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toughntiny
Guest
& if so, do they pressure you to the point of where you feel like you well be “condemned” if you vote for the other party? My priest doesn’t pressure political beliefs on us, but I’m wondering if it happens.
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Corki
Guest
No, the Church cannot tell anyone who to vote for - at least not in the US. That would endanger the parish’s tax exempt status.
Priests can and should point out legislation that runs contrary to Church teaching and to give guidance on the moral use of voting privaleges.
Priests can and should point out legislation that runs contrary to Church teaching and to give guidance on the moral use of voting privaleges.
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toughntiny
Guest
Really? I didn’t know that. I’ve heard some people say that it’s happened to them, but maybe they were exaggerating.
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Corki
Guest
Probably the latter.
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dconklin
Guest
I do not recall ever hearing a priest tell the parish who to vote for from the pulpit. I have heard them speak about social issues. My mother is heavily involved with the Council of Catholic Women. Most of their work is political. From my experience, many priests do not “choose sides” or endorse a specific politician.
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Thomas_Francis
Guest
There are ways of getting around it. A priest can say what voting issues are moral issues and then say what the stances of the politicians are. You can also hand out material on the politics outside the church on public property, i.e. the city sidewalk, or the road.
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Will_B
Guest
Years ago, right before the 2000 presidential election, Mother Angelica said “Vote for life, the life you save could be your own”
She didn’t tell you who to vote for, rather what to vote for “Life”
She didn’t tell you who to vote for, rather what to vote for “Life”
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vsedriver
Guest
people sometimes hear what they want to hear and not what is really said. The priest has an obligation to teach what the Church teaches about morality.
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turtle18
Guest
What exactly is the big deal if the Church loses its tax exempt status? Isn’t doing the will of God more important than money? This sounds like a cowardly excuse from the powers that be because they are too afraid to ruffle feathers.
The Church in our diocese always distribute that awful voting guide from the “Faithful Citizenship” crowd…which is basically a blueprint and rubberstamp for voting for the Democratic party. The underlying principle is that, somehow, you should vote to eliminate poverty rather than defend life because it is worse to be born in poverty than not to be born at all. As if the Democratic party has actually instituted policies that have decreased poverty in this country…oh no, wait, poverty is actually worse since the 1960s not better.
The Church in our diocese always distribute that awful voting guide from the “Faithful Citizenship” crowd…which is basically a blueprint and rubberstamp for voting for the Democratic party. The underlying principle is that, somehow, you should vote to eliminate poverty rather than defend life because it is worse to be born in poverty than not to be born at all. As if the Democratic party has actually instituted policies that have decreased poverty in this country…oh no, wait, poverty is actually worse since the 1960s not better.
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Thomas_Francis
Guest
I am not sure what the general stance is on this but here’s mine; if the Church loses it’s tax exempt status by blatantly preaching against a politician (which is another argument altogether about whether the government would actually do it) then the Church will be paying for the very thing She is teaching against. Think of the status quo, if I went out and bought something today I would be taxed. My money would be funding our government. Our government that spends money on (among other things) spreading propaganda about contraceptives and other things that are immoral. Our taxes fund immoral things. The Church cannot fund these things.
My diocese is very good about having people spread knowledge of pro-life issues and the such, I know you’re not painting the Church as a whole with this, but know that not every area is like what you’re describing.
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eagle_eye222001
Guest
Actually even if the Church could directly come out and say “support this guy,” it would not be wise too in case that person got caught up in a big scandal of some sort or had extra baggage that was not yet public. The much wiser position is to teach the faith, and remind Catholics to vote their faith!
May need to talk the pastor about it and charitably remind someone that Catholic social teaching BEGINS with a respect to the dignity of human life. And not ending poverty. Now may be a great opportunity to become more familiar with the REAL church’s teaching on social justice!
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jgs777
Guest
This hasn’t happened in my parish.
One thing I will say though is when you do decide to vote for any particular person, ask yourself something. Are they the closest Canidate to Christ’s teachings, and are their beliefs and goals anything close to that of Christ’s or the Church?
God Bless You!!
One thing I will say though is when you do decide to vote for any particular person, ask yourself something. Are they the closest Canidate to Christ’s teachings, and are their beliefs and goals anything close to that of Christ’s or the Church?
God Bless You!!
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Corki
Guest
The problem with the Church losing its tax exempt status isn’t just that the Church would lose money. It’s that all the people who donate to the good work of the Church would lose their tax deductions. Many parishes couldn’t exist, especially in big cities, because they couldn’t afford the property taxes. They wouldn’t be able to do a lot of social service, such as feeding the poor, without the food being taxed. Etc.
It does tie the hands of pastors somewhat but tax exemption, for now, serves a greater good.
The biggest problem is that some priests, and even some bishops are so afraid of the tax issue that they refrain from speaking clearly even when they can. It is not a tax-exempt problem, for example, to speak out against political issues or pending legislation.
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puzzleannie
Guest
no because everyone involved from the bishops and priests down to the catechists understands the tax exempt status of the church can be threatened if they break the rules. They are forceful and truthful in imparting Catholic teaching on issues Catholics must be aware of as they prepare to vote and otherwise take part in civic life and duties. Nobody says “you must vote for X” or “you may not vote for Y” but they do say, you may not vote for a candidate whose program depends on positions that are contrary to Catholic faith and morals.
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Rence
Guest
The US Bishops put out a voting guideline for voters:
usccb.org/issues-and-action/faithful-citizenship/upload/forming-consciences-for-faithful-citizenship.pdf
This is what Catholics should go by, and if you read it, you’ll notice, it does not tell us who to vote for. My priest does not try to influence our political beliefs.
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OraLabora
Guest
50 years ago in Quebec priests used to say “vote according to your conscience but remember hell is red and heaven is blue”. Red was the colour of the Liberal Party and blue of the Union Nationale party (very conservative).
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BVM_1221
Guest
Maybe not at Church, but most certainly in these forums do we have people who condemn those who vote Democrat. You should have read some of the threads from the year 2008, and to a lesser extent those of year 2010.
I anticipate 2012 to be more of the same
opcorn:
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Rence
Guest
That’s just people on this forum. We still have the guide from the Bishops and that should hold more weight than the opinions of posters on any online forum…Maybe not at Church, but most certainly in these forums do we have people who condemn those who vote Democrat. You should have read some of the threads from the year 2008, and to a lesser extent those of year 2010.
I anticipate 2012 to be more of the same
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_Abyssinia
Guest
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asia53
Guest
Exaggeration, most definitely.
Our Archbishop told us—make up your own minds, however, if a candidate is against church teaching, your choice should be simple.
My friend heard----you have to vote for the candidates, I tell you are good. As you can see, the Archbishop didn’t say what my friend heard, but in her mind, he was telling her who should be getting her vote.
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