Yes, I do
And I also know the difference between the voting guidelines put out by the US Bishops, and a prolifer trying to bully me into voting how they want me to vote. It’s just another way to lobby. But that’s okay, it’s only part of the politics game. But I prefer to just go by the US Bishops guidelines, and notice, they don’t condemn anyone for voting for a pro-choicer.That is their biggest weakness. We will not have a Culture of Life in Society until the Bishops who have said nothing, either retire or open their mouths and clarify for those who do not understand moral law just what a well formed concscience is. Nor do they comand Catholics to vote only for pro-lifers. Rather, they have a whole list of issues that they call Catholics to consider when casting their vote. For your reading pleasure:
usccb.org/bishops/FCBullInsert.pdf
I think you do a lot more to protect life than most
I am in the U.S., and guide my voting by what the US Bishops teach. See
faithfulcitizenship.org/
You go by the “bishops” guidlines because they are thinking as progressives think. Obfuscate, don’t believe in Absolutes, hip hip hurrah for relativism.
This is a partial re print of what they say in Living the Gospel of Life. Do they come out and say no, no digger you can’t vote for the pro death party. They are banking, naively, on each of us having a truly moral Catholic conscience. Try reading between the lines. It might help you.
32.We urge those Catholic officials who choose to depart from Church teaching on the inviolability of human life in their public life to consider the consequences for their own spiritual well being, as well as the scandal they risk by leading others into serious sin. We call on them to reflect on the grave contradiction of assuming public roles and presenting themselves as credible Catholics when their actions on fundamental issues of human life are not in agreement with Church teaching. No public official, especially one claiming to be a faithful and serious Catholic, can responsibly advocate for or actively support direct attacks on innocent human life. I do believe this holds also for Catholics in general. Certainly there are times when it may be impossible to overturn or prevent passage of a law which allows or promotes a moral evil – such as a law allowing the destruction of nascent human life. In such cases, an elected official, whose position in favor of life is known, could seek legitimately to limit the harm done by the law. However, no appeal to policy, procedure, majority will or pluralism ever excuses a public official from defending life to the greatest extent possible. Do you think this holds true ONLY for public officials? What about the voters who vote for them. As is true of leaders in all walks of life, no political leader can evade accountability for his or her exercise of power (Evangelium Vitae, 73-4). Those who justify their inaction on the grounds that abortion is the law of the land need to recognize that there is a higher law, the law of God. No human law can validly contradict the Commandment: "Thou shalt not kill."33.The Gospel of Life must be proclaimed, and human life defended, in all places and all times. The arena for moral responsibility includes not only the halls of government, but the voting booth as well. Laws that permit abortion, euthanasia and assisted suicide are profoundly unjust, and we should work peacefully and tirelessly to oppose and change them. Because they are unjust they cannot bind citizens in conscience, be supported, acquiesced in, or recognized as valid. Our nation cannot countenance the continued existence in our society of such fundamental violations of human rights.
Let us be neither dogs that do not bark nor silent onlookers nor paid servants who run away before the wolf. Instead, let us be careful shepherds watching over Christ’s flock. Let us preach the whole of God’s plan to the powerful and the humble, to rich and to poor, to men of every rank and age, as far as God gives us the strength, in season and out of season, as St. Gregory writes in his book of Pastoral Instruction.10
34.We encourage all citizens, particularly Catholics, to embrace their citizenship not merely as a duty and privilege, but as an opportunity meaningfully to participate in building the culture of life. Every voice matters in the public forum. Every vote counts. Every act of responsible citizenship is an exercise of significant individual power. We must exercise that power in ways that defend human life, especially those of God’s children who are unborn, disabled or otherwise vulnerable. We get the public officials we deserve. Their virtue – or lack thereof – is a judgment not only on them, but on us. Because of this, we urge our fellow citizens to see beyond party politics, to analyze campaign rhetoric critically, and to choose their political leaders according to principle, not party affiliation or mere self-interest.
Hope this was self explanatory.
