Being Faithful Citizens in the Voting Booth
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WITNESSWITNESS Volume 12 Number 1 SUMMER 2012 Being Faithful Citizens in the Voting Booth By Jason Hall health, to home, to work, to family, to culture—is ften, the tensions, distractions, and confusion false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic generated by partisan politics make it difficult to and fundamental right and the condition for all other O discern the appropriate Catholic approach to elec- personal rights, is not defended with maximum de- tions. In Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, the termination. (Christifideles Laici, no. 38) bishops of the United States give us some clear principles In an attempt to incorporate these teachings, two temp- to consider when making voting decisions. We must be tations present themselves. First, we might embrace an carefully discerning voters. We must not allow partisan loy- understanding of all issues as morally equivalent. However, alties, shallow political advertising, or economic self- this would be a failure of judgment. “The direct and inten- interest to be the determining factor in deciding for whom tional destruction of innocent human life from the moment we will vote. of conception until natural death is always wrong and is not How should we rate the importance of issues that divide just one issue among many. It must always be op- candidates and parties? Faithful Citizenship stresses the posed.” (FC, 28) The second temptation is to use the rela- importance of the virtue of prudence, the ability “to discern tive importance of big issues like abortion or euthanasia as our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right an excuse to ignore other issues which bear on the com- means of achieving it.” (FC, 19, quoting the Catechism of mon good. Though some issues involve difference of opin- the Catholic Church, 1806) The bishops also emphasize the ions as to the means of achieving a moral good, working importance of a conscience that is formed by right reason toward that moral good is the responsibility of all Catholics. and the teaching of the Church, which is absolutely neces- We may not all be able to be active in efforts to advance sary to the correct exercise of prudence. (FC, 17-18) every one of these principles, but we must do what we can Applying prudential judgment in light of well-formed con- and support others who are working on other issues. (FC, sciences, we learn that there are certain things that must 29) never be supported. These are actions or policies that are So, how do all of these principles apply in the voting “intrinsically evil.” The bishops list, as examples of intrinsic booth? The bishops will never endorse a specific candidate evils, abortion, euthanasia, human cloning, destructive re- or party, but they do have the pastoral responsibility to give search on human embryos, genocide, torture, racism, and us guidance. To conclude, let us summarize what Faithful the targeting of noncombatants in war. (FC, 22-23) Such Citizenship says specifically about voting. Our decision must things must always and everywhere be opposed, and can be made in light of a well-formed conscience, taking into never be justified as means to some greater good. account the “proper relationship among moral goods.” We Recognizing intrinsic evils as such, and understanding can never vote for a candidate who supports intrinsic evil, if the inviolability of human life, we come to see that we also our intent is to support that particular evil. (FC, 34) It is pos- have the responsibility of ensuring that the basic needs of sible, however, to vote for a candidate who holds unaccept- our neighbors are met. (FC, 24) These basic needs include able positions “for other morally grave reasons.” Those rea- “food, shelter, health care, education, and meaningful sons must truly be grave, however, and not merely a guise work.” Catholics must work to ensure that these needs are for partisan loyalty or an excuse “to ignore a fundamental met, however there may be legitimate disagreement as to moral evil.” (FC, 35) If we find ourselves confronted by a list the best means of achieving that end. (FC, 25) of candidates who all support intrinsic evil, we may choose The bishops then make clear, once again, that the duty not to vote in that race (an “extraordinary step”) or we may to work towards economic justice arises from the Catholic carefully deliberate which candidate is “less likely to ad- understanding of the sanctity of life and the dignity of each vance such a morally flawed position and more likely to pur- and every human person. As quoted in Faithful Citizenship, sue other authentic human goods.” (FC, 36) “In the end, Pope John Paul II taught very clearly on this point: this is a decision to be made by each Catholic guided by a Above all, the common outcry, which is justly made conscience formed by Catholic moral teaching.” (FC, 37) on behalf of human rights—for example, the right to WITNESS SUMMER 2012 2 Bringing the Catholic Voice to the Public Square Catholic Conference By Rev. Patrick Delahanty taxes, to exercise the right to vote, Board of Directors and to defend one’s country…. Our staff’s goal is (CCC, 2240) to be faithful ser- Because this is a moral obligation, vants and not get in “ parish leaders can encourage members God’s way,” writes Ben to fulfill that obligation—”not get in God’s Warrell in his article way”—by making available voter registra- about the Gasper River Joseph E. Kurtz William F. Medley tion forms, sponsoring voter registration Archbishop of Louisville Bishop of Owensboro Catholic Youth and Re- events, and publishing this link to the treat Center which starts Kentucky State Board of Elections web- on page 3. site in bulletins so parishioners can reg- I found that an excellent expression of ister online: http://1.usa.gov/pSZggm. how God desires to come into our lives Not getting in God’s way and being and our challenge is to be open to that faithful servants doesn’t end on election coming and respond with our personal Roger J. Foys Ronald W. Gainer day. Those elected will be making deci- Bishop of Covington Bishop of Lexington “yes” of acceptance. sions. As Catholic we remain open to God In a presidential election year the can- working in us to help shape these poli- didates bombard us with ads touting cies so they work for the common good. themselves. Interest groups of all stripes Staff Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizens beg us to support a candidate that best speaks of this need for involvement: Executive Director further their interests, not necessarily the The Catholic community brings im- Rev. Patrick Delahanty common good for us all. All this chatter portant assets to the political dia- can get in God’s way, if we let it. Jason D. Hall logue about our nation's future. We Jason Hall’s front page article de- Policy Analyst bring a consistent moral frame- scribes a process for use by faithful ser- work—drawn from basic human Karen Chambers vants that keeps the door open to follow- reason that is illuminated by Scrip- Administrative Assistant ing God’s ways. ture and the teaching of the Suggestion. Reprint “Being Faithful Church—for assessing issues, po- Citizens in the Voting Booth” as a bulletin Related litical platforms, and campaigns. insert for the three weekends before the Ministries We also bring broad experience in voting on Nov. 6. This link to a page on serving those in need—educating the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Kentucky League for the young, caring for the sick, shel- website—http://bit.ly/Pyz9CV—hosts valu- Educational Alternatives tering the homeless, helping able material available for use in the par- women who face difficult pregnan- Harry Borders ish. The page also includes suggestions cies, feeding the hungry, welcom- Executive Director for homilies for Sunday, Nov. 4. ing immigrants and refugees, Many experience this campaign sea- Karen Chambers reaching out in global solidarity, son as tiring and just want to see it end. Administrative Assistant and pursuing peace. This weariness gets in God’s way and can To help Catholics live this challenge, lead to voter apathy. the Conference scheduled 19 events Few Catholics know what the Cate- found on pages 4 and 5 to bring the chism of the Catholic Church offers on Faithful Citizen community together to the obligation to vote in a section on the focus on issues with moral implications duties of citizens: facing Kentucky’s lawmakers in 2013. Submission to authority and co– Plan now to attend an event in your responsibility for the common good community and bring a carload of friends make it morally obligatory to pay with you. 3 SUMMER 2012 WITNESS Establishing a Niche in Challenging Times By Ben Warrell social media. Young people will create a Facebook page of their week and invite others who attended camp to hat an impact six join this page. Each day, I see campers sharing what’s years can make! As going on in their lives, the good and the bad and prayer W we begin our fifth requests for struggles of themselves or their families. summer of camp and our sixth We even have a group of campers who get together on year of having Gasper River Catho- Skype to pray the Rosary! lic Youth Camp & Retreat Center in The impact on our young people’s faith has been the Diocese of Owensboro, the re- tremendous as well. Our goal is to offer a place where sults of this ministry have been young people can encounter God and the Catholic amazing in several different areas.