The Truth Famine: Voting Your Faith Rather than Your Opinion

By Adele M. Gill, RN, BSN
9/26/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

We need to inform our Vote as we inform our conscience

Sure, we all have opinions on certain issues, but what happens when our personal opinions and faith clash, as is often the case with voting? Should we continue to stand with and vote with our political party, despite the glaring disparity with our own faith beliefs? Should we plead clueless, or is there a better way to be true to ourselves and our deepest held faith beliefs while engaging in the seemingly complicated voting process?

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WASHINGTON,DC (Catholic Online) - In the course of a "normal" day, most people make approximately 2000 decisions per day. Some decisions are as straight forward and simple as "what should I wear today?" Yet, other decisions are life changing and far reaching, and require much thought, prayer, discernment and even discussion to sort it all out. Voting is certainly one of those weighted, enduring decisions. For those who say their vote does not count, they could not be more wrong! And we are all accountable for how we vote. If you want to preserve Democracy, you will vote against a Socialist candidate; the decision is up to you.

Certainly, when voting, it is imperative that we take some time to learn about the issues that are most important to us from sources we trust. However, regardless of the overflow of technology at our personal disposal-Online news, email, Facebook, Twitter and the like, it is my belief that we are in a TRUTH FAMINE. That is, average, everyday, people have a great challenge sorting through available public information in print media and online, and finding truth in the course of their day. However, there is help for the willing.

Even, and especially, in these times of advanced technology and social media, truth from mainstream media is hard to come by, and can be difficult to assess, and process. For instance, present day media regularly avoids faith-based issues as a matter of practice, and, instead, broadcasts popular issues, through half truths and with great vigor, to the ends of the earth via the internet.

There are some topics that are considered "popular," such as healthcare, taxation and immigration, while others are considered "orphan topics," rarely, if ever, mentioned at all, such as faith-based, Pro-life issues. But take heart. Simplicity in voting is possible, and truth can be found, even in this contentious election season!

Personally, I like to begin with the Bible and the Catholic Catechism on pressing social issues. My litmus test involves Pro-life issues and Religious Freedom. As an election resource, the basic teachings of Christianity at-large are based on Bible teachings and intrinsically peaceful and resolutely Prolife. Though such news is often not easily accessible to most people, the implication here is that one must take some initiative to research high-impact issues embraced by their chosen faith independently, and the Bible may be the best place to start.

Despite the anonymity of the voting process, we are all, ultimately, and eternally, held accountable for all we do and do not do. Only YOU can decide if you will vote your personal opinion or vote in tandem with the tenets of your faith. The stakes may be higher than you think.

As for me, I will be voting for the candidate who most fully embraces a respect for human life, for all it's worth, from conception to the grave, and voting for the one who has the greatest respect for Civil Rights, "In God We Trust," and Religious Freedom.

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Obama. Hussein. Barak, Mit. Romney, politics, op-ed, vote, catholic vote, Adele M. Gill

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1 - 7 of 7 Comments

Robert Burford
7 months ago
I am an independent voter because both major parties are two faced and disgust me. None of the other parties are rational. If I vote my gut I will vote out every incumbent.
vance
7 months ago
Great article, Vote Catholic Values. BUT there are Millions of Robo Democrat Party Catholics who believe that cutting a 'Big Fat Hog' welfare check is charity. AND you hear them say, "I'm against abortion BUT I wouldn't prevent a woman's right to choose" They can go to Mass every Sunday and receive the Body of Christ and skip merrily down the road to vote in an anti-Catholic, Pro-Homosexual Marriage, and HHS Mandate Democrat. The Catholic Bishops need to climb out of the back pocket of the Party of Death and Deceit and get on board with the church they are suppose to serve.
Stephanie
7 months ago
People need to stop voting for someone just because of their political party. Too many people are more interested in "their" team winning than choosing someone who will actually be a good President.

The Democratic Party used to be a great party. Many Catholics chose that party several decades ago because of social issues. However, the Democratic Party is no longer the party it used to be. It supports intrinsic evils and non-negotiables. "This is not my father's party." I think it's really scary that people refuse to leave an evil party just because they have some strange idea that the Democrats will help the poor... even though they are making programs that create cycles of dependency on the state (programs help people find jobs and then they slowly "progress" until they no longer qualify for childcare, and then they end up losing their jobs and starting again at stage 1) AND are going to force employers to pay for abortions/abortifacients/ABC even if it's against their beliefs, AND it's only $9/month at Wal-Mart anyway, so nobody is "suffering" by not having birth control coverage.
Ronnie Nussbeck
7 months ago
Voting for the Democratic Party in the USA is a vote for Abortion, Gay rights, against Jesus, against the family and all that is right and just in the world today. Obama's party of Progressive is not my fathers party, today it is the Marxist Communists anti-god gays who hate everyone who does not see things their way. 65 million murders of children by abortion should be a wake up call, Obama since working at Acorn until now has facilitated 20 million deaths of children. God will have no mercy on those who give power to those who kill his children, it's one of the Ten Commandments and it's not a suggestion!
Lindangel
7 months ago
There are 77 million Catholics in the USA, and it only takes 50 million votes to become president.
If we Catholics really voted by our values and what the Church teaches us, we could remove Obama from office. He is a socialist, a muslim , he hates America (go see the movie 2016) to have your eyes open to the evil of this man. But in reality, most Catholics will vote for this evil man because his papers state he is a democrat, and that is good enough for them. If he gets re-elected, the Catholics who help put him back in office-will get what they deserve. But the sad part will be, is that all of us in the USA will have to suffer.
Larry
7 months ago
We'll see where the Catholic leadership makes its voice heard in public. The democrat party has long been involved with abortion anytime under any conditions, contraception, gay rights and now gay marriage, embryonic stemcell issues, female priests, etc. I know people think they are more for the 'poor' but I've come to realize talking about the poor is one thing and the effects of one's policies on the poor is another thing - there are more poor people now and more on foodstamps - results of those in charge at Washington.

If we take the issues mentioned seriously, I don't see how Catholics can vote Democrat - since they stand behind those issues - contrary to Catholic teaching. Then there's the negative effect of striking unions on our school children (don't think they're there for the kids in the long run). The leadership has not done much with the public remarks from Caroline Kennedy and Nancy Pelosi so far, both who hold themselves as representatives of the Catholic Laity. Talk is Cheap - we'll see how cheap
Beth Happick
7 months ago
Very well said! Thank you, Adele!

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