Bishops Must Rebuke Pro-Abortion “Catholic” Groups in 2012 Election

[sedonaman]

Not for an instance would I imagine the Church would place a tax exempt status above an clearly defined intrinsic evil, as many are saying voting for one candidate, or another, is. If that is truly the reason the Church does not speak, then it would be a poor example of ‘hold your noses and vote for ‘X’ political party’.

It seems the entire reason of this thread says there is not a unified and clear voice on how to vote. The resentment seems to lay with partisan politics for some.

I think there is a definite lack of reading comprehension on this thread. I read the Bishops’ publication, and nothing could be clearer. It stopped just short of saying, “Don’t vote for the Ø.”

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

I think there is a definite lack of reading comprehension on this thread. I read the Bishops’ publication, and nothing could be clearer. It stopped just short of saying, “Don’t vote for the Ø.”

Were the bishops 100% unified in that ‘clear’ message? Why are some now calling on clarifications on the faithful voting guides if the message was so clear? Why are they themselves saying it was ‘vague’?

Was my point about the tax exempt status of the Church not valid?

If you’re going to resort to ad hominem statements towards me personally, I think it best we end the discussion there. I don’t want to be a stumbling block to anyone.

 

[Ender]

Or, is it possibly written that way on purpose, so that Catholics weigh the issues and vote according to their own consciences.

If the USCCB just wanted everyone to vote his conscience there would be no point in issuing a document. What is the purpose of putting forward a position unless you’re trying to influence behavior?

The Church believes God works through each of us and it is possible there is no clear definitive answer when mixing the secular with the spiritual?

Again, if the Church believed that God was directing our actions it would be worse than superfluous to put out a document to influence those actions. And there was a clear, definitive answer: don’t support politicians who support evil. That really isn’t that complex a teaching.

We know the Church teaches against forcing others against their well formed faith based consciences. Maybe the document is vague because of those reasons.

If everyone’s conscience was well formed the Church would have little to do; it is precisely because those consciences are not well formed that the Church has the obligation to help form them, something their intentionally vague document singularly failed to accomplish.

I can agree with this and would say we have to be supportive of each other and avoid taking our annoyances out on others.

“Further, the person who does not become irate when he has cause to be, sins. For an unreasonable patience is the hotbed of many vices: it fosters negligence, and stimulates not only the wicked, but above all the good, to do wrong.” (St. John Chrysostom)

Sedonaman:

I read the Bishops’ publication, and nothing could be clearer. It stopped just short of saying, “Don’t vote for the Ø.”

I have read that document several times as well, and for every quote you can find that supports your position I can find one that eviscerates it. In the end people were left to pick and choose as they saw fit with the added bonus of being able to cite support for their position from a document by the bishops themselves.

Ender

 

[ComputerGeek25]

I have read that document several times as well, and for every quote you can find that supports your position I can find one that eviscerates it. In the end people were left to pick and choose as they saw fit with the added bonus of being able to cite support for their position from a document by the bishops themselves.

Ender

And I think this is the problem. It leaves the door a little too open to the X+Y+Z > A arguements.

One of the things that I think the Bishops need to be more clear on is what’s a matter of “judgement” versus what is absolute. As in, abortion is always wrong, but the implentation of welfare systems is left to judgement.

 

[wynnejj]

Reading Faithful Citizenship is a little like sorting mail. I keep wondering whether I’m missing some very important bills that I can’t afford to miss, with all the other great product considerations that I would like to have but cannot afford. Missing those important bills causes monetary penalties that make it all that much harder to obtain those other products.

 

[Maria_Aurea]

So true…and then they wonder how gay marriage gets passed?

I am constantly AMAZED that of all the work the bishops do, the only thing that ever gets filtered down to the parish level is the Faithful Citizenship documents. The bishops spend countless hours, conferences, etc on defending marriage and other issues, etc, but that never filters down to the parish level.

Our bishop is very good in reminding people about their obligations morally and spiritually through letters which are sent to every parish and are read after every mass.
Before our last election, he even went as far as analysing every political parties, their agendas which included abortion, euthenasia and everything that affects the community. These were then distributed to the entire community through leaflets that can be picked up before getting out of the church. It’s up to the people to chose who they vote but his guidance is there.

 

[Maria_Aurea]

Not for an instance would I imagine the Church would place a tax exempt status above an clearly defined intrinsic evil, as many are saying voting for one candidate, or another, is. If that is truly the reason the Church does not speak, then it would be a poor example of ‘hold your noses and vote for ‘X’ political party’.

It seems the entire reason of this thread says there is not a unified and clear voice on how to vote. The resentment seems to lay with partisan politics for some.

I think we put to much emphasis and blame on what the church says when it comes to our actions.
My own opinion is that the church is there to guide us but she cannot dictate what we can do. This is our responsibility. God gave us the freewill to know what is right and what is wrong. He gave us the commandments to follow and the church to be our guide but at the end our actions are our responsibility not anyone else. We all have the responsibility to help in stopping abortion in any way we can.