How can a Catholic even vote in America?

[TRH1292]

Catholic’s are supposed to uphold all of Catholic social teaching in how they vote.

How is it possible for a faithful Catholic to vote in the United States? The Church does not allow you to vote for Pro-Choice candidates, so that just leaves you with certain politicians who often contradict all of Catholic social teaching on helping the poor, the rights of workers, unrestricted capitalism, and a just war. Why is it not okay to vote for a candidate who is Pro-Choice, but you can vote for a candidate who at least claims to be Pro-Life but violates every other part of Church teaching?

 

[Fr.Eric_Filmer]

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has published its guidelines on voting and being politically active, which is called Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship. Among other things, it instructs Catholics on what to do when none of the candidates running for office have views which fully comply with Church teachings on moral and social issues. You can order a copy of this booklet, or view an online version of it, by visiting this link.

In terms of the specific question you have regarding pro-life issues, this document states the following:

1. Pope John Paul II explained the importance of being true to fundamental Church teachings:

“Above all, the common outcry, which is justly made on behalf of human rights—for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture—is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition for all other personal rights, is not defended with maximum determination.” (Christifideles Laici, no. 38)

1. Two temptations in public life can distort the Church’s defense of human life and dignity:

1. The first is a moral equivalence that makes no ethical distinctions between different kinds of issues involving human life and dignity. The direct and intentional destruction of innocent human life from the moment of conception until natural death is always wrong and is not just one issue among many. It must always be opposed.

• Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship (U.S.C.C.B.: Washington, D.C., 2011), 9.

Please read Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship in its entirety for more details about pro-life considerations, and a variety of other issues impacting politics as well.