What makes these “Non-Negotiable”?
The “Voters Guide for Serious Catholics” cites the Holy See as pointing out: “Democracy must be based on the true and solid foundation of non-negotiable ethical principles, which are the underpinning of life in society”.
These 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 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-negotiable principles involved in these issues.
In many elections there are situations where all of the available candidates take morally unacceptable positions on one or more of the non-negotiable issues.
In such situations, a citizen is called upon to make tough choices. In those cases, citizens must vote in the way that will most limit the harm that would be done by the available candidates.
“In those cases, citizens must vote in the way that will most limit the harm that would be done by the available candidates.”
Why participate at all? Why not just vote for the candidates and issues one CAN morally support, and trust God to “deliver us from evil” regarding the rest of the candidates/issues?
For instance, should I elect candidate A, whose past record indicates he will kill 100 people, or candidate B, who says he will only kill 10 people. Why support either, and so validate/perpetuate a moral evil by my own consent?