So, I choose to go by the USCCB guidelines. I’m not saying the party I vote for is “God’s” party. Objectively, the candidates I voted for are the lesser of evils. Mitt Romney still allowed for abortion under rape, but that is better than unfettered abortion. Mitt Romney personally helps the poor and gives a lot of money to charitable causes. He wants to encourage more Americans to do the same through federal policy. I agree with that. Every Democrat in my state (like Catholic Claire McCaskill) is for abortion rights. Can’t vote for her, even if she claims to want to help the poor.
Mitt Romney once stated he was more pro choice than Ted Kennedy. Was this not a factor to be considered? We know, or have heard of, politicians who change views with political aspirations. If a politician is possibly misleading, we are not obligated to accept that ‘now he’s telling the truth!’ All of that is an after the fact consideration; after the primaries when people chose according to EVERY issue. Once chosen, they ‘humbly’ called on others to set the other issues aside, because of the important issues.
The men of the Church address ALL issues to affect the dignity of life from conception to natural death. They don’t approach single issues, one at a time.
Then the guidance of the Church was not unified on the interpretation of the guidelines. I’ve seen the guidance on gun controls challenged, even though no man of the Church opposed what was spoken by those representing them, because not all of the US bishops stood up and spoke in favor. On the issue of voting, the bishops were not as unified. I’m sorry to say, it appears to be a pick and choose authoritative according to the issue being discussed.
Now, what does all this political have to do with the encyclical from the Pope now? Nothing, nothing at all. There is a political divide among some Catholics, and others seem bent on widening that divide by using clear guidance from the Pope.
We individually accept, or reject, what the Holy Father teaches. No where does he, or the Church, teach that once we accept, or reject, we are to ‘judge’ those who do not agree. Yea, someone can dig through 2000 years of documents and pull out a snippet that seems to support their view. Why? Is it for spiritual, or political, advantage? Why question what some politically minded Catholics feel about a spiritual document, if it’s not motivated by political views itself? How does that show spiritual adherence?