Are Catholics morally required to vote?

[Alex_Heartnet]

Voting in the USA: Choose between Crook A and Crook B! Maybe one of them will be slightly less horrible then the other…

A lot of people understand that they don’t have any real (name removed by moderator)ut in the US government even though they can’t put it into words, which is partly why voter turnout is so low.

Personally, I’m not voting because it adds legitimacy to a corrupt and broken political system.

 

[djames99]

Richard, these are good references, but I believe they are meant in context with general scripture and not meant to stifle reasoning.

From: scborromeo.org/docs/evang_vitae.pdf#search=conscientious%20objection

1. Abortion and euthanasia are thus crimes which no human law can claim to legitimize. There is no obligation in conscience to obey such laws; instead there is a grave and clear obligation to oppose them by conscientious objection. From the very beginnings of the Church, the apostolic preaching reminded Christians of their duty to obey legitimately constituted public authorities (cf. Rom 13:1-7;1 Pet 2:13-14), but at the same time it firmly warned that “we must obey God rather than men” (Acts5:29). In the Old Testament, precisely in regard to threats against life, we find a significant example of resistance to the
   unjust command of those in authority. After Pharaoh ordered the killing of all newborn males, the Hebrew midwives refused. “They did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live” (Ex1:17). But the ultimate reason for their action should be noted: “the midwives feared God”(ibid.). It is precisely from obedience to God — to whom alone is due that fear which is acknowledgment of his absolute sovereignty — that the strength and the courage to resist unjust human laws are born. It is the strength and the courage of those prepared even to be imprisoned or put to the sword, in the certainty that this is what makes for “the endurance and faith of the saints” (
   Rev 13:10).

Of the potential rulers and authority we may find has candidates, are the ones who could learn from a word of caution. (Wis 6,1-21). Advice to them, warning to others.

Rom 12,2, “Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may judge what is God’s will, what is good, pleasing and perfect.”

Rom 13,7 “pay each one his due:taxes to whom taxes are due, toll to whom toll is due;
respect and honor to everyone who deserves them.”
If by selecting candidates we are now applying our measure to determine competent people, the opportunity is presented allowing us to refuse to elect disrespectful and dishonorable people.

Thanks for the references.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

Yes, Catholics are required to vote prolife to the best of their ability.

Is it a mortal sin to not vote?

The short answer is YES. (Forget “invincible ignorance.” Nobody is really that ignorant.)

We cannot stand aside and do nothing in the face of mass murder. We must resist the Culture of Death at the voting booth.

 

[Casilda]

Do you seriously believe that a religious family man like Mitt Romney is the same as Barack Obama? Which would you rather have as a neighbor?

I am not worried about that, politicians would not live in my neighborhood When I was told to vote for Mitt at our t-party meeting I was angry. I voted for Ron Paul, at least he had a track record of bringing babies into the world

 

[TypesAndShadows]

I think the only time I ever didn’t vote was after a lot of discussion, when I felt an election should not have taken place and any participation in it (even to spoil my ballot paper) would be taken as boosting voter turnout and so legitimising the election. Most people seemed to think the same way, as there was a record-breakingly low turnout.

Other than that, I consider it my civic duty to vote or spoil my ballot paper (again, only once, although I have been sorely tried in some other elections).

How can we expect anything to change or continue in the way we want, if we do not take part? And how can our societies run without our participation?

 

[JackVk]

Voting in the USA: Choose between Crook A and Crook B! Maybe one of them will be slightly less horrible then the other.

This is precisely how I feel now. Conservatism is my ex-girlfriend worldview, and I’ve flirted with liberalism and libertarianism as well. You petition a senator or representative to vote on this bill or that, but they’ve already made up their minds. Somone once told me that if you write a congressman, all he or she does is have one of their interns send you back a form letter stating his or her position on the issue.

Also, people say that we should always vote prolife. Doesn’t that mean we have to be single-issue voters?

 

[johnmann]

I accept that I have a duty to vote for the lesser evil but I usually find both candidates so bad that in the voting booth, it’s almost a coin flip so it really is pointless for me to vote.

 

[Marty_E]

…2240 Submission to authority and co-responsibility for the common good make it morally obligatory to pay taxes, to exercise the right to vote, and to defend one’s country:

This entry in the CCC concludes:

“Pay to all of them their dues, taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.45”

“[Christians] reside in their own nations, but as resident aliens. They participate in all things as citizens and endure all things as foreigners. . . . They obey the established laws and their way of life surpasses the laws. . . . So noble is the position to which God has assigned them that they are not allowed to desert it.46”

"The Apostle exhorts us to offer prayers and thanksgiving for kings and all who exercise authority, "that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way.“47”

and cites:

45 Rom 13:7.

46 Ad Diognetum 5,5 and 10; 6,10G 2,1173 and 1176.

47 1 Tim 2:2.

None of which actually make it morally obligatory to exercise the right to vote.

The thrust of all of this is to be a good citizen, rendering to Caesar that which is Caesar’s. I can imagine circumstances where voting might actually be immoral, where voting for either candidate would be a choice of voting for Evil A or Evil B.

When we’re faced with that sort of choice, not voting might be the moral obligation.

.

 

[teeboy]

The duties of citizens
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church (emphasis mine):

2238 Those subject to authority should regard those in authority as representatives of God, who has made them stewards of his gifts:43 "Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution. . . . Live as free men, yet without using your freedom as a pretext for evil; but live as servants of God."44 Their loyal collaboration includes the right, and at times the duty, to voice their just criticisms of that which seems harmful to the dignity of persons and to the good of the community.

2239 It is the duty of citizens to contribute along with the civil authorities to the good of society in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom. The love and service of one’s country follow from the duty of gratitude and belong to the order of charity. Submission to legitimate authorities and service of the common good require citizens to fulfill their roles in the life of the political community.

2240 Submission to authority and co-responsibility for the common good make it morally obligatory to pay taxes, to exercise the right to vote, and to defend one’s country:

Good job. Now read section 501 of Title 26 where it details what a 501 entity can’t do.

Then, read the Federal Title that deals with investigations.

Speaking of Supreme Court Cases??? Hmmm…

Now what does this have to do with the Congressional investigation of the IRS regarding applications for non-profit organizations? Hmm…

 

[Reep]

The duties of citizens
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church (emphasis mine):

2240 Submission to authority and co-responsibility for the common good make it morally obligatory to pay taxes, to exercise the right to vote, and to defend one’s country:

Funny how now it’s a sin to not vote (even if the vote were between Ted Bundy and Jack the Ripper). Guess I am duty bound to select the lesser of two evils. I would refuse the choice even if mine were the deciding vote.

Of course, when monarchy was the rule it was both treason and a sin to support voting. I do not know what to make of all this except to say that many social teachings of the Church presume a legitimate, largely good government. I have never seen such a thing in my lifetime, nor do I expect to.

 

[LeafByNiggle]

I consider the requirement to exercise the right to vote to be similar to the requirement to give to the poor. In both cases the requirement specifies a disposition to do something good. It does not specify exactly how or in what degree. To be required to vote at every opportunity would be like being required to give to the poor at every opportunity.

 

[henrygt]

As a Hermit Monk,(not yet consecrated) I live a life of, as much solitude and separation from the world as I can manage. I still have to go to a grocery store now and then. I realize that there are matters of the world I could be concerned about and rightly so, and my method of addressing them is to submit them to prayer if God has placed it in my heart. But when I begin to concern myself with matters of the world especially of politics, I begin to feel less holy. I begin to feel soiled. As a religious, I am not overly concerned about what happens in the world in the stage of unholy politics. I am more prayerfully concerned over human dignity poverty and hunger and the welfare of those brought to my attention for prayer. I am now and will always be, until my Lord calls me home, a solitary religious, despite the political conditions of my space on the world’s surface at any given moment. My position and thoughts on voting is for me alone as a solitary religious and does not apply to the body of the general Catholic population. I am separated from the world as much as I can be. Our teachings of the Church however suggest for Catholics who participate in worldly matters are to be involved in worldly politics, but for me I am separated from the world. Therefore I am mostly moved to no longer vote. But many would argue with me saying that I should vote to protect my rights to live in the manor that I’ve chosen from those elected that would move to take that right away from me. How do I address that? There is much truth in that statement. So you ask,'Is it a risk not to vote?" Perhaps yes. I try to place my trust in Jesus. But like the man who died from the flood and he ask Jesus why he let him die. And Jesus replied, I sent you a boat and a Helicopter to rescue you but you turned them down saying you trust in Me. God does give us the means to protect our religious convictions and freedoms through the vote, So even though it gives me a since of edgyness to dabble into worldly matters especially political, I do step out into the world to cast my vote. Voting is the means by which we as Catholics can contribute to the protection of our beliefs and rights. So consider when you debate the value of your vote, weather you may inadvertently relinquish your rights to practice your faith, when Jesus gives us the means to protect your right through your vote.

 

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