship of all these issues? Are some more important than others? If so, how should they be ranked, and by what criteria? Such questions will matter quite a lot in the upcoming 2008 election, and we are likely to see some rather interesting dilemmas form in the minds of Catholic voters. . . .

[Patrick Madrid]

The main URL for this PDF document is actually:

http://www.envoymagazine.com/pdf/gm_votersguide.pdf

[A.A. Cunningham]

Welcome back, Patrick. You’ve been missed.

[Jeff Chandler]

Hi Patrick!

[Patrick Madrid]

Thanks very much. Although I haven't posted here in a long while, I do visit often to see what's new, especially in the religion section. I hope you find the article on Catholic voting by Dr. Lowery helpful. Please help us spread the word.

[Patrick Madrid]

Sorry. I goofed up the HTML link for the banner above. (Maybe the moderator can delete that image?) Here it is again, with the correct link:

[samiam1972]

Thanks, Patrick! I’ll pass this link around.

[RobbyS]

My cynical take on the seamless garment thing that Bernardin and his followers were trying to re-establish their standing in the Democratic Party by giving Catholic leaders like Cuomo and Ferraro, cover for their pro-choice views. As on other issues, they were trying to confuse ordinary Catholics about the significance of the abortion issue. Guys like Gene McCarthy always said that the bishops were using the abortion issue to keep thier political clout, so I guess that Bernardin thought by softening the church’s position they would be allowed back in the club.

[Patrick Madrid]

Yes, that’s possible. But with Cardinal Bernardine now dead and on to his eternal destiny, there’s no way you or I can know for sure. One thing is true, though, and that is, we have a very different breed of Catholic bishop being appointed these days.