The following quote comes from a letter that the former Joseph Cardnial Ratzinger sent to the USCCB in his capacity as Prefect for the Congration for the Doctrine of the Faith:Did the U.S. Bishops say that a Catholic could vote for a pro-choice politician if the other issues “outweigh” the abortion issue? Please provide quotes. Also please provide magisterial statements that say a Catholic cannot vote for pro-choice polticians. THANKS!!!
- The Church teaches that abortion or euthanasia is a grave sin. The Encyclical Letter Evangelium vitae, with reference to judicial decisions or civil laws that authorize or promote abortion or euthanasia, states that there is a “grave and clear obligation to oppose them by conscientious objection. …] In the case of an intrinsically unjust law, such as a law permitting abortion or euthanasia, it is therefore never licit to obey it, or to ‘take part in a propaganda campaign in favour of such a law or vote for it’” (no. 73). Christians have a “grave obligation of conscience not to cooperate formally in practices which, even if permitted by civil legislation, are contrary to God’s law. Indeed, from the moral standpoint, it is never licit to cooperate formally in evil. …] This cooperation can never be justified either by invoking respect for the freedom of others or by appealing to the fact that civil law permits it or requires it” (no. 74).
I used this as my guiding principle when I cast my vote during the early voting period in Texas.
- Not all moral issues have the same moral weight as abortion and euthanasia. For example, if a Catholic were to be at odds with the Holy Father on the application of capital punishment or on the decision to wage war, he would not for that reason be considered unworthy to present himself to receive Holy Communion. While the Church exhorts civil authorities to seek peace, not war, and to exercise discretion and mercy in imposing punishment on criminals, it may still be permissible to take up arms to repel an aggressor or to have recourse to capital punishment. There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about waging war and applying the death penalty, but not however with regard to abortion and euthanasia.
Ok great but you didnt answer my question. Did the USSB say that one could vote for a pro-choice politician in some cases?The following quote comes from a letter that the former Joseph Cardnial Ratzinger sent to the USCCB in his capacity as Prefect for the Congration for the Doctrine of the Faith:
I used this as my guiding principle when I cast my vote during the early voting period in Texas.
Unfortunatealy, the USCCB document is rather foggy on this particular issue, to the point that folks like my pastor, have taken it to mean that we can vote for the Democratic Nominee, who favors lifting all restrictions on abortions.Ok great but you didnt answer my question. Did the USSB say that one could vote for a pro-choice politician in some cases?
As John Paul II has taught in his Encyclical Letter Evangelium vitae regarding the situation in which it is not possible to overturn or completely repeal a law allowing abortion which is already in force or coming up for a vote, «an elected official, whose absolute personal opposition to procured abortion was well known, could licitly support proposals aimed at limiting the harm done by such a law and at lessening its negative consequences at the level of general opinion and public morality».[20]
In this context, it must be noted also that a well-formed Christian conscience does not permit one to vote for a political program or an individual law which contradicts the fundamental contents of faith and morals. The Christian faith is an integral unity, and thus it is incoherent to isolate some particular element to the detriment of the whole of Catholic doctrine. A political commitment to a single isolated aspect of the Church’s social doctrine does not exhaust one’s responsibility towards the common good. Nor can a Catholic think of delegating his Christian responsibility to others; rather, the Gospel of Jesus Christ gives him this task, so that the truth about man and the world might be proclaimed and put into action.
Remember, even though this speaks to legislation, we are the ones who vote these lawmakers into office. In other words, you get what you voted for because the same folks on the ballot will be the ones making the decisions.When political activity comes up against moral principles that do not admit of exception, compromise or derogation, the Catholic commitment becomes more evident and laden with responsibility. In the face of fundamental and inalienable ethical demands, Christians must recognize that what is at stake is the essence of the moral law, which concerns the integral good of the human person. This is the case with laws concerning abortion and euthanasia (not to be confused with the decision to forgo extraordinary treatments, which is morally legitimate). Such laws must defend the basic right to life from conception to natural death. In the same way, it is necessary to recall the duty to respect and protect the rights of the human embryo.
If both candidates were in favor of abortion, then one would have to vote on the lesser of two evils by seeing how each stands on particular issues. However, if one candidate is Pro Life and the other is in favor of removing all restrictions on abortion, then we need to vote for the Pro-Life candidate. Abortion is a non-negotiable issue.Did the U.S. Bishops say that a Catholic could vote for a pro-choice politician if the other issues “outweigh” the abortion issue? Please provide quotes. Also please provide magisterial statements that say a Catholic cannot vote for pro-choice polticians. THANKS!!!
Their document mentions that, but like all Church teaching we must understand it in context and reconcile it with all teaching.Ok great but you didnt answer my question. Did the USSB say that one could vote for a pro-choice politician in some cases?
Can you give me a direct quote?Their document mentions that, but like all Church teaching we must understand it in context and reconcile it with all teaching.
IOW, there is only one magisterium.