Texas Bishops on Voting as 'Faithful Citizens'

DALLAS, TX (Diocese of Dallas, TX) - As a part of its continued committment to assisting Catholics to vote in a manner which respects the dignity of every human life at every age and every stage as a foundational committment, Catholic Online presents the following Letter sent to the faithful of the Diocese of Dallas and the Diocese of Fort Worth by Bishop Kevin Farrell and Bishop Kevin Vann in its entirety:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

The month of October is Respect Life Month in our churches. It is a time in which we as Catholics are called to reflect upon the gift of life that has been entrusted to us by our Creator and to focus our attention on the many attacks against human life that exist in our culture today. This year, Respect Life Month takes on a more profound meaning as we face an election in our country where the protection of human life itself, particularly that of the unborn, is very much at stake. Therefore, as your Bishops, we wish to take this opportunity to provide clear guidance on the proper formation of conscience concerning voting as faithful Catholics and to articulate the Church's clear and unambiguous teaching on life issues as they relate to other issues of concern.

The Church teaches that all Catholics should participate as "faithful citizens" in the public square, especially through our voice in the voting booth, and that we have the responsibility to treat the decision for whom we will vote for with profound moral seriousness. We must approach the right and duty to vote with a properly formed and informed conscience in accordance with the teachings of the Church. Last November, the Bishops of the United States issued a document entitled Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, in which we and our brother Bishops issued clear moral guidelines to aid the faithful in proper formation of conscience with regard to the many issues we face in our nation today. Through this joint statement to the faithful of Dallas and Fort Worth, we seek to briefly summarize the key points and dispel any confusion or misunderstanding that may be present among you concerning the teaching contained in the document, especially that which may have arisen from recent public misinterpretation concerning this teaching.

1. Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship clearly teaches that not all issues have the same moral equivalence. Some issues involve "intrinsic evils"; that is, they can never under any circumstance or condition be morally justified. Preeminent among these intrinsic evils are 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.Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship clearly states: "There are some things we must never do, as individuals or as a society, because they are always incompatible with love of God and neighbor. Such actions are so deeply flawed that they are always opposed to the authentic good of persons. These are called �intrinsically evil' actions. They must always be rejected and opposed and must never be supported or condoned. A prime example is the intentional taking of innocent human life, as in abortion and euthanasia. In our nation, �abortion and euthanasia have become preeminent threats to human dignity because they directly attack life itself, the most fundamental human good and the condition for all others' (Living the Gospel of Life, no. 5). It is a mistake with grave moral consequences to treat the destruction of innocent human life merely as a matter of individual choice. A legal system that violates the basic right to life on the grounds of choice is fundamentally flawed." (22)

2. The destruction of the most innocent of human life through abortion and embryonic stem cell research not only undercuts the basic human right to life, but it also subverts and distorts the common good. As Pope John Paul II clearly states: "Disregard for the right to life, precisely because it leads to the killing of the person whom society exists to serve, is what most directly conflicts with the possibility of achieving the common good... It is impossible to further the common good without acknowledging and defending the right to life, upon which all the other inalienable rights of individuals are founded and from which they develop..." (The Gospel of Life, 72; 101)

3. Therefore, we cannot make more clear the seriousness of the overriding issue of abortion � while not the "only issue" � it is the defining moral issue, not only today, but of the last 35 years. Since the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, more than 48 million innocent lives have been lost. Each year in our nation more than one million lives are lost through legalized abortion. Countless other lives are also lost through embryonic stem cell research. ...

First, it should be known that I am not a registered voter, because of abuse I have received from conservatives in the state of Nevada. Therefore I did not vote for any candidate in this election.

However, there are some points that must be pointed out.

From the Catechism Section 2069

The Decalogue forms a coherent whole. Each "word" refers to each of the others and to all of them; they reciprocally condition one another. The two tablets shed light on one another; they form an organic unity. To transgress one commandment is to infringe all the others.30 One cannot honor another person without blessing God his Creator. One cannot adore God without loving all men, his creatures. The Decalogue brings man's religious and social life into unity.

The beloved Cardinal and now Pope Benedict Joseph Ratzinger wrote this with Pope John Paul II's blessing:

The Christian faith is an integral unity, and thus it is incoherent to isolate some particular element to the detriment of the whole of Catholic doctrine. A political commitment to a single isolated aspect of the Church's doctrine does not exhaust one's responsibility towards the common good.

Nor can a Catholic think of delegating his Christian responsibility to others; rather, the Gospel of Jesus Christ gives him this task, so that the truth about man and the world might be proclaimed and put into action.

Doctrinal Note on some questions regarding the participation of Catholics in political life. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger: Section II: 4 Offices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. November 24, 2002, Rome

From Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, November 2007
http://www.faithfulcitizenship.org/

28. The direct and intentional destruction of innocent human life from the moment of conception until natural death is always wrong and is not just one issue among many. It must always be opposed. 29. The second is the misuse of these necessary moral distinctions as a way of dismissing or ignoring other serious threats to human life and dignity. Racism and other unjust discrimination, the use of the death penalty, resorting to unjust war, the use of torture,4 war crimes, the failure to respond to those who are suffering from hunger or a lack of health care, or an unjust immigration policy are all serious moral issues that challenge our consciences and require us to act. These are not optional concerns which can be dismissed. Catholics are urged to seriously consider Church teaching on these issues. Although choices about how best to respond to these and other compelling threats to human life and dignity are matters for principled debate and decision, this does not make them optional concerns or permit Catholics to dismiss or ignore Church teaching on these important issues.

Clearly not every Catholic can be actively involved on each of these concerns,but we need to support one another as our community of faith defends human life and dignity wherever it is threatened. We are not factions, but one family of faith fulfilling the mission of Jesus Christ.

The Church teaches that all Catholics should participate as "faithful citizens" in the public square, especially through our voice in the voting booth, and that we have the responsibility to treat the decision for whom we will vote for with profound moral seriousness. We must approach the right and duty to vote with a properly formed and informed conscience in accordance with the teachings of the Church. Texas Bishops on Voting as 'Faithful Citizens'
By Bishop Kevin Farrell and Bishop Kevin Vann
10/12/2008

When Jesus quotes the greatest commandment he quotes Deuteronomy 6:4-9. In the Hebrew, When Jesus says, "Love God with All your Hearts," the word for heart is plural and the word for your is singular. In the Jewish gloss it gives two reasons for this. We remember as a community and we each have many inclinations.

There is a common ground between the liberals and the conservatives. Both want pro-life for somebody. The question is, "Who are they willing to sacrifice to get it?" The liberals want to throw out the pre-born baby, and the conservatives want to throw out the mother. Because of conservative republican greed, (that is why the call it the GOP [greedy old politicians] the conservatives also want to throw out the father. They are against a minimum wage that is related to the living wage, They are against due process in the work place and in the regular judicial process. They are against regulations that make sure the working environoment is a safe place to work, free from environmental and verbal abuse type pollution.

Which side is right? Which side is more important? In James 2:8-10 we have our answer:
If you fulfill the royal Torah according to the writings, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you commit error, and are convicted by the Torah as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law, but falls short in one particular, has become guilty in respect to all of it.

How do we love God? By loving his property. What is God's property? God's property is everything that exists, including the environment. What is God's most valuable property? In the story of Cain and Able, in the Hebrew it says, "It is my blood of your brother that calls to me from the ground." God's more valuable property is life. In Deuteronomy 30 we are presented with the command to choose life. God's most valuable property then is human life. In John 10:10 we are called to live life to its fullest.

In the Gospel of John chapter 21: 15-17 we have another answer.In this Gospel, Jesus asks, "Do you love me with an ever present transforming love." Peter, son of God is Gracious says, "You know that we are friends." Jesus says, "Even if that is all you have, feed my sheep." Jesus asks a second time, Do you love me with an ever present transforming love." Peter again answers with Peter, son of God is Gracious says, "You know that we are friends." Jesus answers with, "Feed my lambs." Jesus asks a third time with, "Are we friends." If Peter is not willing to rise to the level of transforming love, he must therefore backslide." This is why the passage says Peter is hurt by the question. Jesus then says, "Feed my sheep." How do we show we love God? "Feeding his sheep and his lambs," his planet. It is not enough to just be friends. The love must be a transforming love that reaches and to heal and transform the world and each person in it.

The solution is not continued repeated frontal attacks with strict constructionist judges, mean sprited laws that declare women with unwanted pregnancies to be guilty of murder, and constitutiional amendments that declare conservative men have the right to tell other people how to lead their lives. The solution is a different way. It is worth noting that in none of the gospels does Jesus quote the law to the masses.He never says, "In the Torah it says this... You will do this and you will not do that." The only individual Jesus does that with is the devil. The only group Jesus does that with is the first century republicans, the group of the establishment of his day, the pharisees. Even in the Sermon on the Mt. Jesus does not say, "The Torah says this..." or "The Torah says that... Instead he says, "You have heard what was said... but I say..." "The solution is the Gospel.

It is worth noting that in the story of the paralytic Mark 2: 1-12 the sin of the paralytic is not mentioned. I think it is because the child is the victim of child abuse and his sin is no more than anyone elses. What paralyses the child therefore is not sin, but guilt. That being the case, to be heaed, the child must not only believe that Jesus has the authority to forgive sins, but that he has the abiltiy to create the paralytic's world in such a way that the things he tried in the past, but which failed, will be successful in the future. That is not something Jesus can do. On the other hand, it is what he calls us to do and that is what the Gospel is all about.

Take special notice of the phrase "They form an organic unity." Now look at what Proverbs says on the subject:

Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the open squares she raises her voice: Down the crowded ways she calls out, at the city gates she utters her words: "How long, you simple ones, will you love senselessness, how long will you turn away at my reproof? I will pour out my spirit; I will acquint you with my words.

The Torah, the law, is therefore an organic whole. To be a liberal and say the conservative position does not apply and give a reason, is to try and chop off the right arm of Lady Wisdom as talked about in Proverbs. To be a conservatyive and to say that the liberal teachings are less important or do not apply is to try and chop off the left arm of Lady Wisdom. In Christian tradition, Lady Wisdom is identified with the Holy Spirit. Be wise. Watch who you chase with axes!

Further, it is important to look at these teachings from the perspective of those who suffer.

If I am one related to one of the the 1.2 million Iraqi citizens who lost their lives so that the conservatives in this country could have their oil. what am I to think of the 80% of so called pro-life people who voted republican in the last election? If I am related to one of the 4,000 plus US soldiers who lost their lives for the same goal, what am I to think of the 80% of people who call themselves pro-life and voted republican? If I am related to one of the the 2,000 who lost their lives in New Orleans so that the rich could have their Bush/ McCain tax cuts, what am I to think of the 80% of pro-life people who voted republican in the last election? If I am related to one of the 30,000 people who die in this country every year so that members of the National Rifle Association, along with every common criminal and person with mental illness can have their play toys what am I to think of the 80% of pro-life people who voted republican? If I am the parent of one of the 700,000 post born babies in the US who lose their lives every year, so that the rich can have their Reagan/ Bush tax cuts, what am I to think of the the 80% of so called pro-life people who voted republican in the last election? If I am one of the 31 million Americans, including more than 14.5 million children in America, who go to bed hungry every night so the rich can have their 6 digit incomes, what am I to think of the 80% of so called pro-life people who voted republican in the last election? If I am related to one of the 640,000 women who had miscarriages this past year because they could not afford adequate pre-and post natal health care, what am I to think of the 80% of so called pro-life people who voted republican in the last election? If I am related to one of the some 5000 plus workers who lose their lives every year to worker related accidents what am I to think of the 80% of so called pro-life people who voted republican in the last election?

The law is an inter-related organic whole. To violate any part of it has effects that ripple through the world in consequences that are unintended or anticipated. As a Catholic and a Christian I cannot and will not vote for any candidate who does not support the whole teaching of the Catholic Church. That means if I had voted republican I could not in good conscience take holy communion. Why is this position not mentioned in your letter or in the article? When is the American Catholic Church going to preach the whole teaching of the Catholic Church and not just the favorite parts?

When is the Church going to revert back and teach that we have an obligation to create a more perfect union and a society where we are all born, Natio- together and are therefore all related and made in the image of God. After all, as we treat each other is how we treat the image of God that resides in each one of us and therefore God.

Charlie Gill II S.F.O. | 11/15/2008

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