Catholic and Democrat in US

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JohnStrachan

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There seems to much dialogue about RC’s and party affiliation in the US. On many occasions I have read that to be a member of the Democratic Party or to vote Democrat is anti-life and not consistent with the teachings of the church.

If you are Catholic and vote Democrat how do you reconcile their pro-choice position on abortion?
 
I’m pretty capable of using my conscience to vote, which is what Catholics are urged to do.

I am not and was never a single-issue voter on any issue, nor do I automatically vote straight tickets for any party ever.

I often pick the candidate who I think will do the best job, regardless of party.

I do not need, nor pay attention to, others telling me how Catholics should vote, or how I should vote.
It’s not their business.

I do not discuss my individual votes in most cases until severral election cycles have passed.
 
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You’re about to get a lot of different and heated answers in which people are absolutely certain that they’re right.

Take this and this and run lol.
 
If you’re talking about morals, the most moral thing to do is to not vote at all.
 
JohnStrachan said:
There seems to much dialogue about RC’s and party affiliation in the US. On many occasions I have read that to be a member of the Democratic Party or to vote Democrat is anti-life and not consistent with the teachings of the church.
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There has been a historic affiliation of many Catholics, particularly certain immigrant groups, with the Democratic party.

And yes, there are difficulties with their party platform. But that does not mean every Democrat is pro-abortion. And, there are many issues including abortion that have to be weighed.

There are certain people in the Church who try to make blanket statements about voting for Democrats, or that the abortion issue is the only issue, but that isn’t in line with actual Church teaching.

JohnStrachan said:
If you are Catholic and vote Democrat how do you reconcile their pro-choice position on abortion?
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I am a Catholic who doesn’t identify as Republican or Democrat, although until 2016 I’d voted Republican in most cases, nationally and locally, since I became old enough to vote in the early 80s.

In 2016 I voted 3rd party. This year, I’m not sure what I will do, but I do know what I won’t do.

I identify less and less with the GOP, particularly where they’ve gone in the last 15 years. I don’t identify with the Democratic Party either, and I think they move further and further away from the center as well. The parties have both become parties of the fringe, and that’s really troubling. There are a few elements of the Republican Platform I embrace, namely the life issues, and many in the Democratic Platform I also embrace.

I think most of us who try to truly live by Church teaching don’t have a home in either party. And the two-party system in the US isn’t going anywhere so that leaves us in a difficult position.
 
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Tis_Bearself said:
I’m pretty capable of using my conscience to vote, which is what Catholics are urged to do.

I am not and was never a single-issue voter on any issue, nor do I automatically vote straight tickets for any party ever.

I often pick the candidate who I think will do the best job, regardless of party.

I do not need, nor pay attention to, others telling me how Catholics should vote, or how I should vote.
It’s not their business.

I do not discuss my individual votes in most cases until severral election cycles have passed.
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Yep. This.
 
RuthAnne said:
If you’re talking about morals, the most moral thing to do is to not vote at all.
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I’ll give that a like.

If the Democrat party weren’t so pro abortion and other things I’d consider voting for them. Their platform is more in line with Catholic social teaching. However you’d also have to deal with the statist-leaning advocacy in the past decades and their smarmy hypocrisy.
 
If I vote for a Democrat, I will only vote for a pro-life one. Same with Republicans. Some Republicans DO support so called abortion rights (Rudy Giuliani comes to mind) (My states does not require I register with a political party, THANK GOODNESS)
 
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Abortion isn’t the only issue that Catholics need to consider, but it is, the most important one.

Catholic Answers, the sponsors of these forums, produced an excellent guide some years ago that should be read. It explains why all issues are not equal, and how some take priority over others.

Google Catholic Answers Voting Guide.

Ever since Governor Casey of PA was denied his place to speak at the DNC, the party has moved away from Catholics.

In fact, the current head of the DNC has said pro-life Democrats are not welcome. Either support abortion or else.

Just the facts, ma’am,
Deacon Christopher
 
Diaconia said:
In fact, the current head of the DNC has said pro-life Democrats are not welcome. Either support abortion or else.

Just the facts, ma’am,
Deacon Christopher
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And this is “the” dilemma. The Democratic Party does a better job of embracing the corporal works of mercy compared to the Republicans. The Republicans have, at least since Reagan, had a preferential option for life.
 
I don’t have to reconcile my vote with any single position or Church teaching. Doing so would take away any conscious thought process on my part.

Nothing in Church teaching requires me to do that.
 
I also feel like neither party truly represents me and they both are full of it. I laugh when people try to tell me who I should vote for and what should matter most to me. I have many, many concerns and feel like neither party addresses them all in a way I advocate. I will continue as an independent and vote prioritizing what I think matters most at that particular time, with prudence.
 
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It is complicated. But beware of spiritual bullying or manipulation. Be informed and vote your conscience.
 
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