Is it sinful to not vote in a primary?

[javier_29]

With the CA primaries today I thought I’d ask the question.

Is it considered a sin and if so would it be a mortal sin for a Catholic to not vote??

Thanks
Javier

 

[Bookcat]

With the CA primaries today I thought I’d ask the question.

Is it considered a sin and if so would it be a mortal sin for a Catholic to not vote??

Thanks
Javier

From the Catechism:

2240 Submission to authority and co-responsibility for the common good make it **morally obligatory **to pay taxes, to exercise the right to vote, and to defend one’s country:

Pay to all of them their dues, taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due. 

[Christians] reside in their own nations, but as resident aliens. They participate in all things as citizens and endure all things as foreigners. . . . They obey the established laws and their way of life surpasses the laws. . . . So noble is the position to which God has assigned them that they are not allowed to desert it.

The Apostle exhorts us to offer prayers and thanksgiving for kings and all who exercise authority, “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way.”

---

So I would vote at least for the prolife-good ones…if you can.

Need good ones to be able to elect

 

[BobObob]

Voting is a right, not duty or obligation.

I disagree with CCC 2240, which indicates that voting is an obligation. Voting isn’t a matter of faith or morals, but may be morally relevant.

I would say it’s better not to vote at all then to vote without doing thorough research on the choices available. Part of the reason we have such a cruddy government is because the average American thinks that they should vote, but they don’t spend time researching the issues or choices. These people hurt this country because they make the vote of everyone else count less (more vote there are means each vote is less likely to make a difference).

Only vote on things you are sure you did sufficient research on and that you are confident about. Remember, Adolf Hitler was legally elected.

 

[JohnDamian]

I think it is ingrateful not to vote at all; if you go to the polling station and do not feel anyone sensibly represents christian values you should spoil your ballot.

Voting for a party that supports anti-catholic values is immoral - for example as I am English no one in my constituancy (area) was against abortion, the wars in iraq etc. So I spoiled my ballot.

But to not turn up at all defeats the point of having democracy.

 

[cfdmpo]

It is a sin not to vote. It is not a mortal sin, but it can be a grave sin to vote for the wrong candidate. It is your responsibility to know the position of the candidates on all the issues and to be a well inform Catholic as related to the positions of the Catholic Church on the issues.

 

[Bookcat]

Voting is a right, not duty or obligation.

I disagree with CCC 2240, which indicates that voting is an obligation. Voting isn’t a matter of faith or morals, but may be morally relevant.

The Church says it is an obligation as well as a right…

and Moral Theology too has long said this…(at least in some way or another)

We have an obligation to choose our leaders…GOOD leaders…or and oppose those who are seeking evil thing…like abortion…

of course there may be a particular race that is difficult and one may be in a bind not being able to tell who to vote for…so not sure one has an obligation to vote in “each” race on the ballot…for impossibility can well make it impossible…and if one can not figure it out…well one can not figure it out…(so it seems abstaining for that race is in order)

 

[Bookcat]

Now perhaps it is not a obligation to vote in each possible election…not sure about that. The Catechism does not go into the details…perhaps refer to the Catholic Answers voters guide… But certainly there is an obligation to vote…and especially there can be when there are very important things at stake…

 

[Gloria1]

With the CA primaries today I thought I’d ask the question.

Is it considered a sin and if so would it be a mortal sin for a Catholic to not vote??

Thanks
Javier

Jehovah witnesses don’t vote at all and they don’t take part in census and they have Biblical and moral reasons. As a citizen and a true christian, I think it is your duty to take part in all federal and state activities. It is your duty to vote. However, I wouldn’t say it is a sin not to vote.

 

[BobObob]

The Church says it is an obligation as well as a right…

and Moral Theology too has long said this…(at least in some way or another)

This isn’t exactly dogma. You could argue that CCC 2240 is authoritative (meaning we “must make a genuine effort to incorporate the given teaching into one’s personal religious convictions” lists.oakland.edu/pipermail/stjohnfisher/2007-January/000038.html ). However, I don’t see why as a Catholic I cannot disagree with that. I’m not aware of other particular incidences in which the CC has said that everyone has the right to vote.

Also, political issues are only matters of faith and morals insofar as they are morally relevant. For example, one must partake in the political process if his lack of participation would cause an evil affect.

But to not turn up at all defeats the point of having democracy.

The United States is not a democracy, it’s a constitutional republic in which we elect representatives. There’s a huge difference. Democracy is rule by majority, which is what Rome had during its downfall when the mob got its demanded bread and circus. A republic is a state that is ruled by law. In America, the US Constitution is “the supreme law of the land”.

I didn’t mean to go off topic, but that’s an extremely important point that many Americans have forgotten due to being brainwashed to think that the US is a democracy.

 

[Bookcat]

This…

In addition to the CCC which is authoritative document as you say (even if there are differing kinds of teaching within it)…there are other documents etc on our political life…it is something that the Church has been even more emph. lately.

We need to be active in this area…voting is an obligation. Note too my later posts.

 

[BobObob]

In addition to the CCC which is authoritative document as you say (even if there are differing kinds of teaching within it)…there are other documents etc on our political life…it is something that the Church has been even more emph. lately.

We need to be active in this area…voting is an obligation. Note too my later posts.

Can you share any of these documents that teach, definitively and beyond a doubt, that voting (at least in major elections) is a moral obligation.

Holding official accountable and getting good officials into office by exercising one’s right to vote is good, but I don’t see how it is generally morally obligatory to do so. It seems to me that it would only be morally obligatory to vote if the moral implications of the election (say, Adolf Hitler was a major candidate), with the power of one’s individual vote being taken into consideration, put such moral gravity on one’s ability to vote that one must exercise it.

BTW, many major elections in the US are rigged. This may be shocking, but if you doubt this, watch the documentary film “Hacking Democracy”. It can be found at either of the following links:

youtube.com/watch?v=iVlZTWH7u8w
video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7926958774822130737#

 

[Bookcat]

Can you share any of these documents that teach, definitively and beyond a doubt, that voting (at least in major elections) is a moral obligation.

Holding official accountable and getting good officials into office by exercising one’s right to vote is good, but I don’t see how it is generally morally obligatory to do so. It seems to me that it would only be morally obligatory to vote if the moral implications of the election (say, Adolf Hitler was a major candidate), with the power of one’s individual vote being taken into consideration, put such moral gravity on one’s ability to vote that one must exercise it.

(things of course do not have to be defined dogmas etc to be part of the Catholic Faith…or moral theology)

To save repeating…readers can read my posts above.

 

[curlycool89]

From the Catechism:

2240 Submission to authority and co-responsibility for the common good make it **morally obligatory **to pay taxes, to exercise the right to vote, and to defend one’s country

As I understand it though (being from Canada), a primary is just a vote for who the candidate for the Republicans/Democrats is going to be in the real vote, right? Like, you have to be a member in some cases too, don’t you? So voting in a primary is more akin to a private organization having a vote, which is different from the government elections commission hosting a vote for those to take office to have power.

 

[Bookcat]

As I understand it though (being from Canada), a primary is just a vote for who the candidate for the Republicans/Democrats is going to be in the real vote, right? Like, you have to be a member in some cases too, don’t you? So voting in a primary is more akin to a private organization having a vote, which is different from the government elections commission hosting a vote for those to take office to have power.

depends on the State…but yes it is choosing who you want to run in the race…

so we want to choose a good ones to run…

 

[curlycool89]

depends on the State…but yes it is choosing who you want to run in the race…

so we want to choose a good ones to run…

Well yes, it’s a good idea to vote and choose who gets to run, but I don’t think primaries would fall under CCC 2240.

 

[Bookcat]

Catholic Answers Apologist response:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=382116&highlight=sin±to+vote

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=118330&highlight=sin±to+vote

 

[Bookcat]

Well yes, it’s a good idea to vote and choose who gets to run, but I don’t think primaries would fall under CCC 2240.

It is voting.

(and very important…for if those who are able to vote in the primary do NOT vote well…then one gets only unworthy canidates to vote for in the general elections)

 

[curlycool89]

It is voting.

(and very important…for if those who are able to vote in the primary do NOT vote well…then one gets only unworthy canidates to vote for in the general elections)

Well, of course it’s voting. So was student council elections in grade 11, and so was student union elections in my second year of university.

But CCC 2240 talks about “Submission to authority and co-responsibility for the common good”. You need to vote because these people will be using your tax money and voting on laws, but primaries are not about who gets into power. It’s about who gets to be the nominees for the particular parties, and parties are private groups. You definitely have to vote in November in the general election (and in any other special elections or whatever), but a primary doesn’t really count because it doesn’t change anything in the government (directly). So-and-so gets nominated to run for the Democrats, but they still have to win the actual election to take the seat. Like I said before, it’s more of a vote within a private organization.

Like if someone were a shareholder in a company, I would say it’s not morally obligatory to vote in the board of directors election (it’s probably a good idea, but not obligatory). It’s a private organization, not an authority.

 

[Bookcat]

Well, of course it’s voting. So was student council elections in grade 11, and so was student union elections in my second year of university.

But CCC 2240 talks about “Submission to authority and co-responsibility for the common good”. You need to vote because these people will be using your tax money and voting on laws, but primaries are not about who gets into power. It’s about who gets to be the nominees for the particular parties, and parties are private groups. You definitely have to vote in November in the general election (and in any other special elections or whatever), but a primary doesn’t really count because it doesn’t change anything in the government (directly). So-and-so gets nominated to run for the Democrats, but they still have to win the actual election to take the seat. Like I said before, it’s more of a vote within a private organization.

Like if someone were a shareholder in a company, I would say it’s not morally obligatory to vote in the board of directors election (it’s probably a good idea, but not obligatory). It’s a private organization, not an authority.

The CCC and other documents are not talking about voting in the school elections…

But in Our Country a Primary is very important…It chooses those who are to run.

Thus it is an important act of civil responsibility (and is voting in the civil sense) …

It is not a private thing done in back rooms…it is something that is a public act and done in the ordinary voting way…with all the legalities etc involved.

It is part of civil and Christian responsibility.

Especially if you join a particular party…(in those primaries where one must be a member) after all if the Christians of good conscience do not choose well in this area…things can go south quickly…

(though perhaps it is not a obligation to vote in each possible election… …not sure about that. … But certainly there is an obligation to vote…and especially there can be when there are very important things at stake…)

 

[BobObob]

(things of course do not have to be defined dogmas etc to be part of the Catholic Faith…or moral theology)

That’s true. However, if they don’t fall under papal infallibility, they could be wrong or at least partly wrong.

I disagree with CCC 2240 in the sense that voting is a strict obligation. I would agree with CCC 2240 in the sense that it can be morally obligatory to vote if the moral implications of the election, taken into consideration with the power (or lack thereof) to influence the election, had a great enough gravity to warrant on obligation, as I mentioned in post 11.

It seems to me that it would only be morally obligatory to vote if the moral implications of the election (say, Adolf Hitler was a major candidate), with the power of one’s individual vote being taken into consideration, put such moral gravity on one’s ability to vote that one must exercise it.

However, considering how little power each vote has (many voters plus tampered election results), and considering how bad most candidates for powerful offices are, one usually doesn’t have an obligation to vote in the US IMHO. I personally have voted in every election, including primaries, I could have since I was old enough. I do think I was bound in conscience to vote for Ron Paul in the last California GOP presidential primary, so that’s what I did.