Kansas Bishops Address Voting as Faithful Catholics

9/18/2008

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of the different policy approaches proposed by candidates. Catholics have a special responsibility to be well informed regarding the guidance given by the Church pertaining to the moral dimensions of these matters. In the end, Catholics in good conscience can disagree in their judgments about many aspects of the best policies and the most effective candidates.

THE PRIORITY OF REJECTING INTRINSIC EVIL

There are, however, some issues that always involve doing evil, such as legalized abortion, the promotion of same-sex unions and �marriages,� repression of religious liberty, as well as public policies permitting euthanasia, racial discrimination or destructive human embryonic stem cell research.A properly formed conscience must give such issues priority even over other matters with important moral dimensions. To vote for a candidate who supports these intrinsic evils because he or she supports these evils is to participate in a grave moral evil. It can never be justified.

Even if we understand the moral dimensions of the full array of social issues and have correctly prioritized those involving intrinsic evils, we still must make prudential judgments in the selection of candidates. In an ideal situation, we may have a choice between two candidates who both oppose public policies that involve intrinsic evils. In such a case, we need to study their approach on all the other issues that involve the promotion of the dignity of the human person and prayerfully choose the best individual.

LIMITING GRAVE EVIL

In another circumstance, we may be confronted with a voting choice between two candidates who support abortion, though one may favor some limitations on it, or he or she may oppose public funding for abortion. In such cases, the appropriate judgment would be to select the candidate whose policies regarding this grave evil will do less harm. We have a responsibility to limit evil if it is not possible at the moment to eradicate it completely.

The same principle would be compelling to a conscientious voter who was confronted with two candidates who both supported same-sex unions, but one opposed abortion and destructive embryonic research while the other was permissive in these regards. The voter, who himself or herself opposed these policies, would have insuf�ficient moral justification voting for the more permissive candidate. However, he or she might justify resorting to a write-in vote or abstaining from voting at all in this case, because of a conscientious objection.

In 2004 a group of United States Bishops, acting on behalf of the USCCB and requesting counsel about the responsibilities of Catholic politicians and voters, received a memo from the office of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the future Pope Benedict XVI, which stated:
�A Catholic would be guilty of formal cooperation in evil, and so unworthy to present himself for Holy Communion, if he were to deliberately vote for a candidate precisely because of the candidate�s permissive stand on abortion and/or euthanasia. When a Catholic does not share a candidate�s stand in favor of abortion and/or euthanasia, but votes for that candidate for other reasons, it is considered remote material cooperation, which can be permitted in the presence of proportionate reasons.�

Could a Catholic in good conscience vote for a candidate who supports legalized abortion when there is a choice of another candidate who does not support abortion or any other intrinsically evil policy? Could a voter�s preference for the candidate�s positions on the pursuit of peace, economic policies benefiting the poor, support for universal health care, a more just immigration policy, etc. overcome a candidate�s support for legalized abortion? In such a case, the Catholic voter must ask and answer the question: What could possibly be a proportionate reason for the more than 45 million children killed by abortion in the past 35 years? Personally, we cannot conceive of such a proportionate reason.

TIME FOR CATHOLICS TO EXERCISE MORAL LEADERSHIP

The number of Catholics and the percentage of Catholics in the United States have never been greater. There has never been a moment in our nation�s history when more Catholics served in elective office, presided in our courts or held other positions of power and authority. It would be wrong for us to use our numbers and influence to try to compel others to accept our religious and theological beliefs. However, it would be equally wrong for us to fail to be engaged in the greatest human rights struggle of our time, namely the need to protect the right to life of the weakest and most vulnerable.

We need committed Catholics in both major political parties to insist upon respect for the values they share with so many other people of faith and good will regarding the protection of the sanctity of human life, the upholding of the institution of marriage between a man and a woman as the foundation of family life, as well as the protection of religious liberty and conscience rights. It is particularly disturbing to witness the spectacle of Catholics in public life vocally upset with the Church for teaching what it has always taught on these moral issues for 2,000 years, but silent in objecting to the embrace, by either political party, of the cultural trends of the past few decades that are totally inconsistent with our nation�s history of defending the weakest and most vulnerable.

Thank you for taking time to consider these reflections on applying the moral principles that must guide our choices as voters. We are called to be faithful Catholics and loyal Americans. In fact, we can only be good citizens if we allow ourselves to be informed by the unchanging moral principles of our Catholic faith. .

Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann,
Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas

Most Reverend Robert W. Finn,
Bishop of Kansas City-St. Joseph

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1 - 10 of 23 Comments

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1 year ago
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Kevin
4 years ago
So ... all a candidate (George Bush) needs to do is say he is against abortion and he automatically is mandated to win all Catholic votes. Christians and Catholic's have been had on this issue over the past 10 - 15 years. Address the root of abortion to save those lives -- you were making more progress against abortion in the Clinton years. Some catholic charities have it right and have their energy focused on support of mothers to make the right choice, rather than once every four years political grand-standing.
Matt Price
4 years ago
Tk - agreed. I actually agree with the moral principles set forth in catholic doctrine. But, because they lack education in terms of sociology or anthropology their behavior and rhetoric appears to be ridiculous. Their goal should first be to step out of their history which is a blind spot and to refocus their efforts on something that is more defensible. If they continue the risk undermining their own credibility far more then they already have.

They regularly flood our campus and it has become worse lately. It seems that the gods are indeed expansionists. Catholicism has one thing going for them and that is money, without which they would have been wiped off the face of the earth if for nothing else their inability to put the pedophilia fire out quickly enough.

People have access to information like never before, if they intend to maintain their pseudo legitimacy they must do so with more integrity, not through marginalization of groups, the legitimacy of which is practically fiat.

It is a very real possibility that within the next twenty years the church as they conceive it will be decede - replaced by a holding company (without tax exemptions).
James D Medina
4 years ago
Catholic=Pro life. I am Catholic and have some Catholic neighbors that are voting for Obama a candidate who supports intrinsic evils. I do not understand it but I will support fully the pro life movement. Blessed be the name of the Lord.+
AndyO
4 years ago
Dear Faithful, peace be with you!

God's commandment on the intentional taking of innocent life is clear. The Churches teaching is consistent regarding God's commandment. Our Pope and Bishop's are our Good Shepard's responsible for teaching us in the way's of Christ, how to be saints in our everyday lives, and saving our souls from ourselves and our misguided secular inclinations. YOU have free will, a gift from God that you can use to do his will or not. YOU have free will to chose Heaven or Hell through what you say or don't say ,or by your actions or inaction. Personally I chose the way of Christ, to be life giving to all, friend or foe, righteous or sinner, to the born or unborn.

Jesus was not a community organizer he is God in the flesh, in fact he said "I did not come to bring peace, but to bring you the Truth". Pilot was a Governor who washed his hands of the sentence pronounced against Jesus by those who were politically powerful and through their own interpretation of sacred scripture thought they knew more than God himself. Judas was one who knew the Truth, lived with the Truth, touched the Truth but still for convenience or gain of power and silver chose death instead of life. Sound familiar!

Faithful and Living the Good News!!
AndyO
tk
4 years ago
As a Catholic I'm frightened by how narrow-minded many Catholic voters have become in the last and current election. This only vote pro-life stance is irresponsible and has brought us the Bush administration's destructive policies on everything including the destruction of our God given Earth,their condoning of torture,and their pursuit of wealth at any cost.A "trickle down" economy doesn't work. We will have a healthy economy by empowering the neediest. Study history. Get news from different sources. Don't vote on the merits of one issue. Vote for the greater more compassionate good. Yes, vote Obama.
anne
4 years ago
Abortion is the deliberate taking of an innocent life. All the caring for the poor or whatever other social wrongs you may think you are correcting cannot justify the taking of one innocent human life so you may not inconvenienced. Many people thought that slavery, of a whole group of people was right and just like the pro-abortionists could have given a host of reasons to justify this perversion of human thinking. Yet today we cannot comprehend such thinking. Because abortion could take care of some problems or that it is legal does not make it right. You cannot trample the rights of the unborn for your convenience. Women and the entire world pay for the sin of abortion because it diminishes us as humans. By the way McCain has voted 100% for life. Obama voted to allow infanticide and to use poor people as a stepping stone to further his ambition.
Bob Wilson
4 years ago
Self centered president? Are you on crack? Why, because we took the fight to the Islamic terrorist? How many attacks have occurred in the US since we've gone on the offensive?

Also, you vote for a pro-homosexual marriage, pro-baby killing candidate? Shame upon you and your Hitlerian choice... speaking of selfish!!!
w.w.
4 years ago
I wish bishops would actually study Catholic history. The Church has had many different attitudes towards abortion through the 2000 years they talk about. I'm interested in the candidate who can actually lower abortions by public health policies. That's Obama!
Len
4 years ago
When we speak of the right to life, are we not talking about the right of people in other countries other than our own,not be killed in the middle of the night by a bomb dropped form a pilot following orders given by a misguided and self centered President. How many countless lives are lost to greed for oil, greed for money, greed for power. this is truly a CULTURE OF DEATH, the sin is in the heart. Before we judge others, we must begin by looking at our selfs. McCain has been pro-abortion when he felt it was more advantageous for him to be pro life he went in that direction.

For the past 8 years we have lived with the most secretive administration in the nations history. We have lived with men who will say whatever it takes to advance their power and influence. The disparity between the the rich and the poor has widened every day. Will you ask me to vote for a man that can change his beliefs at the drop of a hat.
Jesus was a community organizer, Pontius Pilate a governor, and Barabbas, a Maverick.

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