Having a rough time with this election

[ellam25]

HI everyone,
As you know in couple of months (ish) we are having the presidential election. I have been praying on it lately because I am so confused who to vote for, and I want to vote, because I know someone will get in the office regardless if I don’t vote. Now before I was A Trump supporter because, well he was a better choice than Hillary. (Whom I would never in a million years vote for). But after praying in reflecting and asking God to send me signs if my choice in trump would be correct, I feel like He is subtly telling me it isnt. I have seen him in action being very unkind and lying. He says some very uncharitable things and although I do agree with him on some things like more border control, his "round up the foreigners " approach is pretty scary. Now I was looking into third party candidates and mostly all of them are pro abortion pro homosexual marriage so that brings me back to trump who is techemically the most prolife of the group. Ugh. I am turning to you for advice because I feel at this point God has kind of left the ball in my court. I know who NOT to vote for but who can I vote for and have a clean conscience afterwards?

 

[Della]

We have been told by very well meaning people on every side that this election in particular we have the worst candidates ever with both lying and doing all kinds of nefarious things. Pooh! No candidate who has ever run for president has been lily white in intentions or behavior. All of them have had their faults and failings–all of them–because they’ve all been fallen human beings just like the rest of us.

We don’t vote for candidates based on being perfect people. We vote for candidates who most closely match our values and political stance. That’s it. Neither of our current major candidates has clean hands–none of the 3rd party, either for that matter. All have baggage of some kind. In our voting system only one person can win over all others. So, we vote for the person who most closely matches our Catholic values for public policies who can win. It’s that simple.

 

[AbideWithMe]

There’s Evan McMullin, who’s pro-life. I’m undecided myself still, other than ruling Clinton out. I live in a swing state, but if I were in a state that invariably goes strongly Democratic, I’d probably vote for McMullin as encouragement for the future.

 

[z_0101]

Della, well said

I’ve been struggling with this too…

You can listen (or d/l) a conversation about Five Non-Negotiables with Tim Staples here on CA

Here is a link to C/A’s Voters Guide for Serious Catholics (C)2012 (pdf) there may be a version for 2016; however, it didn’t show up in my search.

The main thing is, we, as US Citizens, and as Catholics, have an (IMHO) an obligation to vote, to choose as best we can, and to pray that the person is elected will follow the light of God.

 

[AnneElizabeth]

HI everyone,
As you know in couple of months (ish) we are having the presidential election. I have been praying on it lately because I am so confused who to vote for, and I want to vote, because I know someone will get in the office regardless if I don’t vote. Now before I was A Trump supporter because, well he was a better choice than Hillary. (Whom I would never in a million years vote for). But after praying in reflecting and asking God to send me signs if my choice in trump would be correct, I feel like He is subtly telling me it isnt. I have seen him in action being very unkind and lying. He says some very uncharitable things and although I do agree with him on some things like more border control, his "round up the foreigners " approach is pretty scary. Now I was looking into third party candidates and mostly all of them are pro abortion pro homosexual marriage so that brings me back to trump who is techemically the most prolife of the group. Ugh. I am turning to you for advice because I feel at this point God has kind of left the ball in my court. I know who NOT to vote for but who can I vote for and have a clean conscience afterwards?

Vote for the person whom you think would do the best job as a President…
... yeah, that's not too helpful either. :(

 

[AClaire11]

I’m considering McMullin. I don’t think I can make myself vote for either main candidate. I’ll reevaluate when I see how close the numbers are for Virginia, possibly.

 

[Della]

I’m considering McMullin. I don’t think I can make myself vote for either main candidate. I’ll reevaluate when I see how close the numbers are for Virginia, possibly.

The only problem with voting 3rd party candidates is that it takes votes away from viable ones who, though not one’s first choice, actually can win the election. I too would love better candidates whose stances on important issues lined up better with Church teachings and who may have better characters. However, ones that have no chance of winning are a wasted vote–it’s just the reality of things, whether we’d like it to be different or not.

 

[Jeanne_S]

We have been told by very well meaning people on every side that this election in particular we have the worst candidates ever with both lying and doing all kinds of nefarious things. Pooh! No candidate who has ever run for president has been lily white in intentions or behavior. All of them have had their faults and failings–all of them–because they’ve all been fallen human beings just like the rest of us.

We don’t vote for candidates based on being perfect people. We vote for candidates who most closely match our values and political stance. That’s it. Neither of our current major candidates has clean hands–none of the 3rd party, either for that matter. All have baggage of some kind. In our voting system only one person can win over all others. So, we vote for the person who most closely matches our Catholic values for public policies who can win. It’s that simple.

Well said,Della:thumbsup:

 

[Katherine438]

We have been told by very well meaning people on every side that this election in particular we have the worst candidates ever with both lying and doing all kinds of nefarious things. Pooh! No candidate who has ever run for president has been lily white in intentions or behavior. All of them have had their faults and failings–all of them–because they’ve all been fallen human beings just like the rest of us.

We don’t vote for candidates based on being perfect people. We vote for candidates who most closely match our values and political stance. That’s it. Neither of our current major candidates has clean hands–none of the 3rd party, either for that matter. All have baggage of some kind. In our voting system only one person can win over all others. So, we vote for the person who most closely matches our Catholic values for public policies who can win. It’s that simple.

I couldn’t figure out who to vote for either, until I did just what you said … looked at it from Catholic values … and the next President will be picking justices for the Supreme Court … do we want conservative or liberal justices on that Court … I would tend to believe that conservative justices will be more in line with our Catholic values than liberal ones … so ultimately I have to give Trump my vote … it’s really not a choice when I think of it in those terms.

 

[HelenRose]

I will vote for the candidate who best reflects Catholic teaching when they choose the next Supreme Court Judge.

Which candidate wants judges that will uphold the constitution in matters of freedom of religion and pro-life issues?

Which candidate wants judges that will negate the right of religions to express beliefs in the public square?

Those are my issues.

 

[Tim_D]

But after praying in reflecting and asking God to send me signs if my choice in trump would be correct, I feel like He is subtly telling me it isnt. (

And what kind of “signs” does God send to you? And do you really think that God is telling you to vote third party for someone who doesn’t have a snowball’s chance of winning? Somehow, I always though of God as being on the winning side…

 

[Catholic1954]

A vote for a third party candidate is a vote for Hillary Clinton. That is one less vote she needs to beat Donald Trump.

 

[Michael_Mayo]

However, ones that have no chance of winning are a wasted vote–it’s just the reality of things, whether we’d like it to be different or not.

If a vote reflects my preference it is not wasted even though it may be in the minority.

 

[Bill1940]

I will vote for the one who will be least destructive to the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Third party votes are tantamount to non-votes, allowing Clinton to slide into office. I’ll also be voting for two or three Supreme Court justices who won’t continue the deconstruction of the Constitution, and for a President who prioritizes the interests of his own country rather than seeking to erase our sovereignty and subject us to global governance and the economic cruelty of global finance.

 

[mary_bobo]

If a vote reflects my preference it is not wasted even though it may be in the minority.

With all due respect, how do you figure that? If it is a minority candidate, the vote goes into the big basket of “does not count”.

 

[Magdalen2013]

So you want to vote for the candidate who already opposes Religious Freedom?

Trump’s advocating banning Muslims from entering this country – how long do you think it will be before he decides some other faith is persona non grata as well?

Trump is the candidate who just recently proposed cutting Social Security and goes along with the Speaker of the House’s plan to turn Medicare into a voucher program. Is that what you want, really?

Clinton’s platform adopted many of Sander’s proposals, including passing legislation that will overturn Citizen’s United and get big money out of political campaigns – isn’t that something we all want?

Do you really want someone who doesn’t understand why he shouldn’t “use the nukes” and has a hair-trigger temper too?

Clinton, at least, IS a Christian (Methodist), Trump only worships at the altar he’s erected to himself…

 

[Jeanne_S]

So you want to vote for the candidate who already opposes Religious Freedom?

Trump’s advocating banning Muslims from entering this country – how long do you think it will be before he decides some other faith is persona non grata as well?

Trump is the candidate who just recently proposed cutting Social Security and goes along with the Speaker of the House’s plan to turn Medicare into a voucher program. Is that what you want, really?

Clinton’s platform adopted many of Sander’s proposals, including passing legislation that will overturn Citizen’s United and get big money out of political campaigns – isn’t that something we all want?

Do you really want someone who doesn’t understand why he shouldn’t “use the nukes” and has a hair-trigger temper too?

Clinton, at least, IS a Christian (Methodist), Trump only worships at the altar he’s erected to himself…

Oh brother!

 

[MaryT777]

I couldn’t figure out who to vote for either, until I did just what you said … looked at it from Catholic values … and the next President will be picking justices for the Supreme Court … do we want conservative or liberal justices on that Court … I would tend to believe that conservative justices will be more in line with our Catholic values than liberal ones … so ultimately I have to give Trump my vote … it’s really not a choice when I think of it in those terms.

Yes, that is my thought on the matter as well.

 

[Tim_D]

Clinton’s platform adopted many of Sander’s proposals, including passing legislation that will overturn Citizen’s United and get big money out of political campaigns – isn’t that something we all want?

Do you mean the same Hillary Clinton who has taken millions of dollars for “speeches” to corporate entities? Whose “charity” is in the midst of scandal because of so much money coming in and so little of it going out to charity?

How about this little nugget, when asked why she took $300,000 for a speech to Goldman Sachs; “well, that’s what they paid me.” Good grief.

 

[MaryT777]

So you want to vote for the candidate who already opposes Religious Freedom?

Trump’s advocating banning Muslims from entering this country – how long do you think it will be before he decides some other faith is persona non grata as well?

Trump is the candidate who just recently proposed cutting Social Security and goes along with the Speaker of the House’s plan to turn Medicare into a voucher program. Is that what you want, really?

Clinton’s platform adopted many of Sander’s proposals, including passing legislation that will overturn Citizen’s United and get big money out of political campaigns – isn’t that something we all want?

Do you really want someone who doesn’t understand why he shouldn’t “use the nukes” and has a hair-trigger temper too?



Clinton, at least, IS a Christian (Methodist), Trump only worships at the altar he’s erected to himself…