New York Bishops: 'View Politics through Lens of Faith'

ALBANY, New York (LifeSiteNews) - The bishops of New York State have issued a document calling upon Catholics to "exercise our cherished right and our solemn duty as Americans and as Catholics" to vote to support pro-life and pro-family values.

"We Catholics are called to look at politics as we are called to look at everything - through the lens of our faith," wrote the bishops on Wednesday. "We should be guided in evaluating the important issues facing our state and nation by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the teachings of His Church."

The bishops highlighted the Catholic obligation to form one's conscience, in order that Catholics may better discern which issues carry a greater moral weight. The most important of these issues, write the bishops, is "the inalienable right to life of every innocent human person," which "outweighs other concerns where Catholics may use prudential judgment."

"The right to life is the right through which all others flow. To the extent candidates reject this fundamental right by supporting an objective evil, such as legal abortion, euthanasia or embryonic stem cell research, Catholics should consider them less acceptable for public office."

The New York bishops also encouraged Catholics to familiarize themselves with the positions of congressional candidates. "Our state is facing many critical issues which are of vital concern to faithful Catholics," they advised, "and it is absolutely necessary for good citizens to pay attention to these races and to vote accordingly for the better candidates."

The bishops' statement also included a list of "important questions for political candidates" to help Catholics establish candidates' positions on key issues.

Among New York Catholics, the most recent Siena Research Institute presidential poll shows Sen. McCain leading Sen. Obama, with McCain at 47% and Obama at 40%, reports TimesUnion.com.

Among all New Yorkers, Obama leads McCain, though the margin has been shrinking since June. Obama now leads 46% to 41%, just above the 3.9% margin of error.

Susana,
Yes, I can try to explain why.
A person on death row has committed a crime of such a nature that it warrants the most severe punishment. Now, even if that person should not be put to death, that person should still most certainly be in prison so as to protect the lives of others. What crime has an unborn child ever committed? Like Jesus Himself, they are truly innocent yet sentenced to death.

Innocent victims of war are a very unfortunate result of the necessary response to evil for the good of others. Freedom is threatened by one man, and freedom is defended by another man. The very freedom that you yourself, and I, enjoy, was fought for. An unborn child is denied freedom itself and the right to fight for the freedom of others when it is threatened. No war has ever claimed the lives of so many as compared to abortion, and these children did nothing wrong. At least fighting a war to try and win freedom for others has an unselfish motive. Killing a child in the womb is a totally selfish act to vainly attempt the avoidance of an "inconvenience". These children aren't even considered human.
Tim

Tim | 10/6/2008

As a practicing Catholic and pro-lifer I ask: What about the war in Iraq? What about death penalty? What about immigration? What about healthcare? What about helping the poor who have been trampled on during the last 8 years with the Bush administration?

When president Bush sentenced that Army soldier to death, Bush was making a "choice." When McCain says abortion is acceptable for cases of rape/incest/mother's life in danger, that is a "choice." What I say: Both Republican's and Democrats are pro-choice.

Can you explain why the life of a fetus is more important than the life of a person en death row or innocent victims of war?

Thank you.
Susana

Susana | 10/6/2008

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